Summary
On December 7, 1991, the remains of an unidentified woman were discovered in Sorrento, Florida. A hiker found the woman beneath a pile of tree branches along a hiking trail about 75 yards north of Ethel Drive in a wooded area near Sorrento. The Lake County Sheriff's Office responded and began collecting evidence and investigating.
Investigators estimated the woman was between 25 and 40 years old, approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall, and weighed about 124 pounds. She had brown hair with blonde tips and hazel eyes. Investigators determined that she had been strangled and sexually assaulted prior to her death. While the woman could not be identified, Joseph A. Rolle, Jr. was charged with her rape and murder. A jury convicted Joseph A. Rolle, Jr. for the woman's rape, but not her murder. Rolle, Jr. denied knowing the woman's identity.
Despite extensive investigative efforts, including fingerprint analysis and follow-up on numerous leads, the woman could not be identified. The case remained unresolved for more than three decades. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP6031.
In 2024, investigators with the Lake County Sheriff's Office submitted evidence to Othram's laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas. At Othram, scientists worked to develop a DNA extract from the provided evidence, then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the woman. Othram's forensic genetic genealogy team used the profile in a genetic genealogy search to develop new investigative leads that were returned 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 Leslie Shaw, born in 1958. Shaw was missing from the central Florida area since approximately 1991.
This is the 66th publicly announced case in the State of Florida where investigators have used Othram's technology to identify an individual. Learn about other cases by visiting 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.