Credit: DNA Doe Project
The DNA Doe Project, in collaboration with the Sonoma County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office, has successfully identified Motorcycle Mountain John Doe 2001 as Jeffrey Thomas Rupen, resolving a case that had remained a mystery for over two decades.
On Feb. 15, 2001, a human skull was brought into the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office by a citizen who reported finding the remains in an area of Monte Rio, California, nicknamed “Motorcycle Mountain.” The skull was in good condition with the exception of a missing mandible. No additional remains were found in further searches of the area where the skull had been discovered. The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound to the forehead.
In April 2022, investigators with the Sonoma County Sheriff-Coroner’s office brought the case to the DNA Doe Project as part of a multi-case contract to provide investigative genetic genealogy services to address a number of Jane and John Doe cases. A DNA profile was developed and uploaded to the databases at GEDmatch.com and FTDNA.com, and a team of volunteers began the tedious process of building a family tree of DNA relatives to the John Doe in September of the same year.
“This case was complex and had some challenges, but our skilled team worked diligently to identify Motorcycle Mountain John Doe,” said team leader Rebecca Somerhalder. “Jeffrey Rupen’s family waited 42 years for answers about their son and brother. It is an honor to be a part of finally bringing him home.”
Jeffrey Thomas Rupen's identification underscores the importance and power of collaborative efforts between law enforcement, DNA experts, and organizations like the DNA Doe Project in resolving cold cases and providing answers to families. It also highlights the role that members of the public can play in this work.
“We at DNA Doe Project ask anyone who has taken a direct-to-consumer DNA test to consider uploading your results to GEDmatch, DNA Justice, and FTDNA, and to include your family tree if possible,” Somerhalder explained. “Your DNA could be the key to bringing a John or Jane Doe home to their family.”
The DNA Doe Project is grateful to the groups and individuals who helped solve this case: the Sonoma County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office, who entrusted the case to the DNA Doe Project; Astrea Forensics for extraction of DNA and whole-genome sequencing; Kevin Lord for bioinformatics; GEDmatch Pro and FTDNA for providing their databases; and DDP’s dedicated teams of volunteer investigative genetic genealogists who work tirelessly to bring all our Jane and John Does home.
Republished courtesy of DNA Doe Project.