Summary
On May 14, 1991, a woman and the driver of the semi-truck in which she was riding were killed in a crash on Interstate 5 near Kalama in Cowlitz County, Washington. The truck struck a stationary commercial vehicle that had stopped for roadway construction, igniting a fire that destroyed the cab. Investigators identified the driver as Lester Harvel, a husband and father from Missouri, but were unable to identify his passenger.
Investigators traced Harvel’s route through fuel purchase receipts, determining that he had departed Villa Ridge, Missouri, on May 7, 1991, and traveled through Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, and Oregon before entering Washington. After delivering a load in Tacoma, he was traveling south toward Portland when the crash occurred. Harvel was known to pick up hitchhikers, but no one could confirm the identity of the woman traveling with him.
The woman’s remains were not recognizable due to traumatic injuries. Investigators estimated that she was between 20 and 29 years old, stood approximately 5 feet 1 inch to 5 feet 4 inches tall, and weighed between 110 and 130 pounds. She had brown hair, a tattoo of the letter “S” below her left clavicle, severe scoliosis, and a small gap between her lower front teeth. She was wearing Levi’s jeans, a black cowboy vest, a gray top possibly containing pink, and feather earrings.
Despite investigative efforts, the woman remained unidentified and became known as “Helen Doe,” a name investigators chose because Mount St. Helens is visible from the crash site. Details of her case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP10449.
In 2022, investigators with the Washington State Patrol submitted evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas. Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive SNP profile for the woman. Othram’s forensic genetic genealogy team then used the profile to develop new investigative leads, which were returned to law enforcement.
Using these leads, investigators conducted a follow-up investigation and located potential relatives. The investigation ultimately led to the positive identification of Helen Doe as Mary Ellen McCullough, born March 26, 1957. She was 34 years old when she died.
This is the 52nd publicly announced case in Washington in which investigators have used Othram’s technology to identify an individual. Learn more about other cases on Othram’s website.
Dan Miller
Director of Customer Service
Dan guides law enforcement agencies across the United States and internationally through every step of the forensic process—from crime scene to courtroom. He ensures investigators have the support and resources they need to navigate advanced DNA testing and maximize the impact of forensic evidence in their cases.