Investigators were shocked to find the remains of a young woman in storage unit that was being cleaned out in October 2016. The discovery was made at a self-storage unit on Carpenter Fletcher Road in Durham County, North Carolina. An unrecognizable, almost skeletal individual was found inside of a plastic container that was stowed away inside. It is unclear how long the remains may have been hidden in that location. However, prior to their discovery, the unit was rented by the same person since 2010.
The death is presumed suspicious, however, there is little evidence pointing to the identity of the victim or how she ended up in the storage unit. The victim had few possessions with them. The only clothing that remained were jeans sized 36 width and 32 long, two white socks, and a pair of Nike shoes. Additional personal items included a yellow Pulsar watch and three keys.
Investigators were able to estimate the age of the decedent (at time of death) to be 25 to 35 years old. It is further concluded that the remains were from a white female, with a possible height ranging from 5’3” to 5’5”. Her hair was brown and about seven inches long, meaning she would have had shoulder-length hair at the time of death. There are limited physical traits and features: no visible scars, tattoos, or other unique markings.
Dental records were taken with the possibility of being compared. In February of 2019, composite sketches from the FBI were developed of the Jane Doe in hopes that someone may recognize her and come forward with information. The sketches depict what the victim may have looked like: a young woman with shoulder length hair, and a slight space between her front teeth. The sketches were then broadcast in the news and posted on missing persons sites in hope that someone would recognize her and reveal who she was. So far there have not been any additional leads.
The Durham Police Department is working with Othram to use advanced DNA testing and forensic genealogy to establish an identification of, or to find nearest kin to the decedent. Anyone with information about the decedent is encouraged to contact the Durham Police Department at (919) 560-4440. A fund has been established to cover the costs of testing for this case. Those wishing to contribute can contact the Durham Police Department or contribute here. This case is logged in NamUs as UP15960.
Republished courtesy of Othram. Photo: Jane Doe sketch. Credit: Othram/FBI