Identified! MS - Florence, old Byram Swinging Bridge, WhtFem Adult, UP79780, w/blanket in trash pile, Sep'78 - Tonya Lea Wills Mullins

[Susikatze]

IMO, Wanda makes a real good likely possible match. Even though NamUs and Doe profiles say she was 90lbs, she's described as weighing 120lbs. in some of the news articles linked in her WS thread. Here's a link to that and her Charley Project profile which includes a few pics. I think you should submit her as a PM just in case.


TX - TX - Wanda Priddy, 20, Port Lavaca, 29 Aug 1978

Wanda Lee Ann Priddy – The Charley Project

That is a nice possibility and she should certainly be compared. Although cases where a wife suddenly "left home" normally turn out to be murders done by family members or acquaintances and if a body is found, then usually very close to the point of disappearance...
Was she killed on site or transported there? If she was not killed on site, there is still some possibility it is her and whoever killed her transported her far away. I guess her husband had a waterproof alibi?

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Arizona Jane & John Does identified, but cases still unsolved

While some of Arizona's "Jane Doe" and "John Doe" homicide victims now have names, many of their cases remain unsolved.

www.abc15.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

RANKIN CO., Miss. (WLBT) - It is a case that has baffled Rankin County law enforcement for more than 40 years.

A woman’s body was found; she had been murdered. But who was she? Who killed her? Questions the current Rankin County Coroner is now asking again, hoping to get answers with the help of modern technology.

Who was she? There is only a composite sketch after her body was found. For 43 years now, she has been Jane Doe, a murder victim found in Rankin County.

The old Byram Swinging Bridge used to allow vehicles to cross it back in 1978. Now, it’s only open to foot traffic. But below the bridge on the banks of the Pearl River, there used to be an old dump site there--an illegal dump site.

The old Byram Swinging Bridge(WLBT)

“She was not tossed off the bridge. Someone had driven down this dirt road,” Dickerson said. “At that time, it was a dirt road and a trash pile on the side of the road and she was thrown in that trash pile.”

He continued, ”There was an old blanket that at that time; we thought it may’ve come from a motel that she was wrapped in, but there was nothing. She had no clothes. It was nothing else at the scene, but just that blanket and her body.”

”We got several leads. To begin with, there were no marks, no tattoos, no fingerprints. We ran her finger prints. We had no dental work and at that time, we had no DNA. We had several leads. We put it on NCIC and it went out as far as... we got leads as far as Canada. We got leads from all over the country, but nothing ever panned out,” said Dickerson.

3 On Your Side Investigates: Rankin County’s Jane Doe cold case

It is a case that has baffled Rankin County law enforcement for more than 40 years.

www.wlbt.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Newspaper clippings: 2 pages

https://www.mmup.info/_files/ugd/6a1c14_2b3f8bae5b0a4bc3acce4a12b07b1ca1.pdf

 

[Caring1]

There was a mention in Joyce Jones Mandeville’s thread that the FBI in Mississippi may have been trying to compare her to a Jane Doe in their jurisdiction. I am wondering if it was this one, UP79780.

 

[LucyOso]

Following

 

[othram]

SOLVED: After 45 years, Rankin County (1978) Jane Doe is Identified

 

[dotr]

SOLVED: After 45 years, Rankin County (1978) Jane Doe is Identified

rbbm,

"In July 2022, forensic evidence was sent to Othram for advanced DNA testing. Othram was able to produce a suitable DNA extract from the skeletal remains that previously failed elsewhere. Next, Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to produce a comprehensive genealogical profile for the 1978 Jane Doe. Carla Davis, now Othram’s Chief Genetic Genealogist, used the genealogical profile to find potential relatives of the victim. A potential close relative to the unknown victim was found and in conjunction with additional DNA testing, investigators confirmed the investigative leads delivered by Othram.''

''After the additional testing and follow up investigation, the Rankin County Coroner's Office positively identified the female homicide victim as Tonya Lea Wills Mullins. Tonya was born on May 12, 1956, in Potter, Texas, and was 22 years old when she disappeared. She was married and had two children.

The investigation into her death continues as investigators try to determine what happened to Tonya in her final days.

We are very appreciative to everyone that helped shepherd this case from the original crime scene to the exhumation, DNA testing, and investigative process that finally led to the restoration of Tonya's identity.''

 

[evilwise]

SOLVED: After 45 years, Rankin County (1978) Jane Doe is Identified

Just amazing, @othram - name after name given back to people. If only Justice were so advanced as your Science.

Tonya Mullins Obituary - Pearl, MS

Celebrate the life of Tonya Mullins, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home.

www.dignitymemorial.com

Her family is identified in this obituary and it says that her husband is no longer living but her daughters are. They could likely offer more details on Tonya's disappearance. It's against the rules to "sleuth" them but sometimes family members choose to sign up and post in threads like this as a way of recording their information.

 

[Hochman]

Comparison


Surprisingly accurate for how simple the sketch is.

 

[dotr]

Comparison
View attachment 410643View attachment 410642

Surprisingly accurate for how simple the sketch is.

Yes, surprisingly the sketch really nails it!

 

[othram]

Just amazing, @othram - name after name given back to people. If only Justice were so advanced as your Science.

Tonya Mullins Obituary - Pearl, MS

Celebrate the life of Tonya Mullins, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home.

www.dignitymemorial.com

Her family is identified in this obituary and it says that her husband is no longer living but her daughters are. They could likely offer more details on Tonya's disappearance. It's against the rules to "sleuth" them but sometimes family members choose to sign up and post in threads like this as a way of recording their information.

Thanks! Our hope is that if the science & technology is deployed at scale, this will have a measurable impact on the justice system. The science works -- right now the really challenge is funding and resourcing.

 

[evilwise]

Thanks! Our hope is that if the science & technology is deployed at scale, this will have a measurable impact on the justice system. The science works -- right now the really challenge is funding and resourcing.

The most incredible aspect is the database that you guys have access to. Your work now, on its own merits, gradually pushes costs down over years and years and every success pushes out your exposure to possible funding.

It's probably frustrating to have to work backward from cold UIDs that aren't necessarily big funding targets to connect them to the people who might have collected tens of thousands for the information you bring them, if anyone had any idea what the data was before it was worked out - and I assume that families of missing persons checking UIDs on a case by case basis are able to do rule-out checks with simpler technology.

Hang in there though, your perseverance will be rewarded in posterity. You're making important, memorable scientific history every day!

 

[Melt71]

Welcome home to your loving family, Tonya.

 

[othram]

The most incredible aspect is the database that you guys have access to. Your work now, on its own merits, gradually pushes costs down over years and years and every success pushes out your exposure to possible funding.

It's probably frustrating to have to work backward from cold UIDs that aren't necessarily big funding targets to connect them to the people who might have collected tens of thousands for the information you bring them, if anyone had any idea what the data was before it was worked out - and I assume that families of missing persons checking UIDs on a case by case basis are able to do rule-out checks with simpler technology.

Hang in there though, your perseverance will be rewarded in posterity. You're making important, memorable scientific history every day!

We appreciate the support and we truly love assisting on any and all cases!

 

[iamshadow21]

Comparison
View attachment 410643View attachment 410642

Surprisingly accurate for how simple the sketch is.

I was just thinking that when I read the othram announcement! Great job, sketch artist. And great job, @othram .

Sleep well, Tonya.

 

[othram]

I was just thinking that when I read the othram announcement! Great job, sketch artist. And great job, @othram .

Sleep well, Tonya.

Thanks. This case failed multiple previous attempts at other labs.

 

[LucyOso]

RIP Tonya. I am happy you have your name back and family has closure.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

After the additional testing and follow up investigation, the Rankin County Coroner’s Office positively identified the female homicide victim as Tonya Lea Wills Mullins. Tonya was born on May 12, 1956, in Potter, Texas, and was 22 years old when she disappeared. She was married and had two children.

The investigation into her death continues as investigators try to determine what happened to Tonya in her final days.

Rankin County Jane Doe identified by forensics after 45 years of anonymity - Darkhorse Press

A Rankin County Coroner's persistence led to the recent identification of an almost-forgotten Jane Doe who was found just south of the old Byram Swinging

darkhorsepressnow.com

 

[Justin537]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
Added to NAMUS

Her case has been removed from NamUs.