Human Remains Discovered in 1978 Identified as Teen Who Disappeared on Her Birthday: 'We Found My Sister'

"I'm just overwhelmed with joy that we found my sister,” Kevin Groomes said of his sibling who disappeared in 1977

• Authorities revealed the identity of "Lincoln County Jane Doe" 46 years after her body was discovered in the Mississippi River

• An autopsy conducted in 1978 initially believed the remains belonged to someone between the ages of 30 and 40

• Based on a recent exhumation of the remains and DNA testing, authorities identified the girl as Helen Renee Groomes, 15, of Iowa

The remains of a young woman, who was known as "Lincoln County Jane Doe" and found about 46 years ago in the Mississippi River near Elsberry, Mo., have finally been identified via the latest advancements in DNA technologies, authorities announced.

In a news release shared on April 1, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said the remains belonged to Helen Renee Groomes, 15. According to NBC affiliate KSDK, the teenager was last seen in Ottumwa, Iowa, on her birthday in 1977.

Per the release, authorities said the victim’s body was first discovered in March 1978. The remains were taken to the St. Louis County Medical Examiner’s Office and an autopsy described the victim as a white female whose age range is between 30 and 40.

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“The cause of death was identified as drowning,” the sheriff’s office said. “No signs of trauma were present, and the [manner] of death was classified as ‘undetermined.’ Based on the level of decomposition, it was estimated that she had died approximately four months prior to discovery.”

The sheriff's office added that there were few clues to identify the victim at the time other than that she "was wearing a cat’s eye ring and had a tattoo that appeared to say “Dee” on her left forearm."

The victim was subsequently buried at Troy City Cemetery with a headstone reading, "Lincoln County Jane Doe."

Last October, per the release, the victim’s remains were exhumed as part of a collaboration between the Lincoln County Coroner’s Office, local and regional partners and Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) Anthropology faculty and students. Based on a new bone and dental analysis, the age of the victim was most likely younger than the initial 30 to 40 range from the 1978 autopsy report, the sheriff's office said.

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“Despite the challenging condition of the evidence, Othram’s established Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing aided in the successful extraction of DNA. A comprehensive genealogical profile was built and Othram’s genealogy team was able to generate new leads," the sheriff's office said, referring to the technology developed by the forensic genetic genealogy company.

The sheriff’s office added that with the new information available, the Lincoln County Coroner’s Office established contact with an individual who said "they had a close family member matching the description of Jane Doe who had mysteriously disappeared in late 1977." A familial DNA sample and subsequent testing resulted in the identification of Groomes.

In a Facebook post, the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office said its investigators went to Troy, Mo., and interviewed Groomes’ family on April 4. The department added that investigators also visited the victim's gravesite, reviewed the autopsy report, and consulted with the coroner’s office and SEMO.

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In response to the announcement confirming the identity of the remains, Kevin Groomes, the victim's brother, told KSDK, "I'm just overwhelmed with joy that we found my sister and able to bring her home and know where she's at.”

KSDK reported that "he was the one who put the tattoo on his sister's arm, which said 'Del,' a nickname for her boyfriend at the time." His family also said they believe Groomes' now-deceased stepfather was responsible for her death, though they didn't offer any additional details.

Meanwhile, the Wapello County Sheriff’s Department is asking the public for information about Groomes’ disappearance by calling 641-226-3360.

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