In a remarkable breakthrough for forensic science, investigators have finally put a name to Wyoming's infamous 'I-90 Jane Doe' - solving a murder mystery that has haunted law enforcement for nearly 40 years.
The unidentified woman, whose brutalised body was discovered near Interstate 90 in 1982, has been identified through cutting-edge DNA technology as a 28-year-old from Washington state.
The Chilling Discovery
On 13th September 1982, truckers spotted the naked body of a young woman dumped near Sheridan, Wyoming. The victim had been strangled and showed signs of sexual assault. Despite an extensive investigation, authorities couldn't establish her identity, and the case grew cold.
Decades of Dead Ends
For years, detectives pursued countless leads without success. Traditional forensic methods failed to produce matches, and reconstructions of the victim's face circulated without triggering recognition. The case became one of Wyoming's most frustrating unsolved murders.
Genealogy Breakthrough
The turning point came when investigators turned to advanced genetic genealogy techniques. By comparing crime scene DNA with commercial genealogy databases, they identified potential relatives and painstakingly reconstructed the victim's family tree.
"This technology has revolutionised cold case investigations," said the lead detective. "We're now able to give names to the nameless and justice to the forgotten."
A Life Remembered
The victim, whose identity is being temporarily withheld pending family notification, was reportedly last seen in Washington state before her disappearance. Authorities are now re-examining her final movements and potential suspects in light of the new identification.
This breakthrough marks Wyoming's latest success in applying forensic genealogy to cold cases, following last year's identification of another long-term Jane Doe through similar methods.
