Author Topic: ST. PAUL JANE DOE: WF, 16-30, found in Mississippi River - 20 July 1977 *Mary Jensen*  (Read 228 times)

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Jane Doe's body was located in the Mississippi River between Childs and Warner Road in St. Paul, Minnesota, on July 20, 1977.

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Akoya

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https://identifyus.org/en/cases/4804

Case Information
Status Unidentified

Case number 39918
Date found July 20, 1977 00:00
Date created February 09, 2009 15:06
Date last modified February 22, 2017 08:26
Investigating agency
date QA reviewed June 20, 2011 22:05

Local Contact (ME/C or Other)
Agency Ramsey Cnty Med Examiners Ofc
Phone 651-266-1700
Case Manager
Name Butch Huston
Phone 651.266.1700

Exclusions

The following people have been ruled out as being this decedent:
First Name Last Name Year of Birth State LKA
Michelle Meiser 1954 Minnesota

Akoya

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https://identifyus.org/en/cases/4804

NamUs UP # 4804

[​IMG]
ME/C Case Number: 39918
Ramsey County, Minnesota
16 to 30 year old White Female

Case Report - NamUs UP # 4804
Case Information
Status Unidentified
Case number 39918
Date found July 20, 1977 00:00
Date created February 09, 2009 15:06
Date last modified February 22, 2017 08:26
Investigating agency
date QA reviewed June 20, 2011 22:05

Local Contact (ME/C or Other)

Agency Ramsey Cnty Med Examiners Ofc
Phone 651-266-1700
Case Manager
Name Butch Huston
Phone 651.266.1700

Demographics
Estimated age Adult - Pre 30
Minimum age 16 years
Maximum age 30 years
Race White
Ethnicity
Sex Female
Weight (pounds) 130, Estimated
Height (inches) 68, Estimated
Body Parts Inventory (Check all that apply)
All parts recovered
Body conditions
Not recognizable - Decomposing/putrefaction
Probable year of death 0 to 1977

Circumstances

Location Found
GPS coordinates
Address 1
Address 2
City St. Paul
State Minnesota
Zip code 55101
County Ramsey
Circumstances
Body found in Mississippi River between Childs and Warner Road, St. Paul.

Physical

Hair color Brown
Head hair
Medium length, Brown

Left eye color Brown
Right eye color Brown
Eye description
Brown or Green

Scars and marks
Multiple Abdominal STRIA

Fingerprints
Status: Fingerprint information is currently not available

Clothing and Accessories

No clothing or accessories
Clothing and accessories are described below
Clothing on body
Green, Red, Blue vertically stripped shirt with thinner lateral stripes, high waisted blue jeans, brown knee high stockings size 5 underwear.
Clothing with body

Footwear

Approximate Size 8 TO 9

Dental

Status: Dental information / charting is available and entered

DNA

Status: Sample submitted - Tests complete

Images
There are currently no images available for this case.

Akoya

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http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/849ufmn.html

Case File: 849UFMN
The Doe Network




Unidentified Female
Date of Discovery: July 20, 1977
Location of Discovery: St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota
Estimated Date of Death: Unknown
State of Remains: Not recognizable - Decomposing/putrefaction
Cause of Death: Unknown

Physical Description
** Listed information is approximate

Estimated Age: 16-30 years old
Race: White
Gender: Female
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 130 lbs.
Hair Color: Brown, medium length
Eye Color: Brown or green

Distinguishing Marks/Features: Multiple abdominal stria (stretch marks).

Dentals: Available. Multiple dental fillings, silver and gold. Chipped teeth.
Fingerprints: Not available.
DNA: Not available.
Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: Green, red, blue vertically striped shirt with thinner lateral stripes, high waisted blue jeans, brown knee-high stockings, underwear (size 5), and shoes (approximate size 8 to 9).

Jewelry: Unknown

Additional Personal Items: Unknown

Case History
The decedent was located in the Mississippi River between Childs and Warner Road in St. Paul, Minnesota, on July 20, 1977.

Investigating Agency(s)
If you have any information about this case please contact;

Agency Name: Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office (MN)
Agency Contact Person: Butch Huston
Agency Phone Number: 651-266-1700
E-Mail
Agency Case Number: 39918
NCIC Case Number: N/A
NamUs Case Number: MP/UP #4804
Former Hot Case Number: 1409
Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.

Information Source(s)

NamUs

Akoya

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Akoya

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The decedent was located in the Mississippi River between Childs and Warner Road in St. Paul, Minnesota, on July 20, 1977.


Warner Road Bridge





Trail drops in elevation and curves back north to go underneath one of the Childs Road ramps. New lighting is visible.


Akoya

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Scorpio

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St. Paul Jane Doe has been identified as Mary Jensen.


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https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/nonprofit-cracks-45-year-old-cold-case-to-name-woman-pulled-from-mississippi-river-in-st-paul/

Nonprofit cracks 45-year-old cold case to name woman pulled from Mississippi River
 By WCCO Staff
August 2, 2022

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- A team of volunteer DNA researchers was able to trace genealogy clues to determine the identity of a young woman pulled from the Mississippi River in St. Paul nearly 50 years ago. 

The nonprofit DNA Doe Project says it determined the woman was Mary Jensen. Her body was pulled from the river in 1977. At the time, investigators were unable to determine how long she'd been in the water or her cause of death. The case went cold for more than 45 years. 

However, in March of 2021, Butch Huston with the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office, reached out to the DNA Doe Project, group said. Later that summer, a team of researchers delved into the case.

The team spent more than 850 hours looking at DNA evidence and following genealogy clues to figure out the woman's identity. 

The researchers **** the case after discovering recent links to Finland and Italy. The search led investigators to comb through documents from those two countries, and they eventually determined that the woman was Jensen. 

Scorpio

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https://www.forensicmag.com/589010-DDP-Goes-International-to-ID-Woman-Pulled-from-Mississippi-River-in-1977/

DDP Goes International to ID Woman Pulled from Mississippi River in 1977

A young woman pulled from the Mississippi River in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1977 has finally been identified by the DNA Doe Project and the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s office as Mary Jensen. Investigators at the time were unable to determine how long she had been in the water, or her cause of death, and the case went cold for more than 45 years.

In March 2021, Butch Huston of the Ramsey County ME’s office reached out to the DNA Doe Project and submitted DNA extract from Jane Doe to a series of lab processes to create a DNA profile. Later that summer, a team of dedicated and skilled DNA Doe Project volunteer investigative genetic genealogists was assembled and research began using DNA databases at GEDmatch.com and FTDNA.com.

From the beginning, the team faced challenges with the genealogy involved in working limited and distant matches, including immigrant grandparents from Finland and over 35 Italian connections. Talented DDP genealogists combined their skills in foreign language research and document investigation in the United States, Finland and Italy. They finally broke the case by thinking outside the box to put all the clues together. The team’s resourcefulness eventually led to the successful identification of Mary Jensen after 850 hours of cumulative research time.

“This case was challenging due to distant matches and recent immigration from Finland and Italy,” said team leader Gwen Knapp. “We are very grateful for all who uploaded their DNA profiles to GEDMatch.com and my team and I are honored to have been given the opportunity to give Mary her name back.”

The DNA Doe Project wishes to acknowledge the contributions of the groups and individuals who helped solve this case: the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office, who entrusted the case to the DNA Doe Project; HudsonAlpha Discovery for DNA sequencing; Kevin Lord of Saber Investigations for bioinformatics; GEDmatch Pro and FTDNA for providing their databases; 28 generous donors who contributed to this case; and DDP’s dedicated teams of volunteer investigative genetic genealogists who work tirelessly to bring victims home.