Police seek tips after 1997 Jane Doe homicide victim is identified
Police are searching for a suspect in a 1997 Washington state homicide after a set of remains were identified with advanced forensic technology.
The remains were found by a person walking through the woods in Wilkeson, Washington, south of Seattle, in October 1997, according to a news release from the forensic genetic genealogy company Othram. The remains were skeletal. Officials were able to determine that the remains were those of a 5-foot-5-inch woman between the ages of 20 and 50, but could not determine her identity.
The deceased woman was wearing a dark blue long-sleeved sweatshirt with a Pacific Lutheran University logo, a basketball logo and the word "LUTES" on it. She was also wearing Size 7 blue jeans and Size 4 1/2 Reebok tennis shoes.
Despite the description, no one ever came forward to identify the remains. The woman became known as Pierce County Jane Doe. Her details were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System in 2009, but no connections were ever made.
The case remained cold for decades. In October 2023, the Pierce County Sheriff's Office submitted forensic evidence from the remains to Othram to see if advanced DNA testing could make an identification. Othram scientists developed a DNA extract, then used forensic genome sequencing to build a comprehensive genealogical profile, the company said. That profile was then used for genetic genealogy research. New investigative leads discovered during that research were provided to law enforcement, Othram said.
Detectives conducted a follow-up investigation and met with potential relatives of the Pierce County Jane Doe. Reference DNA samples were collected from possible relatives and compared to the DNA profile Othram had developed. The process eventually led investigators to identify the remains.
Pierce County Jane Doe has been identified as Laurie Krage, the sheriff's office said in a statement. Othram said Krage was born in December 1959 and was "last known to be alive" in January 1996. She was married to a man named Ronald Martin, who died of natural causes in 2020, according to the sheriff's office.
The case is now being investigated as a homicide, the sheriff's office said. Anyone with information has been asked to come forward. Krage often traveled through Pierce County, the sheriff's office said, and investigators are specifically interested in her and her late husband's movements between 1995 and 1997.
Pierce County is about 45 miles from Seattle.
Supreme Court pauses order mandating return of Maryland man deported to El Salvador
Here's why the stock market ended the day in the red after morning gains
EU announces retaliatory tariffs on $22 billion in U.S. products
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
21 hours ago
- CBS News
Body of unidentified woman killed in 1986 Fayette County crash exhumed
Officials on Monday exhumed the body of an unidentified woman killed in a crash in Fayette County in 1986. Jane Doe's remains were exhumed from an unnamed grave at Oak Lawn Cemetery to use improved DNA technology in the hopes of identifying her. Pennsylvania State Police troopers found her body after a crash along Route 119 in Springhill Township on May 2, 1986. "A lot of times when I drive by here, I think about that morning," said Larry Leech. Leech was the chief for the Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department, which responded to the scene that day. "We had a tractor-trailer, an 18-wheeler upside down, and the driver was deceased at the scene," Leech said. At first, Leech says it seems cut and dry. It was not until the trailer was moved that emergency responders found the body of a woman. She was not carrying a purse or wallet, only a few items that included a pack of cigarettes and $300 in cash. Jane Doe's name and why she was in Fayette County have been a mystery ever since. "There's been grant funding available to look at old cold cases, unidentified individuals, and try to bring closure to families and identify these folks," Fayette County District Attorney Mike Auble said. After 10 years of behind-the-scenes work by state police and the coroner's office, her body was exhumed on Monday. "The folks who have been involved in this case have done a tremendous amount of work, and yesterday was a big day for a lot of people," Auble said. Her body was transported to the Indiana County Coroner's Office, where her DNA will be collected and uploaded into various databases to see if an identification can be made. "We're very hopeful that we're going to be able to close this one," Auble said. As for Leech, who has carried this mystery with him for decades, he is relieved to know Jane Doe's grieving family may soon be reunited with her. "I won't know who she was, but I hope that maybe they can find out and trace back and get to her family, and someone can have closure here," Leech said.
Fox News
2 days ago
- Fox News
Diddy's ex's testimony could provide powerful corroboration to allegations in sex crimes trial: expert
Sean "Diddy" Combs' ex-girlfriend took the stand Monday and testified for the third day in the rapper's federal trial for sex crimes. His ex, who testified under the pseudonym "Jane," told prosecutors that there were times she felt coerced into hotel nights with Diddy and that the Bad Boy Records founder still pays for both her legal fees and rent. Jane recalled alleged instances of abuse while dating Diddy on and off for three years and up until the week before he was arrested in New York City on federal charges. Jennifer Beidel, a former assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York who now practices at Dykema, told Fox News Digital that Jane's testimony may be "powerful" to the jury. "Jane Doe commented on the consistency between her experience and that of Cassie Ventura after she read Ventura's civil lawsuit," Beidel said. "If the jury also finds the two women's experiences similar, Jane Doe's testimony becomes powerful corroboration of Ventura's testimony. Adding in the voice memos could lend even more credence to the two women's accounts, as those voice memos are evidence of Mr. Combs' views at the time in his own words." Jane told the court that Diddy asked her about coercion after he allegedly forced her to take drugs before having sex with a male escort. She testified about Diddy's alleged violent behavior and said he once put her in a chokehold after kicking and punching her. The jury was shown video evidence of Jane's injuries, which included a bruised eye and welts on her forehead. Texts shown in federal court on Monday between Diddy and Jane revealed that she felt manipulated and wanted monetary income. The rapper allegedly texted Jane back, "F--- you." Jane allegedly told Diddy, "You're the only opportunist ... you had three years of fun with my body ... you were a full time job and consumed my life." The "Last Night" rapper allegedly texted back that he was blocking Jane's number and also calling the police. "You conned me into sucking d--- for you," Jane allegedly texted. After several texts, she wrote, "I'm going to kill myself." "Early in the trial, the prosecutors introduced extensive evidence to support their theory that Combs used violence and threats of violence to coerce Ventura into engaging in sexual activity," former federal prosecutor Mark Chutkow told Fox News Digital. "However, the prosecution's evidence of Jane Doe's alleged coercion centers more on emotional manipulation than violence. That could prove to be a weakness for the prosecution case because Jane's evidence was introduced later in the trial, closer to when the jurors will deliberate." Mark Chuktow, who now practices at Dykema, added, "As a result, it might dilute the impact of Ventura's earlier testimony because Jane's evidence is less clear-cut regarding whether Combs coerced her to engage in sexual activity. To counter this, the prosecutors might put more weight in closing arguments on the evidence that Combs blackmailed both women into complying with his sexual demands through threats of destroying their reputations and careers by publicly exposing the video recordings of their participation in the freak-offs. "Blackmail like this might resonate more with the jury than Combs' emotional manipulation of Jane when deciding whether or not the victims consented to the sexual activity." In court, Jane testified that after fleeing from the "All About the Benjamins" rapper during an alleged violent encounter, she returned to the home and claimed she was on the patio when she allegedly punched Diddy around his temple on his forehead. He allegedly retaliated by punching Jane in the head twice in the forehead and eye area. She told the court she retreated to a deep part of the backyard, fell and curled up in a ball to cover her head and face while Diddy allegedly continued to punch and kick her. He allegedly said Jane was trying to take him away from his kids and family. Diddy then allegedly grabbed Jane by the hair and her arm and dragged her back into the house, saying she was "f---ing crazy." She claimed to keep asking him to leave. "Jane's testimony is more of the same in regards to the defendant's conduct, and it certainly does not paint a good picture of Mr. Combs," Los Angeles litigator John J. Perlstein told Fox News Digital. "It is hard to say whether or not the jury is numb to it all. However, they are unlikely to be shocked by Jane's testimony given what everyone else has said thus far. "This trial is a lengthy process for jurors, and recordings and videos of the testimonies typically fare better than readings." Jane also testified to being with Diddy when she saw the video of the rapper assaulting Cassie Ventura at the InterContinental Hotel in 2016. Diddy was with his friends and family in May 2024 when she was invited to a "huddle," where she remembered the group trying to come up with a form of a sincere apology post regarding the video. She told the court that she never heard the "Victory" rapper deny he was the one in the video assaulting Cassie. Jane testified that Diddy showed her a final draft of what he would say, and she understood he would post it on social media. She said she thought the message was heartfelt. Jane claimed they eventually talked about the video in June or July 2024. Diddy allegedly told her that was the only time he and Cassie had physical violence. Diddy allegedly told Jane that Cassie "was a hitter." WATCH: SEAN 'DIDDY' COMBS ASSAULTS CASSIE VENTURA IN 2016 HOTEL INCIDENT Attorney Christopher Melche told Fox News Digital, "Jane testified about horrific acts of abuse in the relationship similar to what Cassie experienced, but what was unique about her testimony today is that Jane is still having her rent paid for by Diddy to this very day, and they continued their relationship right up to the time that he was arrested, so I'm not sure how the jury is going to reconcile all of these horrible things that happened to her and how her rent is being paid and accepted right 'til now." In a federal indictment unsealed on Sept. 17, Diddy was charged with racketeering conspiracy (RICO); sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution. If found guilty, he faces a minimum of 15 years behind bars or a maximum sentence of life in prison. He has maintained his innocence throughout the trial, where witnesses have testified to alleged rape, sexual assault, severe physical abuse, forced labor and drug trafficking. The trial is expected to wrap up by July 4.
New York Post
2 days ago
- New York Post
Diddy trial live updates: Ex-girlfriend abuse accuser reveals his depraved demands
A social media influencer who says Sean 'Diddy' Combs savagely beat her and made her have unprotected sex with porn stars and escorts during their three-year relationship returns to the witness stand Monday, kicking off the fifth week of this bombshell sex-trafficking trial. The woman testifying anonymously as a 'Jane Doe' sobbed uncontrollably last week as she described for the jury in horrifically graphic detail how the disgraced rap mogul forced her into depraved, drug-fueled 'freak-off' sex marathons that are at the center of the case. Combs, 55, is accused of using his fame, fortune and many businesses to run a decade-long scheme in which he controlled and manipulated his longtime girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie Ventura, 38, and others including Jane using violence and threats, forcing them into the 'freak-offs' that went on for days. The rapper has pleaded not guilty to RICO charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He faces life in prison if convicted. The trial is not televised because cameras are prohibited inside the federal courthouse, but we're there following all the action — so watch this space for the latest updates. Follow The Post's live updates from the Diddy trial:
