Summary
On September 8, 2018, a woman’s remains were discovered on Sulphur Creek Road in Tennessee’s northwest Davidson County. The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department responded to a 911 call made by a passerby who made the discovery. The woman was estimated to be 5’1” to 5’9” tall and her ancestry could not be definitively determined. She wore a dark colored, half-zip sweatshirt with "Vandy" logo on the upper left side with black and white patterned Vanderbilt University athletic pants.
Investigators made exhaustive efforts to identify the woman. STR and mitochondrial DNA profiles were developed and searched in CODIS, but no match was ever made. Forensic sketches were developed and released to the public, and countless leads were provided to law enforcement. Despite these efforts, the woman went unidentified. Details of the case were entered into NamUs as UP52531 and the woman became known as “Vandy Jane Doe,” aptly named for the clothing she wore at the time of her discovery.
In December 2022, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department submitted evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas where scientists determined that advanced DNA testing could help identify Vandy Jane Doe. At Othram, scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided skeletal evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the woman. This profile was used by Othram’s forensic genetic genealogy team in a genealogical search to provide leads to genetic relatives of the unknown woman.
Following this, local law enforcement continued the forensic genetic genealogy research, generating new investigative leads in the case. Through this investigation, Vandy Jane Doe is now identified as Yadezia Jones, who was born in 1993. An investigation into Jones’s death is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact Metropolitan Nashville Police Department Detective Andrew Davis by calling 615-862-7720.
This is the 30th publicly announced case in the State of Tennessee where officials leveraged Othram’s identity inference pipeline. Explore other cases on 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.