Identified! TN - Nashville, WhtFem 30’s UP10155, Leo pendant, poss from Chilton Co, AL, Mar'98 Diane Minor

[Bluerae63]

I was convinced of Cary Sue Huie as well.
Time, description, & especially pic seemed spot on. The astrology necklace could have been of a loved one. Im 60 & wear some of my daughters old tweety sweatshirts. I also wondered how she was ruled out.

I know she’s a rule out, however Cary Sue Huie May have been in the company of a black male and also she was originally from Alabama. The height and weight matched. I wonder what they excluded her based on. Cary Sue’s daughter provided DNA to use as a match.

 

[summergirl1]

This sounds like she probably was dating the guy who killed her and something went wrong. If she can be identified- and I'm sure she will be eventually given the DNA info they have- then he could possibly identified too. He may or may not be living of course.

 

[chaddylex]

The Fall Line Podcast just released an in depth episode about Leo Jane Doe. It is truly worth a listen.

“Leo” Jane Doe: The Nashville Jane Does—Cumberland River, 1998 by The Fall Line: Ethical True Crime

In March of 1998, a homicide victim was recovered from Nashville’s Cumberland River, with nothing to indicate who she might be, and the best clue to her identity a “Leo” astrological charm; now, investigative genetic genealogy is the best path toward her name, but the trail has stopped short in...

megaphone.link

In March of 1998, a homicide victim was recovered from Nashville’s Cumberland River, with nothing to indicate who she might be, and the best clue to her identity a “Leo” astrological charm; now, investigative genetic genealogy is the best path toward her name, but the trail has stopped short in an Alabama county, and investigators are seeking your help. The Fall Line is releasing new information in “Leo” Jane Doe’s case; you can view the images we mention on our social media accounts. To submit information or contact MNPD about uploading your DNA, please contact Detective Filter at Metro Nashville Police at 615-862-7803.

The DNA Project has done genetic testing - the 3 last names they are coming up from the genetic genealogy are:
Mims, Easterling and Minor (not sure of spelling since I was listening to the podcast)

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Leo Jane Doe 1998 - DNA Doe Project Cases

Description: On March 18, 1998, a tugboat captain reported a body floating in the Cumberland River near Cleese’s Ferry and Hunter’s Marina. Upon arrival, the rescue squad pulled the body of a partially clothed woman from the water. She had been shot in the head twice. A woman fitting her...

dnadoeproject.org

Official DDP page for Leo Jane Doe

 

[Laura Avery]

Forwarded info lots of Minors/eastling/mims in one family and from correct area.

 

[fsngruv]

Forwarded info lots of Minors/eastling/mims in one family and from correct area.

I was actually surprised how many were in a family I saw on an obituary in the area, right around the age range of our doe, I wonder if they are missing a family member? Or lost contact with one? Good work! I hope your leads help!!

 

[faithx]

Cold Case: Nashville woman found dead in Cumberland River identified decades later

Decades after a woman's body was found in the Cumberland River, her identity is finally known.

fox17.com

She has been identified as 54-year-old Diane Minor.

 

[djanga]

Minor was a manager at the Second Story Café in Nashville in the early 1990s. A missing person report was never filed for Minor, according to MNPD.

Police release identity of woman found shot in the head in Cumberland River in 1998

A missing person report was never filed for Minor, according to MNPD.

www.wsmv.com

 

[djanga]

According to this post, Minor was a beauty pageant competitor and was featured in the Tennessean as “Discovery of the week”. She was also a singer and signed with the Wilburn Brother’s Studio Recording.
She had two daughters, who were notified

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[djanga]

From the Dna Doe Project press release:

Leo Jane Doe 1998 - DNA Doe Project

Description: On March 18, 1998, a tugboat captain reported a body floating in the Cumberland River near Cleese’s Ferry and Hunter’s Marina. Upon arrival, the rescue squad pulled the body of a partially clothed woman from the water. She had been shot in the head twice. A woman fitting her...

dnadoeproject.org

Formerly known as Leo Jane Doe because of an astrology pendant she wore, Diane Minor was a country singer and former beauty queen and weather girl. Originally from Alabama, Minor moved to Nashville after high school, signing a recording contract with Wilburn Brothers.


She was living in Nashville at the time of her death at age 54, and her case quickly went cold when she was not identified. Then, in 2023, the Nashville Police brought the case to the DNA Doe Project after lab work to develop a DNA profile was done at Bode Technology. After less than three months, volunteer investigative genetic genealogists were confident that they had identified Diane Minor. This was confirmed with DNA testing of a close relative.

 

[abbey345]

According to this post, Minor was a beauty pageant competitor and was featured in the Tennessean as “Discovery of the week”. She was also a singer and signed with the Wilburn Brother’s Studio Recording.
She had two daughters, who were notified

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

The woman in the middle photo doesn't look like the other two photos. Just an observation..Btw, listened to some of her recordings on Youtube, and she had a beautiful voice.

 

[djanga]

The woman in the middle photo doesn't look like the other two photos. Just an observation..Btw, listened to some of her recordings on Youtube, and she had a beautiful voice.

In the middle is her postmortem reconstruction, they are not always accurate, but at least new reconstructions are pretty realistic.

Thank you for mentioning Diane’s recordings, I have just listened to a few of them and she indeed had a very nice voice

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Diane Minor - Mama Danced (LP) (NM or M-)

Diane Minor : Mama Danced (LP) is available for sale at our shop at a great price. We have a huge collection of Vinyl's, CD's, Cassettes & other formats available for sale for music lovers

media-mania-of-stockbridge.myshopify.com

Rest in peace, Diane.

 

[HopeRains]

Oh my goodness, so glad this lady has been identified. So many have looked for her name for years. So unfortunate she was not reported as missing. I believe the recons are very good and particularly with those of the pm photos previously available and the fatal injuries she sustained. She was a beautiful lady and sounds to have done some really cool things while living. One can only wonder about the zodiac guy she was last seen with - I'm hopeful now her name is known, answers will be more expeditiously forthcoming. Good work DNA Doe Project and volunteers. Rest easy, Ms. Minor.

 

[Mary-Belle]

I wonder why her daughters didn’t report her missing?

 

[Spindlebrook]

More photos here: Who was Diane Minor, the Leo Jane Doe pulled from Nashville's Cumberland River in 1998

 

[Susikatze]

I wonder why her daughters didn’t report her missing?

Possible they were not in regular contact or estranged. Mom may have been a free spirit who enjoyed getting lost. Or she may have been in a new relationship who completely estranged her from family. And she was an adult, even if reported missing, often not much is done.

 

[djanga]

I love this photo of Diane!

Who was Diane Minor, the Leo Jane Doe pulled from Nashville's Cumberland River in 1998

Diane Minor, the woman identified 26 years later as the Leo Jane Doe, was an up-and-coming Nashville singer in the 1960s.

eu.tennessean.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Cold Case: Nashville woman found dead in Cumberland River identified decades later

MSN

 

[Interested_But_Confused]

I'm so glad Diane has her name back, but also saddened and puzzled that a seemingly quite well-known person could go unidentified for so long.