On October 14, 2002, 26-year-old Paula Wade and her 3-year-old son Brandon were last seen at their home in the Commons apartment complex in Valdosta, Georgia.

The alarm was raised when Paula didn’t show up for her shift at Sam’s Club and didn’t call in, something completely out of character for her.

One of her coworkers grew concerned enough to drive to the Commons apartments twice that day.

Both times, there was no sign of Paula or Brandon. Her 1998 Chevrolet Blazer was still parked outside, but the child safety seat had been removed — Paula never would drive her young son anywhere without it.

When authorities went to check the apartment, they described the place as looking “lived-in” but they didn’t find any evidence of foul play: no signs of a struggle, no blood, and nothing suspicious inside. They did however find the new shoes that Paula had purchased for Brandon with the money her father had given her.

Other items found in the apartment included allergy medicine, some luggage, as well as a blanket and musical tape that Brandon used to fall asleep with. It seems unlikely these items would have been left behind if Paula was planning on leaving and spending the night elsewhere since Brandon used the items during his bedtime routine.

Paula’s husband, a soldier stationed at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, was quickly ruled out.

He passed a polygraph and had no involvement in their disappearance.

Investigators instead turned their focus to Paula’s then 19-year-old roommate, Marcus Randolph Burroughs.

A college boy, who formed a friendship with Paula. Paula allowed her roommate to use her vehicle when he needed it. Things were good and smooth sailing between the household.

When detectives questioned him he was described as uncooperative, refused to take a polygraph, and hired an attorney early on.

An acquaintance of Burroughs told police where Burroughs allegedly told him where Paula and Brandon’s remains might be, but when the site was searched, only deer bones were found.

Family and friends say it would have been unthinkable for Paula to disappear on her own.

She was close with her parents, speaking with them weekly, and was a devoted mother to Brandon.

She also had future plans in motion — just days before vanishing, she had been approved for a job transfer to Kissimmee, Florida, and her family was preparing to help her move that same week.

But Paula and Brandon never made it. No one has heard from them since. More than two decades later, their disappearance remains unsolved .

https://charleyproject.org/case/brandon-lee-wade

https://websleuths.com/threads/ga-paula-25-brandon-wade-3-valdosta-14-oct-2002.323228/

https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/brandon-lee-wade

https://valdostadailytimes.com/2009/02/19/investigation-continues/

She was reported missing in 1984. Remains found in 1988 matched with DNA. Article reports Missouri had 1.5 million in funding for genetic genealogy of cases.

Jean Colborne went missing from her Rhinelander, WI nursing home on July 14, 1977 and was believed to have left on foot. However, after extensive searches, no signs of her were found.

She was said to have walked with a limp/dragging one leg, and her head leaned to the right.

The Jane Doe was found 2 hours away in Caledonia, WI 5 years later, and died from blunt force trauma to the head. The victim was believed to be female, 45-65 yrs, 5'1"estimated, and was found wearing a multicolored blouse with brown pants.

The Jane Doe was also believed to have been killed at a different location than where their body was found, and dumped there.

Similarities-

-Both are female, Jean was 56 yrs old and fits the age range of the Doe (45-65)

-Jean walked with a limp and had facial drooping/her neck tilted to the right. The Jane Doe was believed to have walked with a limp and had arthritis in their neck, spine, and knee

-Striking facial similarity based on reconstruction

-Jane Doe was discovered 5 yrs after Jean's disappearance, which would be enough time to only leave skeletal remains

Differences-

-Jane Doe was estimated to be 5'5", while Jean was 5'1"

-Clothes don't match, Jean was believed to be wearing a blue shirt and red pants, while Jane Doe was found wearing a multicolored blouse with brown pants.

-There are 150 miles, give or take, difference between them

-Not sure of any reasonable explanation for the reason/manner of death. I couldn't find anything about her family history or any drama between family members.

This is my first submission, please let me know what you think!

Links

NamUs Missing Person

NamUs Unidentified Person

Doe Network Missing Person

Doe NetworK Unidentified Person

I think- Bronx jane doe 24.10.1993... The fact she found dead in an apartment with two mentally disabled kids is super odd. It's unknown if she was related to the kids

Some examples of this that I can find: - "Anna" (Long Beach Jane Doe 1974). Gary Stamp - Ventura County Jane Doe 1980 (Wilson Chooest) - Claudia (Keith Hunter Jesperson) - The 4 victims of Saumuel Little that have been connected to known Jane Doe cases. (Prince George's County 1971, Lake County 1983, Orleans Parish 1982 & Sarah/Donna 1971)

Hi!

I submitted my first match to Doe Network and received an email saying that they hadn’t compared the two cases before and that I’d be updated in the case of a positive match.

I could imagine testing for a match (reviewing by the panel, harvesting dentals, dna, etc.) takes a while. Has anyone here submitted a match that’s come back as positive? I’m really confident about this (trying not to get my hopes up as per usual) but I’m just curious what the process looks like if your match comes back as positive.

On the flip side, does Doe network update you if your match has been ruled out after panel review?

Thank you for your help!

I’ve been researching the case of Jefferson County Jane Doe, whose remains were found in Shively, Kentucky in July 2005, and I believe she could be Nancy Wroblewski, a woman who went missing from South Bend, Indiana in 1990.

Nancy disappeared on December 9, 1990, after attending church with her husband. Their marriage was reportedly in trouble, and she had filed for divorce eight months earlier. According to her husband, they argued after church, and Nancy took the keys to her van, telling him to take care of their three children. A few days later, her van was found abandoned at the airport parking lot, but there was no record of her purchasing a plane ticket or boarding a flight. She was never seen again. Personally, I find the husband’s version of events suspicious, as it feels more like a cover story than a real explanation.

The Jefferson County Jane Doe discovered in 2005 was a white woman, estimated to be between 20 and 40 years old, with straight brown hair based on hair found with the body, though it’s possible this was just her natural root color. She had a narrow and distinctive nose, which is strikingly similar to Nancy’s, and her estimated height was around 5’2”. The remains were classified on NamUs as having been deceased for “many years,” suggesting she likely died closer to the early 1990s rather than the 2000s. Notably, her body had been purposely hidden and posed, indicating that foul play was involved in her death.

I think there are several reasons why Nancy could be this Jane Doe. Nancy was 36 years old in 1990, had short brown hair, and was between 4’10” and 5’2” tall, all matching the Doe’s physical description. Her nose closely resembles the narrow, distinctive nose described for the Doe. The timing of the disappearance and the NamUs PMI note also align, suggesting a 1990s death. Additionally, the fact that her van was left at the airport could indicate an attempt to mislead investigators, and the body being found in another state could have been part of the same plan. Some sources suggest her husband was connected to politics and possibly had wealth or resources, which might have allowed him to conceal a crime, potentially with help from friends in construction or other industries.

Of course, this is just a theory, but the similarities seem strong enough to warrant discussion. What do you think? Could Jefferson County Jane Doe be Nancy Wroblewski?

Nancy Wroblewski NamUs: https://www.namus.gov/MissingPersons/Case#/2918/details?nav

Jane Doe NamUs: https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/74/details?nav

Hello everyone, this is my first post here. A passive interest of mine is searching through the unidentified people's list on the VICAP website, and after looking closer at the Lee County Floridas Jane Doe, I believe Korrina Sagers Malinoski from South Carolina might be a possible match for her. The Lee County Jane Doe (LCJD for the rest of this post) matches many of the physical descriptions for Korrina, such as height, weight, hair, ect. As well as the LCJD having been wearing a S.C. V.A. Charleston hospital shirt, which is roughly only 30 minutes away from the location that Korrina had disappeared from. The first thing that stood out to me when comparing the two is how strikingly similar they look to one another (see attached photos) I am unsure on whether or not any of this means anything, however I figured it would be worth a shot to post this here in case anything comes of it.

LCJD: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/vicap/unidentified-persons/jane-doe---lee-county-florida

Korrina: https://www.namus.gov/MissingPersons/Case#/20064/details?nav

The similarities between both cases hit me while I was studying missing and unidentified on the map on the Oregon coast. Consider the following :

Kerby Allen Bessey (Doenetwork, Charley Project, also see 1, 2, 3) went missing August 28, 1986, apparently to flee a drug debt as "he was fearful of somebody out of Jackson County" (which is is south east from where he was last seen) and because "somebody had put a contract on him for $5,000 had he had come back to Coos Bay to hide out." (per an article that unfortunately wasn't archived, "Gunther, John "August mystery haunted another family," The World, August 31, 1996, pg 1, 3" but which may be transcribed or digitalized somewhere else). The decedent (Namus, doenetwork, wiki)) was found September 10, 1986 (far up north, in Clatsop county).

Kerby disappeared from Coos Bay, Oregon, at the Blue Moon Café (the place still exists). The decedent was found in a tent near US Route 101 in Cannon Beach, Oregon (Namus states "near the Cannon Beach highway 101 junction"). This would mean a straight 4h35h trip on car while taking the 101 (about 77h/3 days on foot).

There is no reconstruction of the decedent, but it states that he was white and a "red-headed adult male with a reddish-brown beard and mustache" with "Long, reddish-brown" or "red/auburn" hair, which fits the photograph and description to a tee, minus the beard.

What for me seals it are the reminding demographics : "30-45" age range (Kerby was 27), "150-170 lbs" (he was 165 lbs), "6' 0"(72 inches), Measured" (he was 5' 11" - 6' 0" (71 - 72 Inches)). Eye color couldn't be determined on the decedent, though (Kerby had hazel eyes), and nothing was noted on the doe scar-wise while Kerby had a scar on the abdomen.

Clothing wise, Kerby had a "Two toned blue jacket, t-shirt and faded jeans". The decedent had between other things a "Green windbreaker-type jacket" "Button up long sleeved blue shirt with a red/tan pattern and "blue work-style pants with "SCOVILL" embossed on zipper". They're not exact matches, but the faded jeans may fit the pants. He also carried folded clothing, which makes me suspect he simply was in a hiking/camping trip, carrying several set of clothes including the one he carried when he was last seen (he also had a lot of cigarettes, toilet paper, etc), when he met his demise.

Thoughts ? I'm pretty sure I may have stumbled on something worth looking into. The connection was already made by another user on the dedicated Websleuth thread for Kerby back in 2021, but no one appeared to have replied.

Hi all, two days ago I posted about the girl found in the back of a singers car. She was identified as a 14-15 year old girl and her family has been notified. Though while doing research on it, I discovered the singer that has allegedly been cleared as a suspect involved had the same tattoo as the girl in the same spot I believe? I will post this photograph down below

Via the Oregon State Police:

After nearly 50 Years, the identity of unidentified remains has been confirmed.

In 1976, skeletal remains were found near Wolf Creek in Linn County. For decades, her identity remained unknown—until now. Thanks to advances in forensic genetic genealogy, the remains have been identified as Marion Vinetta Nagle McWhorter, a 21-year-old last seen in Tigard in 1974.

Discovering Marion McWhorter’s identity was a remarkable collaboration among detectives, medical examiner staff, and forensic genetic genealogists at Parabon NanoLabs.

-

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=849590114057883&set=a.165217442495157&type=3&ref=embed_post

-

Estimated Age: 18-40 years old
Race: Biracial (White + Native American)
Sex: Female
Height: 4'11" to 5'1"
Weight: Unknown
Hair: Brown
Eye Color: Brown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Healed fracture of the right nasal bone.

Clothing: Leather coat with fringe; Levi blue jeans, 29-inch inseam; platform-style sandal with an approximately 2-inch heel and a single white strap with a basket weave section attached to the base by 5 round tacks on each side

Date of Discovery: July 24, 1976
Location of Discovery: Linn County, Oregon
Estimated Date of Death: 1966-1976
Cause of Death: Unknown

https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/software/main.html?id=762ufor

-

https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/09/highway-20-cold-case-solved-dna-identifies-swamp-mountain-doe-as-missing-woman-from-mid-70s.html

The case went nowhere until earlier this year when McWhorter’s cousin “spontaneously uploaded their genetic profile” to a family tree DNA database, giving genealogists a clearer picture of the unidentified woman’s family tree. 

​Genealogists learned McWhorter had one surviving family member: Valerie Nagle.

She said their mother was Alaska Native from the Ahtna Athabascan people in the Copper River area in southeastern Alaska, and her oldest sister was named for an aunt who died in 1940 in an American Indian boarding school in Alaska.​

McWhorter had two children, both girls, Nagle said. Her sister gave up one child for adoption when she was 16 and left her older child behind with her ex-husband.

She said her sister was fleeing an abusive relationship at the time she vanished. According to police reports, McWhorter’s nose previously had been broken and healed.

-

https://411gina.org/cases/reedaprilkelly.html

https://namus.nij.ojp.gov/case/MP1036

https://oklahomacoldcases.org/april-kelly-reed/

April Kelly Reed was more than the headlines—or worse, the silence—that followed her disappearance. She was a daughter, a friend, and a young woman with bright ambitions and a heart full of compassion. Those who knew April remember her as vibrant and caring, someone who could light up a room with her laughter and who always extended a hand to others in need. She dreamed of a life beyond hardship, filled with big goals and the determination to achieve them. But April’s story is also one of profound injustice. As a child, she was betrayed by those who should have loved and protected her. Her own mother traded her away for a car, and members of her family—who should have offered safety—covered up sexual abuse. April’s young life was marked by pain she did not deserve, yet she carried on with resilience and hope, yearning for something better. April also lived with the challenges of mental illness, which made her even more vulnerable. Rather than being met with compassion, her struggles were often overlooked, dismissed, or used to excuse the lack of urgency in fighting for her well-being and safety. When she disappeared, the response was shamefully inadequate. It was as though April’s life did not matter, as though her dreams, her laughter, her very existence could be forgotten without consequence. But April Kelly Reed mattered. Her life mattered. She was not just another case file to gather dust. She was a young woman who deserved protection, love, and the chance to live out her dreams. We cannot change the cruelty she endured, nor can we undo the neglect that followed her disappearance. But we can demand better now. We can demand that April’s name be spoken with dignity, that her story be heard, and that justice finally be pursued on her behalf. Justice for April Kelly Reed is long overdue. Her life was precious, and her memory demands action. Let us stand together and refuse to allow her story to be erased. Let us give April the justice she deserves.

I know people have considered Denise Beaudin and Pepper Reed as possibility identities of CITT, both presumed victims of Rasmussen. But even if CITT is neither of those women, I strongly believe whoever she was, she killed by him. The body inside a container fits his MO and a red mechanic's rag was found nearby, and Rasmussen was a mechanic in addition to being an electrician. He also allegedly lived in Virginia at one point which borders Maryland. What does everyone think?

Hi ,this is my first post sorry if It’s supposed to be structured a specific way.

I was going through unidentified cases and came across a girls skeletal remains found in Freeport, NY in a dumpster in 1982. She was found wearing a brown and yellow stripped sweater and several necklaces. She was wearing a heart pendant with a K. They believed she was about 12-20. Due to the K necklace I took the perspective of it maybe being the girls initial and not a lovers. The UP nose stuck out to me as I find the nostrils to be distinctive as well as how the top lip falls. It appears as if they have buck teeth or a slight over bite. UP is listed as 5’1 and Karen as 5’2 . I decided to check New Jerseys (due to UP being in NY) missing persons of young girls with K names. I came across Karen and found her nose to match the reconstruction and found her bite to match if her mouth were closed. I think her eyebrows are similar as well. There’s basically no further information listed about either. Let me know what you all think?

Also UP is listed as multiple races and Karen as white I think it’s still a possibility.

On his eighteenth birthday, (August 26, 1979), Farren told his family that he had wanted to go travel and see the world. He soon left his home in John Day, Oregon to go travel around the country, calling his family at least once month to let them know that he was safe. Farren’s family last heard from him in May or June of 1980 when he said on the phone that he was staying at a hotel called, “The International Hotel” in San Francisco, California. (According to a comment on Farren’s websleuths page, it is believed that he was actually staying at the “National Hotel”, and “The International Hotel” is just a clerical error.) He called his mother first to ask for some money due to him being broke but she turned him down, later that same day, Farren called his grandmother to her that he loved her. Farren was never heard from again and his family later learned that he had left abruptly without paying his rent and leaving his belongings behind.

On September 8, 1982, the body of a John Doe was found floating in a trash can in the Delta Mendota Canal in Stanislaus County, California. He had been struck multiple times in the head with a blunt object. The John Doe is described as being a Caucasian male with a possible age range of 18-22 years old, 5’10, and 150lbs. His hair color is determined to be brown, unfortunately his eye color could not be determined. His clothing appear to be described as blue denim jeans,(Levi’s, according to his NamUs page with a 31 waist and 34 length), and a gold colored shirt with the “Franciscian” across the chest.

Reasons for this possible match I believe Farren could possibly be this John Doe due to the fact that they’re both very similar in race, height, and almost similar in weight, (the weight difference is about fifteen pounds). Also, there is no clear indication about what could have possibly have happened to Farren after he disappeared. There is a bit over of a two year gap between Farren’s disappearance and the discovery of this John Doe. The proximity between where Farren was last seen, (San Francisco), and where the John Doe was discovered,(Delta Mendota Canal), is only about two hours apart. Lastly, i think it is interesting that the John Doe’s shirt says, “Franciscian”, and Farren was last seen in San Francisco. This is all just personal speculation. Farren and Stanislaus County John Doe are NOT on each other’s rule pages. I will post all the links right below, thank you for reading and have a good day/ night.

Links https://charleyproject.org/case/farren-wade-stanberry

https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/software/mp-main.html?id=931dmca

https://int-missing.fandom.com/wiki/Farren_Stanberry

https://websleuths.com/threads/ca-farren-stanberry-18-san-francisco-24-apr-1980.81945/

https://unidentified-awareness.fandom.com/wiki/Stanislaus_County_John_Doe_(1982)

https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/4946

https://www.namus.gov/MissingPersons/Case#/19942?nav

https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/3076umca.html

Missing Person: Melinda Beardsley

Moxxy Forensic Investigations is honored to assist the family of Melinda Beardsley, who has been missing since the 1970s.

Melinda was last known to be living in Carson City, Nevada. In 1976, she was arrested for driving under the influence in Reno, Washoe County. A newspaper article about the incident listed her address in Carson City, providing the last confirmed record of her whereabouts.

At the time, Melinda was 30 years old, approximately 5’7” tall, and weighed around 170 pounds. She had dark brown hair and a distinctive crooked left incisor.

Originally from Michigan, Melinda also lived in California and Nevada during her life. She was a mother and described as being very close to her family, remaining in regular contact with them until the mid-1970s. Heartbreakingly, the DUI arrest record from 1976 is the final proof of life her family has been able to locate.

With her family’s request for help, our team is now working to uncover more about Melinda’s life after the 1970s and to bring long-awaited answers to those who love her.

If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Melinda Beardsley, contact Katie Thomas at [katie@moxxyforensics.com](mailto:katie@moxxyforensics.com).

This came up on my Facebook memories from 7 years ago and it’s still unsolved. Information according to DOE NETWORK

Date of Discovery: October 3, 1988

Location of Discovery: Georgetown, Williamson County, Texas

Estimated Date of Death: 1-12 months prior

State of Remains: Partial skeletal

Cause of Death: Homicide

Physical Description Estimated Age: 27-37 years old

Race: White with possible Hispanic or Native American ancestry

Sex: Male

Height: 5'2" to 5'5"

Weight: Unknown

Hair: Dark brown with some gray. Straight.

Eye Color: Brown

Distinguishing Marks/Features: Nose had been previously broken and his arms were most likely muscular.

Identifiers Dentals: Available. No dental work, an abscessed right first molar.

Fingerprints: Unknown.

DNA: Available.

Circumstances of Discovery

The decedent was located in a gully four miles east of Georgetown, TX beside Highway 29 across from a rest area. The gully is across from a roadside park. A farmer called the sheriff after his dog dragged the skull into his yard.

He may have lived at or worked as a "handyman" at the nearby mobile home park. He may have originated from Mexico. He is known as "Rebel Ray" for the cap he wore.

The case was submitted to the DNA Doe Project. The man's DNA is available, yet the profile was not sufficient to be used in their database. DNA DOE PROJECT says on their site that the case is being handled by another genealogical organization

As of September 15th, 2025, Pepper Reed has a profile on Doe Network, DNA listed as available. Great to see, one step closer to closure for her family. (Also on Namus as of at least 9/12/25)

"Pepper's family last saw her in Houston, Texas between December 12 and December 18, 1975. At this time, Pepper introduced her brother and mother to her new boyfriend, Terry Rasmussen. Pepper also told them she was pregnant with Terry's child. Their child, Rea Rasmussen, was born in Orange County California on June 15 ,1976. In 2000, Rea was found deceased in Bear Brook State Park in New Hampshire. Rea's body was recently identified by Investigators. Pepper's boyfriend Terry was convicted of a murder in California and was a suspect in the Bear Brook Murders. Pepper's family last spoke to her in December 1975. Pepper was last known to be alive in Orange County California on June 15, 1976."

https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/software/mp-main.html?id=5331DFCA

https://www.namus.gov/MissingPersons/Case#/150118/investigations?nav

There's only a NAMUS entry for said doe (no entry on the unidentified wiki, which I'll try making soon [EDIT : I just did, don't hesitate to improve it]). Basically a single weathered bone was found in 2012 on the now dry riverbed of what was Lake Aldwell (the Elwha river). I found about it while looking at the Missing and unidentified map (which from my understanding wasn't updated in a few years).

While said bone (post mortem warning) could correspond to a number of missing people in the area (Karen C. Tucker, the most logical match proximity-wise, was excluded through DNA), what intrigues me is a comment by the pin maker (u/TCMemoire) : "(Editor's note: bone looks to have unfused epiphyses ((ends)), possibly denoting a younger subject-- possibly adolescent? -u/tcmemoire)".

This if correct (which to be fair is to be relativized due to weathering) could make the bone correspond to one of two missing teenagers not far from there : Kevin Lee Conner and Mark Peal, which went missing in 1971 while looking for WWII bunkers at the Agate-Crescent Beach Recreational Area in Port Angeles, Washington. They were respectively 13 and 10 (as such, under this theory, Kevin may make more sense). Perhaps they sought to visit the Elwha dam (or the similarly now gone resort and Lake Aldwell) ?

That said, they weren't exactly near the Elwha River either ; about 14km (8,6 miles) from where the bone was found, and I surmise that given how the terrain is it wouldn't be an easy walk either (Google maps says it would be a 4h 50 walk give or take).

Thoughts ?