This page summarizes major developments being processed with unidentified and missing individuals.
Please note: Cases taking place less than six months before the present day are automatically listed.
January 2019
El Dorado Jane Doe
An identity thief murdered in Arkansas by her boyfriend in 1991. In early 2019, a forensic genealogist (not affiliated with the DNA Doe Project or Parabon) announced a match to potential family members. Those who responded were unable to recall the victim, yet described a familial resemblance.
February 2019
Rock County John Doe (1995)
A male presumed to have died accidentally near Clinton, Wisconsin in 1995. His case was taken by the DNA Doe Project, who announced his tentative identification after several months. Law enforcement has yet to comment on this.
August 2019
Berks County John Doe
A male who committed suicide in a cave along the Appalachian Trail. His dental information was reported to have similarities with missing men from Florida and Illinois. Eventually, his unmarked burial location was rediscovered and exhumed for DNA.
New Britain Jane Doe
A woman whose remains were found by railroad tracks near the now-defunct Fafnir Bearing Company in New Britain, Connecticut. She died of a gunshot wound to the head. In August 2019, it was announced that she may have significant ties to Puerto Rico.
September 2019
Lycoming County Jane Doe
A woman's severed leg, discovered in a river in Pennsylvania in May 2019. In September 2019, a man confessed to murdering Brenda Lee Jacobs in 2003, disposing of her remains in a similar fashion.
It should be noted that the unidentified woman is believed to have died six months before and Jacobs was murdered sixteen years prior.
October 2019
San Mateo County Doe
In 1983, an individual, possibly a trans woman, was discovered in Half Moon Bay, California. The DNA Doe Project took the case in January 2019 and announced a tentative identification ten months later. Law enforcement has yet to confirm their statement.
Somerton Man
Somerton Man was discovered in Australia in 1948. His body was exhumed in October of 2019 for DNA sampling purposes and comparison with a potential granddaughter of the decedent.
November 2019
Grundy County Jane Doe
A female was discovered murdered by the side of a road in 1979 in Erienna Township, Illinois. In November 2019, extended relatives have been identified in Alabama through genealogy.
January 2020
Kenosha County John Doe (1993)
A man whose decomposed remains were discovered near the Soo Line Railroad in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. On January 14, 2020, it was announced by the Kenosha County Medical Examiner's office that the decedent may have ties to the Catawba Nation of South Carolina, as well as possible relatives in Sonora, Mexico.
Seminole John Doe (2000)
A male who was recovered from the Styx River in Seminole, Alabama in 2000. On January 30, it was announced that his body would be exhumed for further forensic testing and DNA analysis.
Ventura County Jane Doe (1980)
A female who was found murdered by Wilson Chouset in Westlake, California in 1980. On January 23, the DNA Doe Project announced that she potentially had ties to Southern Texas, Northern & Central Mexico, Northern New Mexico, Southern Colorado, Southern California or Guatemala. The DDP is seeking the public's help with narrowing down these locations.
February 2020
Apache Junction Jane Doe
A female whose mummified body was discovered near US Route 60 in Apache Junction, Arizona in 1992. In February 2020, it was discovered that she may have ties to Virginia, Southwestern US, or Mexico, but most likely Virginia. She was also discovered to be Biracial (Black/Hispanic), disputing previous theories that she may have had White or Native American ancestry.
Kern County Jane Doe (1980)
A female who was found murdered in Delano, California in 1980. It was revealed by the DNA Doe Project that she was of First Nations heritage and had ties to Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Montana. They are seeking the public's assistance with getting better familial matches.
Twinsburg John Doe
A male whose partial remains were discovered at a business in Twinsburg, Ohio on February 18, 1982. On February 18, 2020, law enforcement announced that the decedent may have ancestral ties to Laurens County, South Carolina. The DNA Doe Project expanded on this and said that he may have ties to Spartanville County or Greenville County, South Carolina as well as Brooklyn, New York and Washington D.C.
Pima County John Doe (1976)
A male whose partial remains were discovered near Kitt Peak, Arizona in 1976. In February 2020, it was announced that there were plans to exhume his remains for DNA profiling and comparison against missing persons.
April 2020
Fort Myers Doe
A decedent of undetermined sex discovered in Fort Meyers, Florida in 2019. It was announced that the decedent had been tenatively identified as a woman last seen in 2017, based on the resemblance to the reconstruction and skull was being investigated.
May 2020
Finley Creek Jane Doe
A female who was discovered in a shallow grave near Elgin, Oregon in 1978. In 2020, her case was taken on by a volunteer task force in efforts to identify her and in May 2020, reconstruction was released.
Bitter Creek Betty and Sheridan County Jane Doe
Two females discovered in 1992, linked by DNA to have been killed alongside Pamela McCall by the same offender. In May 2020, it was announced police had arrested a 59-year-old suspect from Iowa.
July 2020
Oklahoma City John Doe (2020)
A man found in an open field in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in April 2020. His NamUs was removed in June or July 2020.
Ottawa County Jane Doe (1967)
A female who was discovered in a wooded area in Hudson, Michigan in 1967. In July 2020, it was announced that NCMEC and the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office were exhuming the victim's body for DNA.
August 2020
Phoenix Jane Doe (November 21, 2004)
A woman who was struck and killed in a hit-and-run accident in Phoenix, Arizona. In August 2020, it was announced that she may have family in Calvillo, Aguascalientes, Mexico
Betty the Bag Lady
An elderly woman found deceased with her hands severed in New Buffalo, Michigan. In August 2020, it was announced that the DNA Doe Project was following potential leads, which they did not elaborate on. The investigating office has stated that they are most likely following potential familial ties and searching for relatives.
Cliff
A man who's partial skeletal remains were discovered in rural Marion, Montana in 2003. In August 2020, the DNA Doe Project shared findings with the Crime Junkie podcast, saying that he may have ancestral connections to Harlan County, Kentucky, Montgomery County, Indiana, and Hancock County, Tennessee.
September 2020
Trabuco Canyon John Doe
A teenage/young man who's skeletal remains were discovered in a ravine in Trabuco Canyon, California. In September, 2020, the DNA Doe Project found that the male was most likely between 15 and 19 years old, and that he or his relatives were from a remote area of Latin America. NCMEC also updated his reconstruction to portray more Hispanic characteristics.
October 2020
New London Jane Doe
A young woman whose partial skeletal remains were discovered in a garage in New London, Ohio in 2016. In October 2020, The Porchlight Project announced that genetic genealogy revealed a link to a woman named Hallie Armstrong who died in 1881. However, her identity hasn't been confirmed because there are currently no close DNA matches available.
Nashville Jane Doe (1998)
A middle-age female was recovered from the Cumberland River in Nashville, Tennessee on March 18, 1998 with two gunshot wounds to her head. Recent genealogy research indicated she had family residing in Chilton County, Alabama.
Summit County John Doe
A man found to have committed suicide by gunshot in White River National Forest in Colorado. In October 2020, the DNA Doe Project announced that he was most likely of Scandinavian descent.
December 2020
Lincoln County Jane Doe
The remains of a girl aged 6-10 were discovered in an Oregon state park in December 2020. As of January 2021, her remains have yet to be identified, and a facial approximation has since been released. Further testing and examinations are ongoing, and it is believed she was the victim of homicide.
January 2021
Snohomish County John Doe
A man who was discovered in the Stillaguamish River in Washington in 1980. In January 2021, it was announced that Othram Inc and the Snohomish County Sheriff’s and Medical Examiner’s Offices have teamed up to identify the decedent.
Bear Brook Jane Doe
A girl who was found dead in Allenstown, New Hampshire in 2000. She is the only remaining unidentified victim of the Bear Brooks Murders. In January 2021, it was announced that the New Hampshire State Police have teamed up with Barbara Rae-Venter in order to establish the victim's identity and it is believed she has ties to Pearl River County, Mississippi.