Credit: Columbia Police Department
On March 28, 2002, a routine inspection by an Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) crew led to the discovery of human skeletal remains in a creek bed along Illinois Route 3 near Gall Road in Columbia, Illinois. The Columbia Police Department, in collaboration with the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, immediately launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the remains.
Based on preliminary findings, the deceased individual was identified as a black female between the ages of 33 and 49 years old. The woman was estimated to have been between 4"10" and 5'4" in height, with an approximate weight of 105 pounds. The deceased may have given birth to at least one child and possibly suffered a previous head injury, as indicated by a scar located in the center of her forehead. The remains were believed to have been at the location for approximately 6 to 12 months before their discovery.
For the past 23 years, many officers, detectives, and staff members of the Columbia Police Department, including several who are now retired, dedicated countless hours to following leads and piecing together the details of this case. Despite extensive efforts and collaboration with law enforcement agencies and local media outlets, the identity of the female, initially named Jane Doe, remained a mystery for over two decades until now.
Detective Sergeant Michael Barnett and Detective Lake Moravec of the Columbia Police Department began taking a new look at the investigation in recent years as advancements in DNA technology provided new opportunities for further analysis. In December 2022, the case received a significant boost when it was selected for a grant providing funding for forensic genetic genealogy testing.
A portion of the remains was sent to a lab at the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification (UNTCHI) for analysis. In late October 2024, the detectives received a crucial lab report which revealed a connection between the human remains and a male DNA sample belonging to Dale Howard. Further analysis confirmed that Dale Howard's biological mother was identified as Carol Hemphill.
It was discovered Hemphill had been reported missing in St. Louis City on July 27, 2001. Detectives began working tirelessly to locate Hemphill’s relatives and were able to make contact with her husband, daughter and sister. Working with the FBI, DNA standards were obtained from Hemphill’s family members, which were then submitted to the University of North Texas for comparison.
On Feb. 24, 2025, the Columbia Police Department received the final lab report confirming a match. The deceased woman's identity was confirmed as Carol Hemphill after nearly 23 years.
This breakthrough in the case is the result of relentless work by the detectives of the Columbia Police Department. as well as collaboration among Illinois State Police, University of Texas for Human Identification (UNTCHI), St. Charles County Police Department, Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, St. Louis County Forensics, Monroe County Coroner's Office, and Federal Bureau of Investigations. We are thankful to the family of Carol Hemphill for their cooperation and hope that this identification brings some sense of closure to her loved ones.
Republished courtesy of Columbia Police Department