FLORENCE COUNTY, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is investigating human skeletal remains discovered in Florence County, Wis. on Friday, October 28, 2022, and is now asking for the public’s help in reviewing new composite sketches to identify the individual.
The public may view English and Spanish versions of a poster containing the composite sketches:
During the morning of Friday, October 28, 2022, a hunter came across human skeletal remains in a rural wooded area in Florence County, Wis. Ongoing investigative efforts are being conducted to identify the remains and further the investigation.
Based on data received from forensic examinations conducted of the remains, including dental examinations and a soil assessment of the area where the remains were recovered, the remains are believed to be characteristic of the following:
- An adult female
- 30 – 83 years of age at the time of death
- 4’8 – 5’4 in height
- White and / or Hispanic
- Had been deceased for two to fifteen years prior to the discovery of the remains
Using the data received from the forensic examinations, a DCI Forensic Artist and a Michigan State Police (MSP) Forensic Artist completed composite sketches. These images are three renditions of possible features the individual may have had when alive.
Law enforcement is asking the public to review the composite sketches in an attempt to identify the individual. The composite sketches may also be viewed on the Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Missing & Exploited Children & Adults website at https://www.missingpersons.doj.wi.gov/wisconsin-unidentified.
Over the last 34 months, in conjunction with the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory and other private laboratories, law enforcement has used advances in DNA technology but has not identified the individual. International and national databases and software have also been used to identify the individual, but the results have been ineffective. The forensic data obtained was used to compare to, and ultimately exclude, known missing persons from the Florence County area, the State of Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and surrounding states.
A National Missing and Unidentified Persons (NamUs) profile was previously established for this unknown person and should be used as a reference for the public. The profile number is UP98425; https://namus.nij.ojp.gov/case/UP98425.
If anyone has information about the identity of the individual or their death, they should contact the DCI mainline at 608-266-1671 or the Florence County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch non-emergency number at 715-528-3346. Please reference Florence County Jane Doe, DCI case 22-7814, when calling.
DCI is leading this investigation and is assisted by the Florence County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin State Crime Lab, the Florence County Coroner’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and numerous other local and out-of-state law enforcement agencies and forensic professionals.
Please direct all media inquiries regarding this incident to Wisconsin DOJ.
View this press release on the DOJ website here.
