The Lake County Sheriff's Office has used forensic genetic genealogy to identify the remains of two Does—one homicide victim found in 1991 and another found in 1988 whose cause of death is undetermined.
The identifications of Leslie Shaw and Roy Torvik represent the fourth and fifth identifications Lake County Sheriff’s Office (Florida) has made using genetic genealogy. Five other unidentified person cases are currently undergoing the genetic genealogy process in hopes of bringing closure to additional victims.
1991 rape and murder victim
On Dec. 7, 1991, a hiker discovered a woman’s body on a trail near CR 433 in Sorrento, Florida. She was covered with branches, had been deceased for a few days, and was the victim of sexual battery and homicide by strangulation. Male DNA was recovered from inside the woman’s body.
For decades, nothing was known about the unidentified woman who became known as “Sorrento Jane Doe”. However, as time passed, technology improved.
In 1995, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) used a computer database to match the DNA recovered from Sorrento Jane Doe to Joseph A. Rolle, Jr. This was the first time in Florida—and one of the first in the United States—that a computer database automatically identified an unknown suspect by their DNA. Rolle’s DNA was in the database due to a 1992 sexual battery conviction in Seminole County.
Rolle was then charged with the rape and murder of the unidentified women. A jury convicted him of sexual battery, but acquitted him of first-degree murder. Due to Rolle’s violent criminal history, the judge sentenced him to life in prison for sexual battery. Rolle died in prison in 2023, having denied knowing the woman's identity.
In 2016, detectives submitted Sorrento Jane Doe’s DNA to the University of North Texas. The university was able to establish a DNA profile for Sorrento Jane Doe, but no match was made. Detectives listed Sorrento Jane Doe’s fingerprints, dental X-rays and DNA profile in NamUs along with her physical description.
In 2025, detectives submitted Sorrento Jane Doe’s DNA profile to Othram for genetic genealogy testing. In May 2026, Othram contacted detectives with a possible lead. They believed a woman in Rhode Island was likely Sorrento Jane Doe’s sister.
The woman confirmed that her sister, Leslie Shaw, became estranged from the family, moved to Central Florida, then lost touch completely around 1991. The family thought Leslie wished to remain apart from them, so they did not report her missing.
The possible sister provided a voluntary DNA sample to Othram for comparison to Sorrento Jane Doe. This month, DNA testing confirmed the woman in Rhode Island and Sorrento Jane Doe are biological sisters.
After 35 years, Sorrento Jane Doe has now been identified as Leslie Shaw. Leslie was born in Port Chester, New York, moved to Winter Springs, Florida, and was 33 years old at the time of her homicide in 1991.
Now that Leslie has been identified, detectives are re-evaluating her homicide case to see if Rolle—or someone else—can be tied to her murder.
1988 John Doe
On May 15, 1988, a motorist discovered a man’s body in a canal near US Hwy 27 in south Clermont (Florida). The man’s cause and manner of death were both undetermined but there was no evidence of foul play. There were no personal effects nearby and the man was never identified.
In 2025, detectives submitted John Doe’s DNA to Othram for genetic genealogy testing. In June 2026, Othram contacted detectives with a possible lead. They believed they had located the man’s son living in Washington.
Detectives contacted the potential relative, who confirmed he last heard from his father, Roy Torvik, in the 1960s and that Roy was living in Florida at that time. The family assumed Roy had passed away and never reported him missing. The man provided a voluntary DNA sample to Othram for comparison.
DNA testing confirmed the man in Washington and John Doe to be biological father and son.
After 39 years, John Doe has been identified as Roy Torvik. Roy was born in Montana and lived in Idaho and Washington before moving to Polk County, Florida in the early 1960s. Roy was 59 years old at the time of his death.
Now that Roy has been identified, detectives are asking anyone who knew Roy around the time of his death and may have information to contact the Lake County Sheriff’s Cold Case Team.
Funding for the advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy in this case was provided through Florida Senate Bill 678, legislation championed by Senator Jennifer Bradley to expand the use of advanced forensic DNA technology in identifying unknown individuals and advancing cold case investigations throughout Florida.