Advanced DNA technology could help solve 1979 Bastrop County cold case

BASTROPE COUNTY, Texas – The Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office is trying to solve a decades-old cold case with cutting-edge DNA testing technology.

They are trying to identify the body of “Jane Doe” found in 1979 on US Route 290 east of Elgin. Detectives say the documentary maker contacted the sheriff’s office in 2019 about a possible connection to serial killer Henry Lee Lucas.

That same year, investigators exhumed the body to conduct new DNA analysis, comparing it to the missing persons’ systems. There were no matches. The second exhumation was carried out in 2022.

Now the sheriff’s office is working with Othram to see if advanced DNA testing can help identify the woman. Investigators say they want to rule out connection to Henry Lee Lucas.

According to DNASolves, which is part of Othram, an unknown woman from 17 to 40 years old belongs to the white race. She is estimated to be between 5’0″ and 5’2″, and weigh between 90 and 130 pounds. Her hair was most likely brown, but investigators were unable to determine the color of her eyes.

When she was found, the woman was wearing a white pullover shirt with red trim around the neck and the Evian JRS label, and dark blue jeans with no markings and a tag that said “California styled, size 13-14”. “

According to investigators, the cause of the woman’s death could not be determined due to severe decomposition. She is estimated to have died four to six weeks before her body was discovered. According to official figures, she could have been hit by a car.

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“Family members are waiting for answers, and they won’t be around forever,” Othram founder and CEO David Mittelman said. “When we see an opportunity to do something good, we have a case that we know is solvable, the evidence is strong. There is no scientific barrier, right? The only real barrier is that they just don’t have the funding.”

Funding comes from various sources such as crowdfunding, philanthropists or sponsorships. The goal is to raise $7,500 for the Bastrop County Jane Doe case.

“New technologies need to find their place in budgets,” Mittelman said. “It bridges the gap between when they can get funding and now so we can still help families.”

He says their lab is the only one of its kind in North America.

“We can access information from evidence that was previously deemed unusable or unusable,” he said.

As long as there’s DNA to extract from the case, they figure out why the testing might not have worked before. They’ll do a multipoint check and see if they can make a DNA profile. If not, they keep it and can return to it.

The lab is doing genome sequencing for forensics to create a digital profile. They can see if there are any family ties and look at historical origins. The process can take anywhere from a few days to 12 weeks, especially if the evidence is older.

Technology is always improving.

“We are in constant evolution and I think it will continue as this technology becomes more reliable,” Mittelman said.

As for the Jane Doe, it is hoped that there will be answers soon.

If you are interested in donating, please click here. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office and report the case at 79-06-000688.