Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Partners with Othram to Identify a 1993 Jane Doe

For over three decades, the identity of a murdered woman, whose charred remains were found in an empty lot in Bridgeport, Connecticut, has remained a mystery.

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Published April 20 by Michael Vogen
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Summary

In June 1993, the remains of an unidentified individual were found in an empty lot in Bridgeport, Connecticut, which is located southwest of New Haven off of I-95. The Bridgeport Police Department responded to the scene in a vacant lot at Lafayette Street and Railroad Avenue in the south end of the city. The Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that the remains were that of a black female between 25 and 35 years of age who stood 5’ 3” tall. The woman was badly burned and no other identifying characteristics could be determined. A white Asics sneaker was found near the woman’s remains as well as a Reebok sneaker. It was determined that the woman's manner of death was homicide.

In 2015, case details were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP14478. Additionally, a composite sketch depicting how the woman may have looked during her life was developed and released to the public in hopes that it would generate new leads in the case. For more than thirty years, the identity of the woman has remained a mystery despite efforts of investigators.

In 2024, as part of an ongoing collaboration aimed at solving the backlog of cold cases in Connecticut, the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner partnered with Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help to identify the woman. So far, five individuals have been identified through this collaboration, including Linda Sue Childers, formerly known as "Lorraine Stahl". Childers' identity was determined in March 2024, nearly fifty years after her remains were discovered in Ledyard, Connecticut. To read about other solved and in-progress Connecticut cases, click here.

Othram will use Forensic-Grade Genomic Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile to generate new investigative leads for the case. Anyone with information that could aid in this investigation is encouraged to contact the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner by calling 860-679-3980 and referencing agency case 93-05848 or NamUs ID UP14478.

A DNASolves crowdfund has been created to raise funds for the casework costs. Anyone can contribute here. We are grateful for your support.

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Michael Vogen

Michael Vogen

Director of Case Management

2829 Technology Forest Blvd Suite 100, The Woodlands, Texas 77381
media@othram.com

Michael works with law enforcement agencies throughout the United States and Canada on “unsolvable“ cases that can benefit from advanced DNA testing methods. He helps these agencies use cutting edge DNA sequencing and new forensic techniques to develop investigative leads for their cases.

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About Othram Inc.

Othram is the world’s first private DNA laboratory built specifically to apply the power of modern parallel sequencing to forensic evidence. Othram’s scientists are experts at ... Read morerecovery, enrichment, and analysis of human DNA from trace quantities of degraded or contaminated materials. Founded in 2018, and located in The Woodlands, Texas, our team works with academic researchers, forensic scientists, medical examiners, and law enforcement agencies to achieve results when other approaches have failed. Follow Othram on Twitter @OthramTech or visit Othram.com to learn how we can help you with your case. With dnasolves.com anyone can make a difference and help solve the next cold case.