(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Franklin County Coroner Dr. Anahi M. Ortiz today released an artist's new depiction of an unidentified woman who was found dead in May 1998 in Franklin County.
A forensic artist with the Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) created the likeness of the Jane Doe at the request of the Franklin County Coroner's Office.
The image, which is based on a photograph taken right after the woman’s death, was designed in an effort to generate tips about her identity.
“We are hopeful, that with the help of our skilled artist, someone will recognize this woman and shine light on her identity as well as her life,” Attorney General Yost said.
The Jane Doe was found dead on May 17, 1998, on the 2000 block of Hardy Parkway St. in Columbus. She was wearing black pants and a black shirt with a beige and blue vest. She is estimated to have been between 19 and 40 years old and was 5 feet, 3 inches tall. She had black hair and brown eyes and multiple scars on her left eyebrow; left knee; lower abdomen; left elbow; right thigh; and right armpit.
“Through collaboration with experts from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, my hope is that by releasing this photograph, we can provide closure to the family and friends of this woman,” Dr. Ortiz said. “As coroner, I take seriously our duty to serve the community of Franklin County and speak for those who cannot.”
Anyone with information on this woman’s identity should contact the Franklin County Coroner's Office at 614-525-5290 or BCI at 740-845-2406.
In addition to post-mortem images, BCI's forensic artist is available to assist local law enforcement with the creation of forensic facial reconstruction models to help identify unidentified remains and age-progression photographs to help locate missing persons.
BCI also offers the Ohio LINK (Linking Individuals Not Known) Program, a free service to police, coroners and families of missing individuals. The LINK Program was established through the Attorney General's Office in 1999 to help match DNA taken from family members of missing individuals to DNA from unidentified remains. Samples of DNA submitted by family members as part of the LINK Program are compared only to DNA samples of unidentified remains submitted through similar programs nationwide.
Analysts with BCI's Missing Persons Unit can also provide case review, investigative assistance, link charts and mapping.
Law enforcement officials or family members of missing persons interested in learning more about the services that BCI's Missing Persons Unit provides should call 855-BCI-OHIO (855-224-6446).
The full bulletin is available online.
MEDIA CONTACT:
David O'Neil
614-728-6069
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