Summary
In July 1997, the skeletal remains of an unidentified individual were discovered in Camden Wyoming, a neighborhood in Kent County, Delaware. The discovery was made by a hiker who was walking in a wooded area off Route 10 and Mahans Corner Road. It was determined that the remains were that of an adult female, estimated to be between 40 and 60 years old at her time of death. The woman’s height was estimated to be 5’6”. She had brown hair and wore a blue hair clip and a black watch. The woman became known as Kent County Jane Doe and her death was ruled as a homicide.
A forensic composite depicting how the woman may have looked during her life was developed and released to the public in hopes that it would generate leads about her identity. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP2262. Despite investigators’ efforts, the woman could not be identified and her identity was a mystery for more than two decades.
In 2022, the Delaware Division of Forensic Science submitted forensic evidence to Othram’s laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas where scientists worked to extract DNA from the provided evidence. A comprehensive DNA profile was developed using Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to enable forensic genetic genealogy research. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team worked to develop new leads in the case, which were returned to law enforcement for a follow-up investigation.
The follow-up investigation led investigators to potential relatives of the woman. A reference DNA sample was collected from a possible relative and compared to the DNA profile of the unknown woman using KinSNP® rapid relationship testing. This investigation led to the positive identification of the woman, who is now known to be Yvonne Hollister.
Funding for the advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy used in this case was provided by NamUs, a national program that assists the criminal justice community with the investigation and resolution of missing, unidentified, and unclaimed persons cases across the United States and its territories. NamUs is funded and administered by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and is managed through a contract with Research Triangle Institute International. We are grateful for the support of RTI, NamUs, and the NIJ.
The identification of Yvonne Hollister represents the first case in Delaware where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. To read about other Delaware cases, visit DNASolves.
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.