Decades-Old Cold Case Solved: Body Found in 1978 Identified as Missing Iowa Teen

In 1978, a body found in the Mississippi River, near Elsberry, Missouri, left authorities puzzled. The remains, that of a White woman believed to be between 30 and 40 years old, were wearing a distinctive cat's eye ring and had a tattoo that appeared to say "Dee." Despite the efforts at the time, the identity of this individual, referred to as "Lincoln County Jane Doe", remained a mystery.

A Breakthrough Discovery

After decades of uncertainty, a pivotal breakthrough was made in 2023. The buried remains were exhumed, revealing that the body was not of a middle-aged woman as initially estimated, but of a teenager. Analyses by anthropology faculty and students from Southeast Missouri State University, along with genetic testing by Othram, a private DNA laboratory, led to the groundbreaking revelation.

Identification and Closure

Subsequently, the Lincoln County Coroner's Office traced a familial connection, leading to the collection of a reference sample for testing. The results confirmed a match between the remains and the family member, finally bringing closure to a long-standing mystery. The unidentified "Lincoln County Jane Doe" was identified as Helen Renee Groomes, a 15-year-old who had disappeared in 1977 from Ottumwa, Iowa.

Heartfelt Emotions

Othram Kevin Groomes, the brother of Helen Renee Groomes, expressed overwhelming joy at the news of his sister's identification. He revealed that the tattoo actually read "Del," the name of her boyfriend at the time, and expressed deep gratitude to the teams involved in solving the case.

Continuing the Investigation

While the identification of Helen Renee Groomes brought closure to the family, the investigation into her disappearance and death remains ongoing, as stated by Lincoln County Sheriff Rick Harrell.