After more than five decades without a name, investigators have identified what was believed to be Iowa’s longest-unidentified Jane Doe, bringing long-awaited answers to a family that never stopped searching.
The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office announced that the victim has been identified as 15-year-old Cheryl Lynn Edwards. Her identity was confirmed through forensic genetic genealogy, a modern DNA technique that has helped solve hundreds of cold cases across the country.
The case dates back to April 1975, when sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a body found floating in the Mississippi River north of Clinton. An autopsy determined the young girl had been the victim of a homicide, but despite years of investigative work, authorities were unable to determine who she was.
Over the years, investigators pursued numerous leads, compared fingerprints and dental records, and revisited the case as new technology became available. Still, the victim remained unidentified.
The breakthrough came more than 50 years later when investigators partnered with forensic genealogy experts. By analyzing the victim’s DNA and comparing it with genealogy databases, they were able to identify her as Cheryl Lynn Edwards.
Authorities said Edwards’ family had been searching for her since she disappeared and has now been notified of the identification. While restoring her name brings a measure of closure, many questions remain unanswered.
Investigators continue to treat the case as an active homicide investigation. They are still working to determine what happened to Cheryl, who was responsible for her death, and how she ended up in the Mississippi River.
Officials hope that identifying Cheryl will generate new leads and encourage anyone with information about her disappearance or death to come forward. Even after more than 50 years, investigators say it is not too late for someone to provide information that could help solve her murder.
Source: Clinton County Sheriff’s Office.
