Agenda • Welcome and introductions – Ben Mack, MD, Lawrence County Coroner • Timeline of events – Bill Nenni, Lawrence County Investigator • Autopsy details, NamUs, and additional data – Beth Murray, PhD, D-ABFA, Forensic Anthropologist • Genealogical identification of “Belle in the Well” – Colleen Fitzpatrick, PhD; Margaret Press, PhD; Anthony Lukas Redgrave; Lee Bingham Redgrave; DNA Doe Project • Ongoing law enforcement investigation – Jeff Lawless, Sheriff, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office – David Marcum, Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office
Louise Virginia Peterson Flesher 1915 ~ 1979-81? (1934 photo)
Timeline of Events 1981-2019
Discovery and Initial Steps • Apr 21, 1981 – Body of unknown female recovered from cistern – Right Ridge in Lawrence County, Ohio – Southwest of Dobbston in Windsor Township • May 12, 1981 – Autopsy performed in Cincinnati, Ohio, at Hamilton County Coroner’s Office – Death investigation of “Belle in the Well” assigned to Bill Nenni of Lawrence County Coroner’s Office
Death Certificate for “Unknown”
Nearly 30 Years Later • Nov 25, 2009 – Beth Murray, Hamilton County Forensic Anthropologist, enters case into National Missing and Unidentified Persons System – Contacts Bill Nenni for additional information – Plans made for exhumation • Jun 15, 2011 – Disinterment takes place – Remains taken to facility of Mark Hammond, Boyd County Coroner’s Office in Kentucky – Murray performs anthropology examination and takes bone sample for DNA testing
Additional Data Obtained • Jun 17, 2011 – Full body x-rays taken at King’s Daughters Hospital in Ashland, Kentucky – Postcranial remains reburied – Skull retained for additional testing and purposes • Jul 21, 2011 – Dental charting and x-rays – Ralph Beadle, DDS; Robert Barnett, DDS; and Leigh Ann Elliott – Dentist notes distinct overbite, not previously mentioned in autopsy report
Forensic Genealogy • Apr 10, 2014 – Nenni and Murray begin discussing the possibilities of genealogy DNA – Nenni approaches commercial genealogy companies – Murray talks with representatives of NamUs and NIJ • Feb 17, 2017 – Murray meets forensic genealogist Colleen Fitzpatrick who has methodology for genealogic analysis – Belle’s teeth sent to Bode Technology Lab for DNA extraction
Case Resolution • Feb 3, 2019 – Information from DNA Doe Project allows Nenni to search for daughter • Mar 15, 2019 – DNA collected from daughter • Jul 3, 2019 – University of North Texas/NamUs DNA lab confirms association between daughter and decedent Louise Peterson Flesher using forensic DNA testing
Autopsy Details, NamUs, and Additional Data
1981 Autopsy – Hamilton County • Autopsy May 12, 1981 – Paul N. Jolly, MD • Caucasian adult female • Much soft tissue present, but decomposition precluded fingerprinting • Hair mass not recovered from cistern, eye color could not be determined • Height 63” (measured); weight 100 lbs. (estimated) • Estimated time of death – no more than two years • COD – Manual strangulation; MOD – Homicide
Further Autopsy Details • No antemortem medical findings noted • Dental charting not performed, but dentition meticulously described • Clothing: – Dark pullover sweater, covered by a lightweight shirt, and a heavy red cable-knit sweater – Gray slacks – Thin light-color socks covered by heavy red socks – Rubber bands around wrists Locker key from bus station in Huntington, WV •
NamUs UP 6259 • Case entered November 25, 2009 • Investigator Nenni plans for exhumation • Anthropology exam on Jun 15, 2011 – Mild arthritic changes noted in spine – Age range of 30-60 suggested; weight ~ 140 lbs – Bone sample submitted to University of North Texas for DNA testing (NamUs Lab) – Dental charts and x-rays uploaded to NamUs • 243 total exclusions made, but no matches
Forensic Art 2012 2018 2013 Jack Sudimack Amy Stump Samantha Molnar Franklin County Ohio Bureau of Project EDAN Coroner’s Office Criminal Invest. (from autopsy photo)
February 2017 • American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting in New Orleans – Colleen Fitzpatrick, Forensic Genealogist presenting on a case – Plan is made to use Ohio cases in pilot project • “Belle” is first case selected, but not Murray’s first Ohio case solved by DNA Doe Project’s genealogy methods – April 2018 Miami County “Buckskin Girl” identified as Marcia King, after 37 years
The Genealogical Identification of “Belle in the Well”
Challenges DNA • Derived from remains in water for ≥ 1 year • Low quantity, 20% bacteria Genealogy • Matches indicated highly intermarried community • Matches seemed to relate to only one parent - Other parent = ????? • Highest match ~3 cousin for 14 mos
Genealogy Timeline Jun 7, 2017 Plan to test Belle first discussed with DNA Doe Project Aug 10, 2017 Belle’s tooth arrives at Bode for DNA extraction Oct 6, 2017 Extracted DNA arrives at AMD for sequencing Nov 25, 2017 Kit uploaded to GEDmatch Mar 5, 2018 Second round of sequencing done, upload to GEDmatch
Genealogy Timeline Jun 7, 2017 Plan to test Belle first discussed with DNA Doe Project Aug 10, 2017 Belle’s tooth arrives at Bode for DNA extraction Oct 6, 2017 Extracted DNA arrives at AMD for sequencing Nov 25, 2017 Kit uploaded to GEDmatch Mar 5, 2018 Second round of sequencing done, upload to GEDmatch Mar 15, 2018 Louise Peterson’s name first emerges, seems too old Jan 31, 2019 New match appears, unrelated to WV Feb 2, 2019 Louise Peterson is identified as Belle
Statistics No of people in trees: 43,130 Matches researched: 181 Hours dedicated: 10,000 No. volunteers: ~30 Total costs: $3,440 Time to solve: 14 m, 9d
DNA Doe Project Acknowledgements Bill Nenni, Case Investigator, Lawrence Co. Coroner’s Office Bode Cellmark Forensics, Inc. Dr. Weining Tang, AMD Biotech Justin Loe, Full Genomes Corporation Dr. Gregory Magoon, Aerodyne Research Dr. Beth Murray, NamUs Case Originator GEDmatch Our dedicated volunteers Belle’s matches Our generous donors
For further information: DNA Doe Project www.DNADoeProject.org www.facebook.com/DNADoeProject
Louise Peterson Flesher’s Timeline • Born Jun 16, 1915 in WV • In 1920 still lived in WV, in town of Fair View • By 1933-42 lived in Casper and Cheyenne, WY – 1936 had 1 st daughter in WY (living) – 1939 had 2 nd daughter in WY (deceased 1959) – 1940 had 3 rd daughter in WY (living) Source of 2019 DNA sample •
Louise Peterson Flesher’s Timeline • By 1944 returned to WV, living in Parkersburg – There until at least 1956 • 1959 Daughter Helen Flesher died in WY • 1979 ~ 1981 Louise killed in Chesapeake, OH
Potential Ties to Other US Locations • 1992 Husband Donald Benjamin Flesher died in Belpre, OH • Had additional family connections, siblings, half-siblings, mother (1929-2009) in: – Clackamas, OR – Las Vegas and Pahrump, NV – Colorado (city unknown)
Anonymous Tip Line: 740-532-3525 Email: helpthesheriff@lawcoso.com Anyone with information, contact Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office
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