Jane Doe Death – The body of a 15-year-old girl discovered in the Mississippi River in 1978 has been positively identified, as announced by Missouri officials. The unidentified girl, known as “Jane Doe,” was found deceased near Elsberry, Missouri, according to a news release issued by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office on April 1. Following an autopsy, it was determined that the cause of death was drowning, with no signs of trauma present, and the manner of death was classified as “undetermined.”
Initially, authorities believed the woman was aged between 30 and 40 and had passed away approximately four months prior to the discovery of her body, deputies reported. She was found wearing a cat’s eye ring and had the name “Dee” tattooed on her forearm. In October 2023, her remains were exhumed, and a dental analysis conducted by anthropology faculty and students from Southeast Missouri State University revealed that she was, in fact, a teenager at the time of her death, according to deputies. Subsequent DNA extraction led to the creation of a genetic profile for Jane Doe, which ultimately matched the description of a girl reported missing in 1977.
Through the use of familial DNA, officials were able to positively identify Jane Doe as 15-year-old Helen Renee Groomes, deputies confirmed. Investigators suspect that Groomes was last seen in Ottumwa, Iowa. Individuals with any information pertaining to the case are urged to contact deputies at 641-226-3360. Elsberry is situated approximately 220 miles east of Kansas City.