DNA Doe Project

DNA Doe Project
Formation 2017
Founder Colleen Fitzpatrick (Co-Executive Director), Margaret Press (Co-Founder)
Purpose Body identification
Headquarters Sebastopol, California
Location
  • United States
Volunteers
40+
Website Official website

DNA Doe Project (AKA DNA Doe Project, Inc. or DDP) is a non-profit organization of volunteers who use genetic genealogy to identify unidentified victims of: auto accidents, homicide, unusual circumstances, and people who committed suicide under an alias.[1]

History

DNA Doe Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Sebastopol, California.[2] It was founded in 2017 by Colleen Fitzpatrick and Margaret Press. The two, along with many volunteers, use genealogy in conjunction with DNA from unidentified victims to build family trees through GEDmatch, a free public DNA database. After reading a Sue Grafton novel about a Jane Doe, Margaret planned to use family trees to identify unidentified homicide victims. By March 2018 DNA Doe Project solved its first case.

Colleen is the founder of IdentiFinders, an organization which uses Y-chromosomal testing to attempt to identify male killers in unsolved homicides.[3] IdentiFinders is also responsible for solving the identity of the unknown child on the Titanic. Previously she worked as a nuclear physics PhD with NASA and the Department of Defense.[3] Margaret is a novelist with previous careers in: computer programming, speech, and language consulting.[2] She retired from computer programming in 2015 and relocated from Salem, Massachusetts to Sebastopol, California to live near family.[2] As a hobby, Press began pursuing genealogy in 2007; helping friends and acquaintances find their loved ones as well as helping adoptees find their biological parents.[2]

Cases

Solved Cases

Robert Ivan Nichols, AKA Joseph Newton Chandler III

Joseph Newton Chandler III, a resident of Eastlake, Ohio, committed suicide in his apartment on 24 July 2002. As authorities sought to identify his heirs, they discovered that his name and identity were fake. The real Joseph Newton Chandler III had died in a Sherman, Texas car accident at age eight on 21 December 1945. The suicide victim had stolen the boy’s identity in 1978, while living in South Dakota. Authorities began a search for the man’s real name.[4][5][6][7][8]

Extracting DNA proved difficult, as the suicide victim’s remains had been cremated. In the year 2000, however, two years before his death, the victim had had a tissue sample taken for a medical treatment. Authorities obtained this sample, but genetic analysis of the sample using traditional law enforcement techniques yielded few clues. In 2016, authorities reached out to IdentiFinders, a company run by Dr. Colleen Fitzpatrick, for help. In examining the man’s Y-DNA signature, they determined that his true last name was likely “Nicholas” or some variation.[4][6][5][7][8]

Later, in 2017, Dr. Fitzpatrick and Dr. Press formed the volunteer-based, nonprofit DNA Doe Project (DDP), and Chandler became its first case. A small group of volunteers at DDP analyzed the highly degraded sample of the man’s DNA, which had been stored in paraffin for about 15 years. Despite the obstacles, these researchers were able to conclusively determine that Joseph Newton Chandler III, who had committed suicide in 2002, was actually Robert Ivan Nichols, son of Silas and Alpha Nichols of New Albany, Indiana. This identification was verified when Robert’s son, Phillip Nichols, volunteered a DNA sample, which proved to be a match.[4][6][5][7][8]

Marcia Lenore Sossoman King, AKA "Buckskin Girl"

In 1981, Police found a murder victim in a ditch in Troy, Ohio. Because the victim, a female, was found wearing a distinctive buckskin coat, she was given the name “Buckskin Girl” as the case continued. For decades, authorities sought the woman’s identity, but to no avail.[9][10]

Finally, at the 2017 American Academy of Forensic Sciences conference, Elizabeth Murray, an Ohio forensic anthropologist, met the founders of the DNA Doe Project and discussed what genetic genealogy techniques could do for the case. The victim’s body had long since been buried, but a vial of blood had been held in a lab for 37 years. The vial had not been refrigerated, however, leaving the DNA highly degraded, with only 50%-75% of markers remaining. With the help of Greg Magoon, a senior researcher at Aerodyne Research, they were able to upload this DNA data to GEDmatch, a site which provided a variety of tools for genetic genealogy analysis.[9][10]

From here, the DNA Doe Project was able to identify the Buckskin Girl thanks to a very close DNA match (a first cousin once removed). Her real name was Marcia Lenore Sossoman King from Arkansas, age 21 at the time of her death. From here, DNA Doe Project volunteers provided law enforcement with the name of a close relative of King’s who lived in Florida. This relative volunteered a DNA sample to verify King’s identity. This sample proved to be a match. After 37 years, her mother was still living and had refused to move or change her phone number in hopes that her daughter might return.[9][10]

Lyle Stevik

In September 2001, a man was found to have hanged himself in a motel in Amanda Park, Washington. The man had checked in as “Lyle Stevik,” the name of a character in a Joyce Carol Oates novel. The Gray Harbour County Sheriff’s Office spent countless hours in search of the man’s true identity, but to no avail.[11][12][13]

[14] In 2018, the DNA Doe Project adopted the case at the request of the Sheriff’s Office. In order to raise the funds required to complete the necessary DNA tests, the DDP set up its first-ever “Doe Fund Me” campaign on his behalf. The campaign was a quick success, as by this time “Lyle” had gained Internet fame among websleuths. Adequate funds were raised within 24 hours. By 22 March 2018, DDP volunteers had obtained his DNA results and began analyzing.[11][12][13][14]

After about 20 volunteers poured hundreds of hours into the case, a candidate was found in a 25-year-old young man from California. Authorities reached out to the man’s family, who were able to conclusively verify his identity using fingerprint samples they had from earlier years. The family has requested that Lyle’s true identity not be released.[11][12][13][14]

Ongoing Cases

Typically, each case at the DNA Doe Project undergoes the following steps:

  1. Acceptance of case from law enforcement
  2. Extraction of DNA sample (sometimes repeated if the first sample proves too degraded for analysis)
  3. Fundraising for DNA sequencing
  4. Sequencing of DNA sample
  5. Bioinformatics "translates" the DNA sequencing into a digital data file that is compatible with GEDmatch
  6. Uploading DNA data file to GEDmatch
  7. Genealogical analysis using GEDmatch and other tools
  8. Tentative identification of the Doe
  9. Law enforcement verifies identity, typically using fingerprints or a DNA sample provided by an immediate relative

The following is a chart of the DNA Doe Project's ongoing cases, along with an indication of where each case is in the process:

Name Date Remains were Found Place Remains were Found Status
Sheep Flats Jane Doe / Washoe County Jane Doe 17 July 1982 near Lake Tahoe, Washoe County, Nevada Tentatively identified[15][16][17]
Belle in the Well / Chesapeake Jane Doe 22 April 1981 Windsor Township, Lawrence County, Ohio Genealogical analysis[18][19]
Mill Creek Shed Man 12 January 2015 Mill Creek, Snohomish County, Washington Genealogical analysis[20][21]
Anaheim Jane Doe 30 August 1987 Anaheim, Orange County, California Genealogical analysis[22]
Lavender Doe 29 October 2006 Kilgore, Gregg County, Texas Genealogical analysis[23]
Butler County Jane Doe 7 March 2015 West Chester, Butler County, Ohio Genealogical analysis[23]
Kings County Jane Doe 13 May 2015 Corcoran, Kings County, California Bioinformatics[24]
Apache Junction Jane Doe 6 August 1992 Apache Junction, Pinal County, Arizona Bioinformatics[25]
Annie Doe 19 August 1971 Cave Junction, Josephine County, Oregon Bioinformatics[23][26][27]
John Clinton Doe / Rock County John Doe 26 November 1995 Bradford Township, Rock County, Wisconsin Bioinformatics[23][28]
Ventura County Jane Doe 18 July 1980 Westlake, Ventura County, California Bioinformatics[23][29]
St Tammany Parish John Doe 29 July 2016 St Tammany Parish, Louisiana Bioinformatics[23][30]
Orange Socks 31 October 1979 Georgetown, Williamson County, Texas Sequencing[23][31]
Augusta, ME John Doe ("Alfred Jake Fuller") 2 May 2014 Oakland, Kennebec County, Maine Sequencing[23][32]
Julie Doe 25 September 1988 Clermont, Lake County, Florida 2nd round of extraction failed[23][33]
Alachua County John Doe 13 February 1979 Alachua County, Florida 2nd round of extraction failed[23][34]
Rebel Ray John Doe 3 October 1988 Williamson County, Texas 2nd round of extraction failed[23][35]
Corona Girl 25 Sep 1989 Williamson County, Texas 2nd round of extraction failed[23][36]
Beckler River Road Doe Stalled (insufficient/contaminated DNA)[23]
Sultan Basin Road Doe Stalled (insufficient/contaminated DNA)[23]

References

  1. ↑ "How they did it: Groundbreaking technology reveals ID in 37-year-old cold case".
  2. 1 2 3 4 e.hillin@sonomawest.com, E.I. Hillin, Staff Writer,. "Finding Jane Doe's real name: Local DNA sleuth is on the case".
  3. 1 2 "Nobody Was Going To Solve These Cold Cases. Then Came The DNA Crime Solvers".
  4. 1 2 3 Augenstein, Seth. "DNA Doe Project Names Another, Giving Major Piece in Infamous Ohio Mystery". Forensic Magazine. Forensic Magazine. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 Metzger, Stephanie. "How did authorities solve the true identity of Joseph Newton Chandler III?". wkyc3. WKYC. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 Caniglia, John. "Authorities solve cold case of war hero who hid behind dead boy's identity". Cleveland.com. cleveland.com. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 Grzegorek, Vince. "Mystery of Identity of Ohio Man Who Hid Behind Fake Name for Years Solved, Mystery of Why Remains". clevescene.com. Clevescene.com. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  8. 1 2 3 Pepi, Kirk. "The Man Who Woke Up As An 8-Year-Old Boy". Mel Magazine. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 Augenstein, Seth (16 Apr 2018). "'Buck Skin Girl' Case Break Is Success of New DNA Doe Project". Forensic Magazine. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  10. 1 2 3 ""Buckskin Girl" case: DNA breakthrough leads to ID of 1981 murder victim". CBS News. 12 Apr 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  11. 1 2 3 Murphy, Neil (19 May 2018). "Internet sleuths finally solve riddle of mystery man 'Lyle Stevik' whose suicide ignited numerous conspiracy theories during 9/11 aftermath". Mirror. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  12. 1 2 3 Pepi, Kirk (14 May 2018). "One of the Internet's Favorite Mysteries Has Been Solved". Mel Magazine. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  13. 1 2 3 "Lyle Stevik Identified; Closing 16 1/2 Year Old Unsolved Case". KXRO News. 8 May 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  14. 1 2 3 Augenstein, Seth (9 May 2018). "DNA Doe Project IDs 2001 Motel Suicide, Using Genealogy". Forensic Magazine. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  15. ↑ "Sheep Flat Jane Doe". DNA Doe Project. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  16. ↑ "Identified! "Sheep Flat Jane Doe"". Facebook. DNA Doe Project. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  17. ↑ "Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP8427". NAMUS. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  18. ↑ "Belle in the Well". DNA Doe Project. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  19. ↑ "Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP6259". NAMUS. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  20. ↑ "Mill Creek Shed Man". DNA Doe Project. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  21. ↑ "Unidentified Person Case - 13502". National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  22. ↑ "Anaheim Jane Doe". DNA Doe Project. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "DNA Doe Project". Facebook. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  24. ↑ "Kings County Jane Doe". DNA Doe Project. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  25. ↑ "Apache Junction Jane Doe". DNA Doe Project. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  26. ↑ "Annie Doe". DNA Doe Project. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  27. ↑ "Have you seen this child? JANE DOE1971". National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  28. ↑ "John Clinton Doe". DNA Doe Project. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  29. ↑ "Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP11249". NAMUS. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  30. ↑ "New Details Released About Unidentified Homicide Victim". St Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  31. ↑ "Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP8056". NAMUS. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  32. ↑ "Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP15432". NAMUS. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  33. ↑ "Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP6030". NAMUS. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  34. ↑ "Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP5286". NAMUS. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  35. ↑ "Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP4062". NAMUS. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  36. ↑ "Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP4023". NAMUS. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
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