ICT

Recent DNA tests and other identifying information have shown that a woman’s remains discovered in 1999 in south-central Colorado were likely those of a Native American woman from South Dakota.

Colorado authorities are seeking the public’s help in identifying the 30- to 45-year-old woman who they now call the “Heurfano Jane Doe,” named for the county in which she was found. Her remains were found Aug. 10, 1999, about three miles north of Walsenburg, Colo., inside a broken refrigerator. Trash in the refrigerator was dated between 1988 to 1992, and she is believed to have died between 1997 and 1999.

Her skeletal remains offered investigators few clues as to her identity, except for her weight and height, judged to be about 140 pounds and 5-foot-9 inches to 6-feet tall, as well as her shoulder-length, reddish-brown hair and “extensive dental work.” Forensic anthropologist analysis also showed that she might have been pregnant at least once and had one healed broken left rib.

Credit: Colorado authorities are seeking the public's help in identifying a woman whose remains were found in 1999 in south-central Colorado. The woman was believed to have been Native American from South Dakota, about 5-foot-10 inches tall, 140 pounds and had "extensive dental work." (Photos courtesy of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation)

Clothing found on or near her remains included a size-medium, light-color Bransforner brand sleeveless crop top, an extra large maroon or red Bonjour brand sports bra, Wrangler jeans size 34 by 34, and Italian-made 10-inch long brown- or black-colored women’s leather sandals.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Huerfano County Coroner’s office at (719) 738-2425 (Case No. 99028) or the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s Pueblo West office at (719) 647-5999 (Case No. 99-3-101/48).

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