Riverside County District Attorney, Sheriff's Office, and California DOJ Team with Othram to Identify a 1988 Homicide Victim

Summary

In December 1988, the remains of an unidentified individual were discovered on the 300 block of East 4th Street in Perris, California. Perris is located nearly halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego. Investigators believed that the woman was likely between the ages of 30 and 40 years old. She stood 5’9” tall and weighed approximately 105 pounds. Her death was ruled a homicide.

Investigators observed that the woman had multiple tattoos, including the head of a horse that turned into a flower, a depiction of a Harley Davidson eagle with the name "John" underneath, and a rose with leaves and the name "Stoney" underneath. She also had pierced ears. A forensic sketch depicting how the woman may have looked during her life was developed and released to the public in hopes that it would generate leads about the woman’s identity. Despite the extensive efforts of law enforcement to identify the woman, no matches were found, and the case went cold due to a lack of viable leads. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP7120.

In 2022, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, in collaboration with the California Department of Justice, submitted skeletal evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas, to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the woman. Funding for Othram’s casework costs was provided by the Roads to Justice (RTJ) program. Othram scientists developed a DNA extract from the remains and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown woman. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the profile in a genetic genealogy search to produce new investigative leads, which were provided to law enforcement.

Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted, leading investigators to potential relatives of the woman. This investigation led to the positive identification of the woman, who is now known to be 25-year-old Jacqueline “Jackie” Danette Ebel, born January 2, 1963. Ebel was reported missing in Long Beach only days prior to the discovery of her body. Ebel had lived in Long Beach and Bellflower at times and had previously used Yonkers and Palmer as surnames.

Authorities are asking for the public’s help to find the person responsible for Jackie Ebel’s death, urging anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward by contacting the Riverside County District Attorney’s Cold Case team at coldcaseunit@rivcoda.org or call the Cold Case Hotline at 951-955-5567.

The identification of Jacqueline “Jackie” Danette Ebel represents the 43rd case in the State of California where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. Most recently in Trinidad, California, Milton Leon Pellegrini, Jr. , who died in a 1987 boating accident, was identified after 37 years.