Delaware Doe, I know there are people out there in this country who have a mother, sister or
aunt, they haven’t heard from in decades. Not hearing from someone doesn’t mean they’ve
been injured or endangered anymore than it signifys they’re not at risk. Major Hedrick of
Delaware spent many years searching out the identity of an unidentified jane doe.
Nobody disputes a person is dead when there is a body to prove demise. Identity, on the
other hand, is more complicated. Most of us spend our lifes trying to secure it. Nobody
expects to be buried without a proper funeral or a headstone with a real name on it.
A wise woman once told me the dead know nothing. From where I’m standing,
the living often can’t offer the correct answers either, myself included. Why does it matter?
Let’s go ahead and face this question.To me it’s a matter of equality. Certainly, Jane Doe’s
loved ones have the right to closure.
The arguement I find myself up against concerns the lack of what the dead know. Again, the way
we bury our dead, our ability to grieve properly and seek closure says more about us as a civilized
society than it does about what the dead do or do not know. It is out of respect for history that we
advocate the solving of cold cases. This is someone’s ancestry we’re talking about here.
She is a missing limb on somebody’s family tree. Among us are many folks who ask themselves,”
I wonder whatever happened to Milly or Annie or Janie. She just never called again.”
If you’ve ever ask yourself this question, I’m asking you to pay attention.
June 27, 1977- Townsend, New Castle County, Delaware skeletol remains were located in a rural
community in an open field. The human remains had been there for one to two months prior to
discovery. Her estimated age was thirty-five to fifty years old. Jane Doe was particularly thin,
ninety to a hundred and ten pounds and petite measuring between 5.2. and 5.6 in height.
Her hair was blonde. Dentals are of interest, because she had quite a few identifiable markers
someone may remember such as numerous fillings, old extraction in lower jaw and a removable
appliance in upper jaw. Heavy accumulation of tar was noted on her teeth. DNA is available in
the national database.
Major Jim Hedrick, now retired devoted many years to her case. He developed a clay reconstruction
of how she may have appeared in life. You can see it on the doenetwork. www. doenetwork.org
Forensic examination lends she may have given birth at least three times. It’s been awhile and
trying to remember the details is foggy, but I’ll never forget speaking with Major Hedrick on the
telephone requesting a dna comparison between Delaware Doe and my missing mother.
As I recall it seems we waited a couple of years for a negative result. Looking back
I can see the error of my judgement, because my mother was a brunet with nearly jet black
hair. At the time blonde wasn’t listed as jane’s hair color and I assumed perhaps the clay bust
was improvised with a blonde wig theorizing her hair color was unknown. However, I’ve never
forgotten Delaware Doe. She was likely someone’s mother and surely someone’s daughter.
In a way, I guess we’re connected now always. The quest to identify her has become
part of my life’s story writing her down in my history book. This mysterious woman’s family
is in my prayers. I hope they can identify her and reach the closure desperately needed.
Should you think you may know the identity of Delaware Doe, please, contact the Delaware
Medical Examiner. 302-577-3420
Case numbers associated with her disappearance are 32-77-40780 and DE002030077-433.
Don’t forget all unidentified persons are missing people whether there’s been a report filed by the
family or not. It’s never too late and may god bless the seekers.