Marion County Coroner's Office Partners with Othram to Identify 2020 Jane Doe

Summary

In November 2020 an unidentified woman was found outside of an abandoned residence located in Indianapolis, Indiana and taken to Community East Hospital via ambulance where she later died. The cause of death was determined to be hypothermia and the manner of death was determined to be Accident. No foul play was suspected.

The Marion County Coroner’s Office uploaded the case information into the National Unidentified and Missing Persons System (NamUs) in April 2021 as UP79956. The woman could not be identified through matches to missing persons records or through traditional forensic methods.

In 2023, the Marion County Coroner’s Office explored the option of forensic genetic genealogy as a tool for their identifications project. Forensic evidence was sent to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas and a suitable extract was developed. Othram’s scientists used Forensic Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile, and Othram’s in-house genetic-genealogy team used the profile to generate investigative leads.

The leads were returned to the Marion County Coroner’s Office and investigators continued their efforts of attempting to locate family. Eventually, the next of kin was identified. The Marion County Coroner’s Office confirmed positive identification of the unknown woman as Patricia Anderson, in April 2023. Patricia was originally from California and it is not clear how she ended up in Indiana. The Marion County Coroner’s Office offers their condolences to the family of Patricia Anderson, and those who knew Patricia.

Marion County Coroner's Office and Othram want to gratefully acknowledge Audiochuck for funding the analysis in this case. Audiochuck is an Indianapolis-based media company that develops true crime content. This case was funded through a project Audiochuck and Othram have developed to help clear unsolved cold cases in Indiana.