Identified! WA - Skykomish, Beckler Road, UnkRaceFem 40-100, UP6599, Partial Cranium, Oct'09 - Alice Lou Williams

[Gardener1850]

Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP6599
Female, Uncertain
Date Found October 10, 2009
Location Found Skykomish, Washington
ME/C Case Number 09SN3125

Estimated Age Group Adult
Estimated Age Range 40 Years

Estimated PMI 1 Years
Height Cannot Estimate
Weight Cannot Estimate

Location Found Map
Street Address Beckler Road Skykomish, Washington 98288
County Snohomish County

Circumstances of Recovery
This was reported as the discovery of a unidentified partial cranium near Skykomish off Beckler Road, near the Snohomish / King County line. The partial cranium was the only remains found.

Details of Recovery

Inventory of Remains
Torso not recovered
One or more limbs not recovered
One or both hands not recovered

Condition of Remains
Not recognizable - Partial skeletal parts only

Unidentified Person Case

 

[MelmothTheLost]

Just to add that this case has been taken on by the DNA Doe Project but is currently stalled as the DNA extracted is not of sufficient quality for them to work with.

 

[YaYa_521]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
No photos.
Exclusions
MP22715 Mary Burns 12/13/1977 King WA
MP4593 Ann Burr 08/31/1961 Pierce WA
MP37096 Cynthia Devries 05/30/2006 Snohomish WA
MP37096 Cynthia Devries 05/30/2006 Snohomish WA
MP11854 Elizabeth Eisel 09/03/1985 King WA
MP14071 Linda Endorf 12/08/1976 King WA
MP14228 Lorelee Lhotka 01/01/1975 King WA
MP18370 Jessica McDonald 09/16/1997 Skagit WA
MP6581 Diane Robbins 06/18/1985 Benton WA
MP22082 Jami Sherer 09/30/1990 King WA

 

[Mrs. Badcrumble]

Beckler Road Jane Doe's NamUs page was last updated March 23rd.

Female
Uncertain
Date Body Found: October 10, 2009
Location Found: Skykomish, Washington
Estimated Age Range: 40-100 Years


Case Information

Case Numbers
NCMEC Number: --
ME/C Case Number: 09SN3125

Demographics
Sex: Female
Race / Ethnicity: Uncertain

Possible First Name: --
Possible Middle Name: --
Possible Last Name: --
Nickname/Alias: --

Estimated Age Group: Adult
Estimated Age Range (Years): 40-100
Estimated Year of Death: 1970-2008
Estimated PMI: --

Height: Cannot Estimate
Weight: Cannot Estimate

Circumstances
Type: Unidentified Deceased
Date Body Found: October 10, 2009

NamUs Case Created: January 27, 2010
ME/C QA Reviewed: January 28, 2010

Location Found Map
Location: Skykomish, Washington 98288
County: Snohomish County
GPS Coordinates (Not Mapped): --
Found On Tribal Land: --

Circumstances of Recovery:
This was reported as the discovery of a unidentified partial cranium near Skykomish off Beckler Road, near the Snohomish / King County line. The partial cranium was the only remains found.

Details of Recovery
Inventory of Remains:

- Torso not recovered
- One or more limbs not recovered
- One or both hands not recovered​

Condition of Remains: Not recognizable - Partial skeletal parts only

Physical Description
Hair Color: Unknown
Head Hair Description: --
Body Hair Description: --
Facial Hair Description: --

Left Eye Color: Unknown
Right Eye Color: Unknown
Eye Description: --

Distinctive Physical Features
No Information Entered

Clothing and Accessories
No Information Entered



----------------------------------------------------------


Hm, the estimated age range and year of death makes me wonder if BRJD was a victim of one of the serial killers roaming in the Seattle area in the 70s and the 80s. Perhaps a bit out of GRK preferred area (but you never know, he dumped bodies in Oregon, too, IIRC?), but could she be a Bundy victim?

 

[Nsampson]

These women are missing from Snohomish County and are not in the exclusion list. All fit the stats except the last one which I included because of location and the fact that the estimated age range might not be perfect.
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

MP1249 Sharon Christine Anderson 12/2/2000 Everett, WA

MP37070 Christie June Fisher 03/20/1992 Edmonds, WA

MP14322 Irene Herding 07/20/1990 Carrington, WA

MP28338 Alice Williams 07/19/1981 Marysville, WA

MP1329 Juliana Schubert 07/04/1989 Arlington, WA

 

[iulia]

The NamUs page for this UID is down.

ETA: I the past 24 hours both this UID's profile and the NamUs page for Alice Williams have been removed. I wonder if they are a match..

WS thread for Alice Williams: WA - WA - Alice Williams, 53, Marysville, 19 July 1981

 

[Mrs. Badcrumble]

The NamUs page for this UID is down.

ETA: I the past 24 hours both this UID's profile and the NamUs page for Alice Williams have been removed. I wonder if they are a match..

WS thread for Alice Williams: WA - WA - Alice Williams, 53, Marysville, 19 July 1981

Well, it wouldn't be the first time a NamUs ruleout turned out to be the UID, after all.
This is very exciting, considering the difficulties this Doe faced in the early days of forensic genealogy. I wonder when (or if) there will be a press release.

 

[sasha17]

This partial cranium has been confirmed to belong to Alice Williams.

Alice Lou Williams | Snohomish County, WA - Official Website

www.snohomishcountywa.gov

Presumed Located - WA - Alice Williams, 53, Marysville, 19 July 1981

Alice Lou Williams Snohomish County, Washington 53 year old white female Height (inches) 56.0...

www.websleuths.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

SKYKOMISH, Wash. – A woman missing for nearly 41 years to the day has been found but her killer and the circumstances surrounding her death remain unknown.

Part of the woman’s cranium was found in a steep forested ravine near Skykomish, Washington back on Oct. 10, 2009. Her remains were taken by the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) to the medical examiner.

A release said the forensic anthropologist at the time was able to confirm it was the cranium belonged to a woman older than 40. However, due to the number of remains they did not have and the incomplete cranium, authorities were stuck with nothing more.

In fact, they could not tell if the body had only been there for a year or for decades.

The case was put into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) with the FBI, who would later try to collect its own DNA. The SCSO said this brought no results.

The case went cold and for years there was nothing, until Oct. 2017 when AMD Biotech in Georgia tried to get DNA to find out who the woman was. Nothing came back and it took another two years before an Oklahoma City laboratory tried its hand at the remains.

The second lab was unable to take enough DNA for testing, though, recommending not taking any more extractions.

Fast forward to June 2021, when Othram Inc. came in. The company has made headlines in the Puget Sound region over the last few years, with multiple cold cases recently helped solve

The Woodlands, Texas lab was able to get enough DNA out of the remains and was able to come up with a DNA profile.

The Snohomish Co. Medical Examiner’s Office (SCMEO) then uploaded said profile to GEDmatch and was able to get multiple matches. SCMEO was able to build family trees and identified Alice Lou Williams as a fit.

Williams went missing under suspicious circumstances from her Lake Loma cabin in July 1981.

Officials were able to get in touch with her adult children for more DNA testing and later confirmed her identity.

Officials have officially classified her death as a homicide and ask for your help if you know what happened to her. You can send in a tip through the phone at 425-388-3845.

Woman missing for 41 years identified as remains found in ravine near Skykomish

SKYKOMISH, Wash. – A woman missing for nearly 41 years to the day has been found but her killer and the circumstances surrounding her death remain unknown. Part of the woman’s cranium was found in a steep forested ravine near Skykomish, Washington back on Oct. 10, 2009. Her remains were taken by...

komonews.com

 

[othram]

Here is our story:
Beckler River Jane Doe is Now Identified

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Alice Lou Williams – The Charley Project

Williams was last seen at her home in Marysville, Washington on July 19, 1981. She has never been heard from again. Few details are available in her case.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

In June 2021, investigators decided to make one more attempt. Based on the SCMEO's previous success in building DNA profiles from challenging skeletal remains with Othram, a section of the cranial bone was sent to Othram, Inc. in The Woodlands, Texas. Othram was contracted to perform DNA extraction and testing so that a DNA profile could be developed and uploaded to genealogical databases. The funding for this laboratory work was generously provided by Audiochuck.

In March 2022, Othram successfully obtained a DNA extract that was sufficient for testing after multiple rounds of extraction and human enrichment. Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to develop a DNA profile that could be uploaded to genealogical databases. The Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office uploaded the Othram DNA profile to GEDmatch and obtained multiple close matches. The SCMEO built family trees and discovered that Alice Lou Williams was a genealogical fit and that she also appeared to be unaccounted for. Alice's adult children were contacted about the possibility and they volunteered a DNA sample for comparison. Familial testing was performed at Family Tree DNA / Gene by Gene. The FTDNA profile was uploaded to GEDmatch and a 1:1 comparison confirmed that Beckler River Doe is Alice Lou Williams. Snohomish County missing person reports showed that Alice went missing under suspicious circumstances from her Lake Loma recreational cabin in July 1981

Alice Lou Williams | Snohomish County, WA - Official Website

www.snohomishcountywa.gov

 

[sasha17]

Forensic genealogy cracks Snohomish County cold cases from 1977, 1981 | HeraldNet.com

Alice Williams’ skull was found in woods near Skykomish. Blaine Has Tricks’ remains were crushed in a Tulalip landfill.

www.heraldnet.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Jane Doe, homicide victim, missing since 1981​

During the same Thursday news conference, officials also announced the identity of a 41-year-old Jane Doe case.

The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office said Alice Lou Williams disappeared under suspicious circumstances from her Lake Loma recreational cabin in July 1981.

In October 2009, US Forest Service surveyors found a partial human cranium in a steep forested ravine near Beckler Road near Skykomish. The remains were taken to the Snohomish County detectives and the medical examiner’s office.

Anthropologist Dr. Kathy Taylor performed a forensic anthropology exam and determined that the cranium belonged to a female over the age of 40 but because of the scant amount of skeletal remains recovered, it was not possible to "infer race or other physical characteristics."

Decades later, there were attempts to build a DNA profile and in March 2022, Othram obtained a DNA extraction and was able to develop a profile that could be uploaded to genealogical databases.

Decades later, there were attempts to build a DNA profile and in March 2022, Othram obtained a DNA extraction and was able to develop a profile that could be uploaded to genealogical databases.

"The Medical Examiner’s Office uploaded the Othram DNA profile to GEDmatch and obtained multiple close matches. They built family trees and discovered that Alice Lou Williams was a genealogical fit and that she also appeared to be unaccounted for," officials said. "Alice’s adult children were contacted about the possibility, and they volunteered a DNA sample for comparison.

Snohomish County announces ID’s of 2 separate cold case victims

Snohomish County announced the identifications of two cold case victims during a Thursday afternoon news conference.

www.q13fox.com

 

[JerseyGirl]

Woman missing for 41 years identified as remains found in ravine near Skykomish

SKYKOMISH, Wash. – A woman missing for nearly 41 years to the day has been found but her killer and the circumstances surrounding her death remain unknown. Part of the woman’s cranium was found in a steep forested ravine near Skykomish, Washington back on Oct. 10, 2009. Her remains were taken by...

komonews.com

 

[lindylou]

Happy that the family has answers! RIP

 

[imstilla.grandma]

In March 2010, a small section of the cranium was sent to the FBI in Quantico, VA for DNA extraction and upload to their Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). In July 2012 the FBI successfully obtained a mtDNA profile and complete STR profile; both were uploaded to CODIS. Unfortunately, there was no match in CODIS for the decedent. In the following years, the STR profile was used to rule out numerous missing persons. The woman remained unidentified.

In October 2017, the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office and the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Detective Jim Scharf contacted the DNA Doe Project for assistance. AMD Biotech in Georgia attempted to perform DNA testing on the nuclear DNA extract that was developed by the FBI lab. Unfortunately, the DNA extract was heavily contaminated with non-human DNA and testing was not successful.

In October 2019, another attempt was made to build a DNA profile for the decedent. A small section of cranial bone was sent to DNA Solutions, a laboratory in Oklahoma City, for microarray DNA testing. DNA Solutions was not able to extract enough DNA for testing and another extraction was not recommended.

In June 2021, investigators decided to make one more attempt. Based on the SCMEO team's previous success in building DNA profiles from challenging skeletal remains with Othram, a section of the cranial bone was sent to Othram. Othram was contracted to perform their own DNA extraction and Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing, to develop a genealogical profile that could be used to generate investigative leads to the unknown woman's identity. The funding for Othram's work was generously provided by Audiochuck. The Othram team is grateful for their ongoing support.

In March 2022, Othram successfully obtained a DNA extract that was sufficient for testing, after multiple rounds of extraction and human enrichment. Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to develop a DNA profile that could be uploaded to genealogical databases. The Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office uploaded the Othram DNA profile and obtained multiple close matches.

The SCMEO built family trees and discovered that Alice Lou Williams was a genealogical fit and that she also appeared to be unaccounted for. Williams's adult children were contacted about the possibility, and they volunteered a DNA sample for comparison. Familial reference testing was performed at Family Tree DNA/Gene by Gene. A 1:1 comparison confirmed that Beckler River Doe is Alice Lou Williams. Snohomish County missing person reports showed that she went missing under suspicious circumstances from her Lake Loma recreational cabin in July 1981.

If you have any information about this case, please call the SCSO tip line at 425-388-3845.

Othram ID's Human Skull Found in 2009

In October 2009, U.S. Forest Service surveyors discovered a partial human cranium in a steep forested ravine near Beckler Road north of Skykomish, Washington. Despite numerous searches, no other remains, clothing, or jewelry was found.

www.forensicmag.com