Fond du Lac County Jane Doe


Fond du Lac County Jane Doe is an unidentified female discovered on November 23, 2008, near Campbellsport, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. She has yet to be identified, although many efforts have been made to discover who she was. Investigators believe that it is possible that she may not have been from the area. The victim was between fifteen and twenty-one years old when she died, placing her year of birth between 1987 and 1994. Her face was reconstructed digitally by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in 2009 and again in 2018 to approximate her appearance, as decomposition hindered the possibility of visual identification. After the revised rendering was released, her remains were exhumed for additional forensic information. Isotope testing indicated she originated from New Mexico or Arizona and had lived in the Midwest for about a year or less before her death. Genetic genealogy research was also utilized as a way to locate potential relatives.

Discovery

The remains of a young woman were found frozen in a creek by hunters on November 23, 2008, in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, near an abandoned farm. To extract the body, investigators were forced to chisel away the ice and scuba divers searched the bottom for evidence. Some articles of clothing were found, including a strapless Zoey Beth black and pink top with a pink bow, originating from Family Dollar, distributed in the spring of 2008. The underclothing that she wore, also from Family Dollar, was shipped only between July 1 and July 15, 2008. Her jeans were that of the Angels brand and the bottom of the legs had been rolled up, somewhat, and an elastic ponytail holder was found on her wrist.
No socks or shoes were found at the scene. Initially, no jewelry was found, until a penny-sized St. Benedict medal was found by divers, but it may not have belonged to her, as examiners could not be certain how long it had been in the water. However, some reports claim that a bracelet containing several pendants was also found on the girl's remains. Her hair was a shoulder-length light brown, possibly having hair highlights due to having some different shades. The clothing had caused some issues with investigators, as many of the different articles were in various sizes. It has been determined, however, that she was most likely around 120 pounds.

Examination

Her cause of death was inconclusive, as the severe decomposition on the body had removed all signs of possible violence from the remains. However, the case is believed to have been a murder, as suicide was eliminated as a possibility of the girl's death. The circumstances of the location of the remains had also sparked suspicion among authorities. Toxicology tests were conducted to see if any drugs or alcohol had been in her system, yet the results were never released.
Although the body was found in autumn, she had died in the summer, two to four months previously. This was established by examining traces from insects that were found on the remains. She had an overbite, and some fillings and dental sealants were found on the upper molars with no current cavities. The overbite was not described as extreme, but may have been noticeable, which could be a reliable feature depicted in her facial reconstruction. The estimated height was between 4'10" and 5'4", the victim being between fifteen and twenty-one years old and weighing between 110 to 135 pounds, at an "average frame". Examiners believe she was either white or Hispanic, although Native American and Asian races cannot be ruled out. She also may have been biracial. Other physical characteristics included a healed rib fracture and being pigeon toed or knock-kneed, which may have been noticeable when she walked, as her feet were slanted inward. She also suffered from spina bifida occulta, but may have been unaware of the condition.
To obtain DNA information, her femur was transported to the University of Texas. The victim's dental records were also recorded to compare to missing persons.

Investigation

At least 200 leads have been explored into discovering the identity of the victim. A computer-generated reconstruction was created from the skull by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children from mortuary photographs and a CT scan of the skull that were submitted to the center. The reconstruction of the victim generated over two hundred tips that did not produce solid leads, as the composite apparently resembled a large number of missing people. Former missing person Amanda Berry, one of several possible identities of the Jane Doe, was ruled out by DNA analysis. She was recovered alive in 2013.
Besides Amanda Berry, two other individuals that were eventually located were also ruled out of the case: Connie McCallister and Brittany Peart. McCallister, native to Wisconsin, was abducted at age 16 and taken to Mexico. She was eventually recovered alive after meeting a "church missionary" that reported the find to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Brittany Peart disappeared in July 2008 from Elkton, Maryland. Peart's remains were located and identified in December 2011. Her cause of death remains unreleased.
The Jane Doe's body was buried in 2011 after the investigation turned cold. Television shows such as America's Most Wanted were contacted to broadcast the case to possibly reveal new clues. A Facebook page was also created to generate leads for the case.
On April 23, 2018, a revised reconstruction was released and plans to exhume the victim for isotope testing and DNA phenotyping to predict geographical locations where she may have originated and to develop a clearer estimation of her ethnicity and physical characteristics. Genetic genealogy, credited with identifying a suspect in the Golden State Killer case, would also be used to locate individuals biologically related to the victim.
In August 2018, it was revealed isotopic analysis was performed on the victim's remains in the IsoForensics laboratory located in Utah. The testing indicated the Jane Doe likely spent most of her life in the Southwestern United States, such as Arizona and New Mexico. She had lived in the Midwest, perhaps states such as southwestern Wisconsin, northern Iowa and southern Minnesota for less than a year preceding her death. It was speculated by investigators that her case was related to the so-called West Mesa murders, but this was later ruled out.

Exclusions

A partial list of individuals who were excluded as potential identities of the Jane Doe, with the utilization of DNA and dental records.
NameBirth dateDisappearedAge at Jane Doe's murderLocationCircumstances
July 6, 1942July 7, 196265–66Reedsburg, WisconsinA woman who vanished after having marital problems with her husband, who claims he is not involved in her disappearance.
June 4, 1964June 4, 198544Richmond, VirginiaA woman who disappeared at the age of 21 and had left her children and her belongings behind, indicating foul play in her disappearance.
October 29, 1968February 9, 198939Gainesville, FloridaA college student who was presumed to have been murdered, yet her body has never been located.
April 23, 1973August 26, 199035Minneapolis, MinnesotaA young woman who disappeared at the age of seventeen.
April 4, 1977March 17, 199831Clarksville, TennesseeA woman whose vehicle was located at the establishment she worked at, yet she had never clocked in that day to work. She is presumed to have been murdered.
November 14, 1987December 2, 200020Medford, WisconsinA girl believed to have been abducted by her non-custodial mother.
October 15, 1985February 3, 200122Chesterfield, New HampshireA teenager who went missing alongside her mother.
1978/1979March 12, 200228-30Minneapolis, MinnesotaA woman who disappeared from Minnesota, whose vehicle was located a week following her disappearance.
1981August 15, 200227–28St. Ignace, MichiganA woman thought to have jumped to her death with her baby daughter. Their bodies were never located.
February 15, 1990April 29, 200318Nashville, TennesseeA teenager who disappeared after she was seen entering the vehicle of a middle-aged man. There was unconfirmed sighting in October 2003.
May 3, 1980December 15, 200328Milwaukee, WisconsinA woman who disappeared before she was due to testify against her abusive boyfriend, who committed suicide in 2007.
May 4, 1982February 9, 200426Amherst, MassachusettsA woman who disappeared after being involved in a single-vehicle accident in New Hampshire under suspicious circumstances.
December 2, 1987May 17, 200419Shiprock, New MexicoA teenager who disappeared, perhaps on her own accord and may still be in the area where she was last seen.
January 24, 1989July 6, 200419Saint Joseph, MissouriA teenager who left her home state with an adult male who was later located alone in Washington.
April 7, 1990January 15, 200518Fern Creek, KentuckyA teenager with a history of running away who disappeared under unknown circumstances.
1983/1984May 14, 200524/25Albuquerque, New MexicoA woman involved in drugs and prostitution prior to her disappearance.
April 27, 1990July 29, 200518La Crosse, WisconsinA teen who is theorized to possibly be alive and living in the area that she disappeared from. Edman is of White and Hispanic ancestry and has Heterochromia iridum, which caused one of her eyes to be brown and the other to be blue.
1985/1986January 19, 200621-23Albuquerque, New MexicoA woman who disappeared after announcing plans to travel to California.
1981/1982June 13, 200626/27Albuquerque, New MexicoA prostitute last seen at a hotel after an argument with her sister.
June 22, 1991June 23, 200617Fontana, CaliforniaA teen believed to be alive and living in the area she disappeared from.
January 3, 1988July 7, 200620Austin, TexasA woman who disappeared under unknown circumstances from a hotel.
1969/1970October 13, 200636/37New Port Richey, FloridaA woman reported missing by a friend after losing contact for two weeks.
1988/1989November 16, 200619-20North Delta, British ColumbiaA teenager who disappeared after taking a walk following an argument with her boyfriend.
February 11, 1992January 8, 200716Modesto, CaliforniaA teenager who may still be living in the area where she disappeared.
September 22, 1984January 8, 200723Minneapolis, MinnesotaLittle is known about the subject's disappearance.
February 27, 1992March 14, 200716Phoenix, ArizonaA teenager last seen in Michigan, known to use several aliases.
June 16, 1993July 9, 200715Cleveland, OhioA teenager who may have left home on her own accord. She made contact with her mother a month later but was never heard from again. Some theorize she may be a victim of Ariel Castro.
February 1, 1990December 31, 200718Las Vegas, NevadaA teenage female who may have gone missing alongside a "male companion".
October 25, 1992January 15, 200815Chicago, IllinoisA teenager who went missing from her home. Unlike the Jane Doe, she was of African descent.
October 27, 1988February 15, 200819Tampa Bay, FloridaA young woman who had called her sister from a party, yet never returned to the residence. Authorities suspect she was murdered.
May 12, 1988April 7, 200820Lawton, OklahomaA young woman who disappeared after she was dropped off at a store by a family member.
1987July 24, 200821Winnipeg, ManitobaA Canadian woman who disappeared under suspicious circumstances.
July 10, 1985October 4, 200823Sedalia, MissouriA woman who disappeared under suspicious circumstances after spending time with a person of interest at a bar.
August 27, 1993October 15, 200815San Diego, CaliforniaA teenager who may have run away to Mexico.
1973/1974November 11, 200834/35Lansing, MichiganA college student who disappeared under uncharacteristic circumstances.