DNA analysis reveals Missouri cold case has Texas twist

At some point it’s believed the previously unidentified woman lived in the gulf coast region, possibly in South Texas.

AUSTIN, Texas - At a small cemetery in Waynesville, Missouri is a tombstone with the name Jane Doe on it.

500 miles away in Fort Worth, work at the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification was instrumental in helping detectives make a true identification.

"This was the longest case I've ever worked on," said Det. Doug Renno with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office.

Renno told FOX 7 the mystery woman found at a low water crossing near Dixon, Missouri in 1981 is Karen Kay Knippers. The identification started when her remains were sent to the center in Fort Worth for DNA and forensic testing.

Old newspaper photo reveals unmarked graves of "Orange Socks," "Corona Girl"

The problem investigators had to overcome was bad record-keeping. No one knew exactly where the graves were because there are no official records available.

"After a bit of time, and work, those folks there in Texas sent us a report they were successful in obtaining and developing mitochondrial and STR DNA," said Renno.

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The lab work eventually was submitted to the DNA Doe Project in California. The organization is the one that helped Williamson County authorities in 2020 identify Sue Ann Huskey's body. For several decades she was known only as Corona girl, because of the shirt found on her body near Jarrell.

Williamson County Sheriff's Office identifies "Corona Girl" as 17-year-old from Sulphur Springs

After 30 years, three months and 21 days, "Corona Girl" has been finally identified as 17-year-old Sue Ann Huskey of Sulphur Springs.

When Huskey's identification was announced, her family had this to say: "They have given our sister back and now we can take her home."

As with Huskey, in the Knippers case, a process called genetic genealogy enabled the DNA Doe Project to identify a relative; a brother who is living in Virginia. "And we did a comparison a scientific comparison to make sure it was in fact a direct relative, a sibling," said Renno.

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Forensic imaging and isotope analysis on Knipper's teeth and bone by the University of South Florida provides a Texas twist to the Missouri investigation. At some point, it’s believed she lived in the gulf coast region - possibly in south Texas.

Abilene woman identified as murder victim in 40-year-old "orange socks" case

After four decades, the woman strangled and left behind along I-35, wearing nothing but "orange socks" has been identified. Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody said an updated forensic sketch of unidentified victim was the key.

"I know she came from that region, along the southern part of Texas all the way to the east coast, that where the majority of her life was spent," said Renno.

With the identification investigators in Missouri hope new leads in the murder case will soon follow.

KTBC reported this story from Austin, Texas.