Found Deceased IN- Deanna M. Smith, 36, Indianapolis, 04/19/1999

[victoriarobinson642]

Deanna M. Smith – The Charley Project

• Missing Since - 04/19/1999
• Missing From - Indianapolis, Indiana
• Classification - Missing
• Sex - Female
• Race - Black
• Date of Birth - 08/29/1962 (61)
• Age - 36 years old
• Height and Weight - 5'10, 180 pounds
• Distinguishing Characteristics - African-American female. Black hair, brown eyes.

Details of Disappearance​

Smith was last seen in Indianapolis, Indiana on April 19, 1999. She has never been heard from again. Few details are available in her case.

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The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

 

[Aurora90]

I wish we had more info regarding her disappearance.

 

[jw03]

I am very new to this website and I don't normally look at missing persons cases or anything, but I may or may not have an idea about this case that I feel might be good to share with others. I offhandedly came across an unidentified body case on the Doe Network that caught my eye because the decedent's backpack had "Naptown" written on it. It has the word "Primrose" written under that which I think is a neighborhood within the city. The case is 351UFDE. I am from Indiana, so I immediately knew Naptown was referring to Indianapolis. I thought this was interesting because the decedent was found in Delaware.

Now, I am not sure if they have some sort of DNA matching within the missing persons database and the Doe Network database that they do. It makes sense to me that they do, so if this is useless speculation, I am sorry. But I was making some connections with Deanna and the case on the Doe Network. Same race, hair, and age. Deanna went missing in 1999 and the decedents body was recovered in 2002. I have a feeling the decedent was an Indianapolis native who left to travel the country, ending up in delaware. The only person I found on the missing persons database to match the timeframe and general characteristics was Deanna.

This is purely speculation. I wish we knew more about Deanna's case. Sorry if this isn't helpful. I am not sure about the DNA matching process. I was hoping someone here could help me out.

 

[eoyste]

NamUs# MP108671

 

[LouLou74]

I am very new to this website and I don't normally look at missing persons cases or anything, but I may or may not have an idea about this case that I feel might be good to share with others. I offhandedly came across an unidentified body case on the Doe Network that caught my eye because the decedent's backpack had "Naptown" written on it. It has the word "Primrose" written under that which I think is a neighborhood within the city. The case is 351UFDE. I am from Indiana, so I immediately knew Naptown was referring to Indianapolis. I thought this was interesting because the decedent was found in Delaware.

Now, I am not sure if they have some sort of DNA matching within the missing persons database and the Doe Network database that they do. It makes sense to me that they do, so if this is useless speculation, I am sorry. But I was making some connections with Deanna and the case on the Doe Network. Same race, hair, and age. Deanna went missing in 1999 and the decedents body was recovered in 2002. I have a feeling the decedent was an Indianapolis native who left to travel the country, ending up in delaware. The only person I found on the missing persons database to match the timeframe and general characteristics was Deanna.

This is purely speculation. I wish we knew more about Deanna's case. Sorry if this isn't helpful. I am not sure about the DNA matching process. I was hoping someone here could help me out.

NamUs link:

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

 

[Pennysmom1]

Deanna M. Smith – The Charley Project

• 

Smith, circa 1999

• Missing Since 04/19/1999
• Missing From Indianapolis, Indiana
• Classification Missing
• Sex Female
• Race Black
• Date of Birth 08/29/1962 (62)
• Age 36 years old
• Height and Weight 5'10, 180 pounds
• Distinguishing Characteristics African-American female. Black hair, brown eyes.

Details of Disappearance​

Smith was last seen in Indianapolis, Indiana on April 19, 1999. She has never been heard from again. Few details are available in her case.

 

[Aurora90]

Identified as Deanna M. Smith, missing from Indianapolis, Indiana, since April 19, 1999.

Remains found in Owen County in 2003 identified as missing Indianapolis woman

Deanna Smith was reported missing in Indianapolis in 1999. Four years later, her remains were found near South Franklin Road in Owen County.

www.wthr.com

View attachment 618626View attachment 618627

She has been identified as a Jane Doe!

Still curious about the circumstances of her disappearance, and how she ended up where she did.

 

[eoyste]

NamUs# UP13479 appears to be the match for her remains. It's a good reminder that the estimates don't always line up closely. In her instance, height & PMI were far off. I am so glad that she has her name back and can rest in peace. Hopefully they can get justice for Deanna.

 

[Caring1]

October 7, 2025

OWEN COUNTY, IN – After more than two decades, a multi-agency effort leveraging modern forensic technology has led the Indiana State Police (ISP) to identify the remains of a woman located in Owen County in 2003.

The remains have been positively identified as Deanna Smith, who was reported missing from Indianapolis in 1999. Her remains were discovered in the area of South Franklin Road in Owen County. The case is now an active homicide investigation, and police are urgently requesting the public’s assistance.

Key resources used in the identification include:

Othram Forensic Sequencing Laboratory

Indiana State Police Forensics Laboratory

Indiana State Police Genealogist

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit

Indy Woman Identified Decades After Remains Found in Owen County

After more than two decades, a multi-agency effort leveraging modern forensic technology has led the Indiana State Police (ISP) to identify the remains of a woman located in Owen County in 2003.

wibc.com

 

[dotr]

Oct 8, 2025
The woman was reported missing in 1999, her body was found in 2003 and she was identified in 2025.

 

[dotr]

After 21 years, Owen County Jane Doe (2003) is Identified

Owen County Coroner's Office and Indiana State Police Laboratory Team with Othram to Identify a 2003 Homicide Victim

dnasolves.com

''In October 2003, the skeletal remains of an unidentified individual were found in a wooded ravine off Franklin Road near Spencer in rural Owen County, Indiana. The discovery was made by a man who was preparing to build a home on the site which is about 40 miles southwest of Indianapolis. Several law agencies responded began collecting evidence and investigating the case as a homicide. They determined the remains belonged to a woman who was likely 25 to 45 years old, stood about 5'5" tall, and had a healed injury indicating she had a broken nose at some point in her life. She was found with a medallion that was about the size of a silver dollar, that included with the words "Corline S. Likes Steve P. Love" and an American flag in the center on the front. On the back of the medallion, there is a four leaf clover and the words "GOOD LUCK." Investigators estimated the woman died at least a year prior to the discovery of her remains.

Despite an extensive investigation, the woman could not be identified. The case went cold and she became known as Owen County Jane Doe (2003). Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP13479.

In 2023, the Owen County Coroner's Office collaborated with the Indiana State Police Laboratory to submit forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas where scientists worked to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the woman. At Othram, scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence, which was used to build a comprehensive DNA profile using Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing®. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used the profile in a genetic genealogy search to develop new investigative leads that were returned to law enforcement.

Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the woman. Reference DNA samples were collected from a relative and compared to the DNA profile of the unidentified woman. This investigation led to the positive identification of the woman, who is now known to be Deanna Marie Smith, born on August 29, 1962. She was born Deanna Moore and adopted at a young age, taking the the surname Smith.

Smith's death is classified as a homicide and remains under investigation. Anyone with information that could lead to an arrest and conviction in the case is urged to call ISP Det. Toni Walden or Det. Matt Busick at 800-852-3970.''