Albuquerque Police Department, UNM Office of the Medical Examiner, & FBI Leverage Othram’s Forensic Sequencing Platform to Identify a 1994 Jane Doe

Summary

In January 1994, the skeletal remains of a woman were found along Albuquerque, New Mexico’s Interstate 40. The discovery was made by crews cleaning up the roadside. In addition to a woman’s skull, an upper denture, and other pieces of bone were collected. There was also a distinctive sweater found near the remains, which led to the woman's being referred to as “Jane Doe Sweater”.

It was determined that the woman was of Hispanic ancestry and between the ages 30 to 40 years at the time of her death. The woman had suffered blunt trauma to the face. It is believed that Jane Doe Sweater’s remains had been in the elements for approximately one year prior to being discovered. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP6086.

In 2006, traditional DNA testing was performed and Jane Doe’s STR profile was entered into CODIS, but no matches were found. Additionally, a clay reconstruction of the woman’s face along with artist renderings of the reconstruction were developed in hopes that it would generate new leads in the case. In 2022, a Crime Stoppers bulletin was issued in an attempt to garner tips about the woman’s identity. Despite investigator's tireless efforts, the woman could not be identified.

In September 2022, the Albuquerque Police Department, working with the Office of the Medical Examiner at the University of New Mexico, submitted forensic evidence to Othram in hopes that advanced DNA testing could assist in the identification of Jane Doe. Upon receipt of evidence at Othram's laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas, Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract. A comprehensive DNA profile was then built for the woman using Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing®. Upon completion of the process, the profile was delivered to investigators with the Albuquerque Police Department’s Cold Case Unit and the FBI’s forensic genetic genealogy team.

In April 2023, investigators built a family tree for Jane Doe Sweater, which led to possible relatives of the woman who lived in Albuquerque. After a follow-up investigation, and through reference DNA testing, it was confirmed that the woman found near the sweater in 1994, is Carmela Vivian Duran. Duran’s family stated that they lost touch with her in the late 1980s and thought she had moved from the area. Carmela Duran was never reported missing.

Any information on the 1994 case of Carmela Vivian can be submitted anonymously to the Albuquerque Metro Crime Stoppers at (5050)-843-STOP or p3tips.com/531.

The identification of Carmela Vivian Duran represents the second case in the State of New Mexico where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. To learn more about other New Mexico cases, visit DNASolves.