A 51-year-old cold case in Iowa has been solved with the identification of a teenage girl found dead near the Mississippi River. The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office announced that the victim, long known only as a Jane Doe, has been identified as Cheryl Lynn Edwards, a 15-year-old from Waukegan, Illinois.
Breakthrough in the Case
The breakthrough came through forensic genetic genealogy, a technique that uses DNA analysis and family history research to identify unknown individuals. Investigators believe Edwards was the longest-unidentified Jane Doe case in Iowa before her identification.
Deputies were called to the Mississippi River on April 11, 1975, to investigate the discovery of a young woman’s body north of Clinton and about a half-mile south of the Jackson County line. An autopsy determined Edwards had been the victim of a homicide, but despite an extensive investigation, authorities were unable to identify her.
The investigation into Edwards’ death remains active. The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and Waukegan Police Department are continuing efforts to determine the circumstances that led to her death and identify those responsible.
Anyone with information about Edwards’ life or death is encouraged to contact the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office at 563-212-9211 (option 2). Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Clinton County Crime Stoppers via the P3 Tips app or online, or by contacting the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation at [email protected].
Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.
