Summary

In August 1983, the skeletal remains of an unidentified person were found on a sand bar along the south bank of the Missouri River in Jackson County, Missouri by a fisherman. The remains were partially buried in sand and caught on a pile of logs. The body was found with a red shirt and checked pants but no identification or valuables were found and the remains were transported to the Jackson County Medical Examiners Office. Investigators determined it was a woman and the amount of decomposition indicated she had been dead approximately a year. Despite an exhaustive effort by investigators, the woman could not be identified, and she became known as Jackson County Jane Doe.

In 2024, the Jackson County Medical Examiner's Office teamed with Othram to use advanced DNA technology to help identify the woman. Evidence was submitted to Othram’s laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the forensic evidence and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown woman. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used the profile in a genealogical search to generate new investigative leads in the case, including the identification of potential relatives of the unidentified woman. During the course of the investigation a potential relative was identified. The comprehensive profile for the Jane Doe was then compared to the potential relative using KinSNP® Rapid Relationship Testing. The KinSNP® analysis confirmed the relationship and helped investigators confirm the identity of the woman as Thelma (Horlock) Hill, who was born in Toronto, Canada on February 18, 1927. She was married to WIlliam Hill and had three children.

The identification of Thelma Hill represents the 19th case in the State of Missouri where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. To read about other cases in Missouri cases, visit DNASolves.