A decades-old mystery in Oregon may finally see progress thanks to a new “facial re-approximation” created with advanced technology. Oregon State Police and forensic experts, including Dr. Nici Vance, teamed up with Parabon NanoLabs to use DNA analysis to generate a detailed image of what the person may have looked like.
Back on November 3, 1999, mushroom pickers found human skeletal remains in a wooded area off Highway 26 in Clatsop County. The remains included a skull and jaw with teeth, scattered across the site.
Forensic analysis revealed that the individual was a woman between 16 and 30 years old, about 5 feet 2 inches tall, and weighing 108 to 117 pounds. Experts believe she had given birth before her death.
Nearby, investigators found clothing and personal items: white athletic socks, Levi’s blue jeans (size 33×34), a medium-sized black leather jacket, and a silver peace-symbol belt buckle.
Hoping to solve the case, investigators shared a new illustration of the woman’s appearance.
Dr. Vance expressed hope that this image could help identify the woman:
“This new illustration could be the key. Someone may finally recognize her.”
The team also discovered the woman’s ancestry, which includes Western European, West African, and Central American heritage—important clues that could lead to identifying her family.
Since 2019, Oregon State Police and Parabon NanoLabs have collaborated on identifying over 30 previously unknown individuals using cutting-edge DNA technology and genealogy. They’re determined to give this woman her name back and reunite her with her family.
Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to come forward.
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