Identified! LA - Ville Platte, WhtFem UP58975, UnkAge, partial remains found, Platte Ville, Dec'18 - Erica Hunt

[Tony1902]

The inherent difficulty with Acadian genealogy is the unfortunate sequence of men marrying a woman, they have at least 10 or so children. She dies, he remarries, has more children. The genetic pool is smaller than one would think. My hubs and I had the same grandparents 8 generation ago. If this is the family I remember, a professor traced their genealogy and found they were, in fact, related. Even though they could remember no connections, they were there 7 generations back.

 

[MarziPanda]

She's now on the DDP spreadsheet. Unfortunately she has poor matches, with a top match of just 50.7cM. This is her only match above 40cM. I hope she has better matches in FTDNA.
Her admixture confirms she is black. Wondering if the thread title should be updated? It says white.

 

[victoriarobinson642]

As MarziPanda said above, I think that she's more than likely Black.

 

[victoriarobinson642]

The folks over at the DNA Doe Project uploaded the highest matches on FTDNA today - Evangeline Parish Jane Doe has a match almost three times as high over there!

 

[MarziPanda]

Much more promising! Fingers crossed!

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Massive match this week for Ville Platte Jane Doe.

 

[djanga]

Identified today as Erica Hunt, who went missing in Opelousas (Louisiana) in 2016.

https://www.katc.com/news/around-ac...e-of-opelousas-woman-who-went-missing-in-2018


OPELOUSAS, La. — The Louisiana State Police have identified the skeletal remains found in Evangeline Parish in 2018 as those belonging to Erica Hunt, who went missing in Opelousas in 2016.

According to Tpr. Thomas Gossen, LSP has confirmed that the body of Hunt has been identified and they are treating the case as a homicide.

LSP is leading the investigation along with help from the Evangline Parish Sheriff's Office and the Opelousas Police Department.

Gossen says the remains were originally located in December 2018 in Evangeline Parish while investigators were trying to find a missing boy.

According to OPD, the last time anyone saw Hunt was on July 4, 2016, when she was last seen around a residence located on Hirsch's Alley behind Ray's Boudin off of Vine Street in Opelousas.

Gossen says that the remains were a forensic match for Hunt after being analyzed by the LSU Faces Lab along with the DNA Doe Project.

 

[djanga]

She was reported missing by her family in July 2016

Still no trace of Louisiana mother who disappeared after Fourth of July celebration in 2016

 

[Al Ka]

Erica Nicole Hunt

• 
  
  
• 
  

• Missing Since 07/04/2016
• Missing From Opelousas, Louisiana
• Classification Endangered Missing
• Sex Female
• Race Black
• Date of Birth 08/14/1995 (25)
• Age 20 years old
• Height and Weight 5'4, 150 - 165 pounds
• Distinguishing Characteristics African-American female. Brown hair, brown eyes. Hunt has a tattoo of the name "Nicole" on her lower back, a tattoo of the name "Breionna" on the outside of her right wrist, and a tattoo of a Care Bear with a star on the back of her shoulder. A photo of the Care Bear tattoo is posted with this case summary. Hunt smokes cigarettes. Her ears are double-pierced.

Details of Disappearance
Hunt was last seen behind Ray's Boudin, a business on Hirsch Alley in Opelousas, Louisiana, between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on July 4, 2016. She has never been heard from again.

Hunt attended an Independence Day celebration with her family the day before her disappearance. She was acting normally at the time and told her loved ones about her plans to apply for a place in public housing and celebrate her upcoming 21st birthday in a nightclub.

Her sister and brother-in-law saw her the day she went missing, when she visited their home and asked to borrow some money for cigarettes. They don't know whether she left on foot or if someone picked her up in a car.

Because Hunt smoked marijuana, her mother theorizes drugs may have been a factor in her disappearance. She left behind a two-year-old daughter and it would be uncharacteristic of her to abandon the child. Her case remains unsolved.

Erica Nicole Hunt – The Charley Project

 

[Al Ka]

Identified today as Erica Hunt, who went missing in Opelousas (Louisiana) in 2016.

https://www.katc.com/news/around-ac...e-of-opelousas-woman-who-went-missing-in-2018


OPELOUSAS, La. — The Louisiana State Police have identified the skeletal remains found in Evangeline Parish in 2018 as those belonging to Erica Hunt, who went missing in Opelousas in 2016.

According to Tpr. Thomas Gossen, LSP has confirmed that the body of Hunt has been identified and they are treating the case as a homicide.

LSP is leading the investigation along with help from the Evangline Parish Sheriff's Office and the Opelousas Police Department.

Gossen says the remains were originally located in December 2018 in Evangeline Parish while investigators were trying to find a missing boy.

According to OPD, the last time anyone saw Hunt was on July 4, 2016, when she was last seen around a residence located on Hirsch's Alley behind Ray's Boudin off of Vine Street in Opelousas.

Gossen says that the remains were a forensic match for Hunt after being analyzed by the LSU Faces Lab along with the DNA Doe Project.

LSP identify remains as those of Opelousas woman who went missing in 2016

(click on image to enlarge)

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Erica has a thread here.
LA - LA - Erica Hunt, 20, Opelousas, 4 July 2016
I'm glad she has her name back but sad for her family.

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Wow! I love seeing all these identifications in 2021. RIP Erica.

 

[MarziPanda]

RIP Erica. Glad you have your name back.

 

[djanga]

https://www.katc.com/news/remains-of-st-landry-parish-woman-identified-by-genetic-genealogy

Remains of St. Landry Parish woman identified through genetic genealogy

By: Heidi Robideaux
Posted at 9:15 PM, Feb 06, 2021
and last updated 2021-02-06 22:34:34-05
A relatively new method of identifying Jane and John Does proved vital in the case of Erica Hunt, a St. Landry Parish woman who disappeared in July 2016.

Skeletal remains were found in Evangeline Parish in December 2018, while investigators were searching for a missing boy. The remains were sent for analysis to the LSU Faces Lab, Louisiana State Police Crime Lab, and the DNA Doe Project, a non-profit organization that utilizes genetic genealogy to identify John Does and Jane Does. To date, DDP has made more than 40 confirmed identifications.

The organization began genetic genealogy research on the remains found in Evangeline Parish in November 2020.

DPP uploads usable DNA to a program called GEDmatch, a free genetic genealogy service that accepts data from all direct-to-consumer DNA testing companies, like Ancestry, and allows users to compare their DNA results to people who have tested with companies other than their own.

Volunteers then analyze results from GEDmatch and begin to build a family tree. They do this by using either public family trees or by conducting research through things like obituaries, Facebook, and newspaper articles.

The organization was founded in 2017. Two years later in May 2019, they received a request from Louisiana State Police to assist in identifying the remains found in Evangeline Parish. After numerous attempts to obtain usable DNA, DPP began genetic genealogy research in November 2020.

According to a DPP press release, a single volunteer "atypically" spent approximately 49 hours researching the case, during which time the remains were known only as "Evangeline Parish Jane Doe." Finally, on February 5, Louisiana State Police confirmed that the remains belonged to Erica Hunt.

As she wrapped up the research, the volunteer said, "Being able to work on Erica's case and to help restore her identity to her was an absolute honor. She will never again be known as just Evangeline Parish Jane Doe; she is Erica Nicole Hunt."

The case is being investigated as a homicide by the LSP Bureau of Investigations, along with help from the Evangline Parish Sheriff's Office, the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office and the Opelousas Police Department.

Anyone with information can contact State Police through its online reporting system, which can be found at lsp.org (click the Suspicious Activity link). They can also contact St. Landry Crime Stoppers at 948-8477(TIPS), online at stlandrycrimestoppers.com, or via Facebook. Tips may also be submitted via text message by texting TIPS625 plus the tip to CRIMES (274637).

More information on the DNA Doe Project, including a detailed process of genetic genealogy, visit DNADoeProject.org.

 

[MadMcGoo]

Atypically, a single DDP volunteer spent approximately 49 hours researching the case.

Evangeline Parish Jane Doe 2018 - DNA Doe Project Cases

Bless these volunteers!!! Rest peacefully now Erica.

 

[Al Ka]

Erica Hunt’s remains return to family after 2016 disappearance

An Opelousas family who lost their loved one almost five years ago is pleading for justice. They hope to reignite the cold case of Erica Hunt with a candlelight vigil.

The family of Erica Nicole Hunt is just now receiving her remains almost five years after she went missing and two years after her remains were discovered.

“We prayed and we asked God to please bring her home. Now her remains are home. We can give her a proper burial, but now we still need justice for Erica,” exclaimed Miranda Isaac, Erica’s Aunt to a crowd of about 100 people all in attendance for one purpose Friday night.
---
Her uncle, Tyrone Glover remembered, “It was troubling. A lot of people wanted us to give up. A lot. They just thought she went on a joy ride and wasn’t going to come back. Those rumors were just put aside whenever I spoke to Miranda. We just kept hope alive, and Thank God. Thank God they found the remains. Now we can properly put her to rest the right way. The family can have some closure, but it isn’t over. It isn’t over because somebody did it.”

Authorities say the investigation relies on tips from the public and gave reassurance that just as the family won’t give up on justice for Erica, neither will they.

Erica Hunt's remains return to family after 2016 disappearance

 

[bombardier]

a bit confused about why this took 5 years to conclusively solve - Erica was last seen a 20 min drive from where the remains ended up. Was it suggested but couldn't be proven via dentals? Or was the investigation halted as they originally through the skull belonged to a white female so they didn't look at missing black females?

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

St. Landry Crime Stoppers says that the Opelousas area will soon see more posters regarding the disappearance and murder of Erica Hunt.

St. Landry Crime Stoppers partnered with Louisiana State Police, Opelousas Police Department and the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office to send out posters regarding the disappearance and murder of Opelousas resident, Erica Nicole Hunt.

Her deaths is being investigated as a homicide.

Anyone with information on this or any other crime is urged to call 948-TIPS or tip online at stlandrycrimestoppers.com.

https://www.katc.com/news/st-landry...hunt-investigation-going-up-in-opelousas-area

 

[Rcocco]

How do you know when something is fishy? I'm very new to this in the ongoing investigation sense, but I'm researching Erica's case and have a question. I feel so weird even bringing this up... On her FB page, a regular commenter on her page went dark himself on the day she went missing. Or, at least, FB wants me send a friend a request to see more recent posts, if there actually are any. His name is not found in a google search, and this profile only has a few public posts, and no profile image or about section. He seems to comment on Erica's posts with her daughter a lot, saying "badd baby"

I bring it up because the profile is empty and the last post was 7/4/2016, the last day Erica was seen. Weird?

 

[Rcocco]

How do you know when something is fishy? I'm very new to this in the ongoing investigation sense, but I'm researching Erica's case and have a question. I feel so weird even bringing this up... On her FB page, a regular commenter on her page went dark himself on the day she went missing. Or, at least, FB wants me send a friend a request to see more recent posts, if there actually are any. His name is not found in a google search, and this profile only has a few public posts, and no profile image or about section. He seems to comment on Erica's posts with her daughter a lot, saying "badd baby"

I bring it up because the profile is empty and the last post was 7/4/2016, the last day Erica was seen. Weird?

Did some more digging, looks like he might be a family member.