Summary
In June 1987, the body of a young woman was discovered behind an auto repair shop on Collingwood Boulevard near Interstate 75 in Toledo, Ohio. It was determined that the woman died several days prior to her body being found. The woman was wrapped in pink-colored cloth, similar to a blanket, and she was wearing Jordache jeans. Her toenails were painted pink and she had five piercings in each ear, with small, round pearl earrings. She had short cropped strawberry-blonde hair and was estimated to have been 16 to 20 years old at ther time of death. The woman was approximately 5’4” to 5’7” in height and weighed about 110 pounds. It appeared that someone had set fire to the woman's body in an attempt to destroy evidence.
Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP4778. A forensic sketch was developed and released to the public in hopes that it would generate new leads about the woman's identity. Despite available clues and identifying characteristics, the young woman was never identified and she became known as Toledo Jane Doe.
In 2024, Toledo Police Department Detective Jason Mussery requested funding for advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy in hopes that Toledo Jane Doe may finally be identified. The Porchlight Project, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that offers funding for DNA testing and genetic genealogy for Ohio cold cases, agreed to fund Othram's casework costs. Othram scientists will use Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the Jane Doe. This profile will be used in a forensic genetic genealogy search for the development of new investigative leads.
Updates in the case will be provided as they become available. Anyone with information about Toledo Jane Doe is asked to contact the Toledo Police Investigative Services Bureau at 419-245-3142.
Michael Vogen
Director of Case Management
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.