The Remains Of A Jane Doe Were Identified As A Woman Missing Since 1987
In November 2008, skeletal human remains were discovered on remote land off-limits to non-tribal citizens within the Yakima Reservation in Washington, and the individual remained a Jane Doe for almost 15 years.
In early January 2023, Yakima County coroner Jim Curtice confirmed the remains as those of Daisy Mae Heath, also known as Daisy Tallman. While investigators did attempt a traditional DNA test in 2008, they were unable to develop a useful DNA profile, and the case went cold. In 2002, however, Curtice's office worked with Othram, a private forensic genealogy service devoted to closing long-unsolved cases and identifying unidentified remains. By comparing a comprehensive DNA profile to a DNA reference provided by her family, they were able to confirm that the Jane Doe is, in fact, Heath-Tallman.
Daisy Mae Heath was last seen in October 1987 and was reported missing two months later. It was not unusual for her to spend time unaccounted for, as she often hunted and fished for extended periods, and also regularly visited friends and family at the Warm Springs Reservation in Oregon. She was mourning the loss of both her infant daughter and grandmother in 1986, and at the time of her disappearance, the 29-year-old had been living with her sister. A backpack belonging to Heath-Tallman was found near the remains in 2008, along with her keys and a turquoise ring.
The cause of death will remain mysterious until more information comes to light. The FBI is treating the case as suspected homicide, according to Curtice. “I am hopeful that this may help with the healing process for family and friends,” he said.
Her identification drew attention to the unsolved murders or suspicious deaths of at least 14 Native women in Yakima and nearby Klickitat County throughout the 1980s and '90s.
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