Actions

Highland Park Jane Doe murder victim remains unidentified after more than 20 years

Posted at 7:01 PM, Mar 22, 2018
and last updated 2018-03-22 23:26:25-04

There are hundreds of unidentified people in the state of Michigan, Jane and John Does who remain nameless in the morgue.

In this case, Michigan State Police know a young woman, maybe even a kid, was murdered.

The still don't know who wanted this Jane Doe dead and why?

According to MSP, she was shot to death at close range. Her homicide was brutal and bloody. Police say she was shot in the neck with a shotgun at point blank range. 

The murder happened in an alley behind the home at 387 Cortland in Highland Park in May of 1996. A neighbor who came forward at the time said they heard a shotgun blast in the middle of the night. The body was found the next day.

Someone out there knows something about the case. Someone out there must know who she is.

Police believe she was between 15 and 25-years-old at the time of the murder. That would mean she would be between 37 and 46-years-old today.

Officers believe the victim was bi-racial - possibly Caucasian and African American. She had tight, curled hair that was brown with a reddish tint. She was 5'3" and weighed about 200 pounds.

She was not wearing makeup and had freckles all over her face.

At the time of the murder, police say she was "dressed like a 5-year-old" with a white bow in her hair, A white skirt and a shirt with smiley faces and lip marks on it. She was also wearing a teddy bear watch.

This has led investigators to believe she may have been special needs or in foster care, and that someone may not even realize that she is missing.

Michigan State Police, Det. Sgt., Sarah Krebs is working to find answers - justice - and so am I.

The victim's body was exhumed from a Canton cemetery in 2015 and a DNA profile was established. However, no match has yet been found. Investigators say if a family member comes forward, they will be able to establish a DNA match.

They also have one usable finger print in the case.

Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case.

If you believe you know who the victim is contact Michigan State Police.