Julie Doe

"Julie Doe" is the nickname given to a transgender woman believed to have been murdered in Clermont, Florida in 1988. Neither the victim's identity nor the identity of those involved in her death, have been established. The victim was believed to be a cisgender woman until recent DNA testing.[3]

Julie Doe
Digital forensic rendering approximating the likeness of the victim's face
Bornc. 1952-1966
Southern Florida, United States
Diedc. January–September 1988 (aged 22-35)
Cause of deathUndetermined, homicide suspected[1][2]
Body discoveredSeptember 25, 1988
Clermont, Lake County, Florida
NationalityAmerican
Known forUnidentified decedent
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)

Discovery

The mummified remains of the victim, aged between 22 and 35, were located at a roadside in the "Green Swamp" area of Clermont, Lake County, Florida on September 25, 1988. A man looking for lumber made the initial discovery. The body was dragged to a concealed area, off the roadway of County Road 474, not far from the border between Lake and Polk Counties.[4]

She wore a bluish-green tank top and an acid-washed denim skirt. The pantyhose she wore had been partially removed, indicative that sexual assault may have taken place.[5] No shoes, jewelry, or other personal items were found at the scene, including forms of identification.[6]

Based on the condition of the body, it was estimated that she had died about two weeks to eight months before the discovery.[7][8] The remains were not in recognizable condition.[9]

Examination

The remains were autopsied at the C.A. Pound Human Identification Laboratory in Gainesville, Florida, the morning after they were discovered.[2] William R. Maples performed the examination.[9] The cause of death was not apparent, yet investigators suspect murder. This conclusion resulted from the suspicious circumstances surrounding the placement of her body.[4][2]

The victim's hair was described as long and bleached a strawberry-blond color. She had long, manicured fingernails, which may have been artificial.[7] Healed fractures were identified on her toes, one of her cheekbones, a rib, and possibly her nose.[10] She was between 5'9" and 5'11, weighing between 150 and 180 pounds.[7] She had also underwent cosmetic surgeries. She had 250cc silicone breast implants, which would appear proportional to the victim's body.[9][2] The procedure may have been performed in Atlanta, Georgia, Miami, Florida, New Orleans, Louisiana, New York City, or California.[3] It is believed the sex reassignment surgery occurred around 1984, based on the fact that the implants were discontinued around 1983.[9] She apparently had a rhinoplasty, which may have been related to the injury she sustained to her nose. It was initially thought she had given birth at least once, based on evidence of pitting on the pelvis, attributed to hormonal changes.[9][11]

The victim was initially believed to be a cisgender woman until a 2015 DNA test indicated she had been assigned male at birth and had later transitioned, or was in the process of transitioning, based on the cosmetic surgeries she underwent.[3][11] Additionally, she was taking hormone replacement medication, which caused changes to the pelvic bones, leading to the previous assumption she had a history of pregnancy.[9]

Investigation

Shortly after the remains were discovered, fingerprints were taken in hopes to identify the victim.[4] An initial sketch was created to depict an approximation of her appearance in life.[2] After the discovery that Julie Doe was a transgender woman, the sheriff's department commissioned a new forensic sketch to be created from the skull; retired Detective and forensic artist Stephen Fusco created the image.[2] This is also the time when she received her nickname.[6] Students examining the remains selected the name "Julie" from the LGBT-themed film To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar.[9]

In July 2018, isotopic tests were performed in Tampa, Florida by the University of South Florida on samples from the decedent's skull, to pinpoint potential locations where she resided.[1][6] The results suggested the victim originated from southern Florida. A seargent working on the case voiced the possibility that the victim underwent challenges related to being a transgender woman during the 1980s.[6][1] Others have elaborated that family estrangement or disownment may have played a role in her status as unidentified.[11] As no missing individuals from this region matched her description, her disappearance was likely unreported.[5]

Investigators sought services from the DNA Doe Project, which specializes in identifying potential family members of unknown individuals through genetic genealogy. Two attempts, funded by the investigating agency, to extract enough DNA from the bones proved unsuccessful.[9] The organization later began fundraising for a third attempt in November 2018, which also failed to generate a usable file.[12] In January 2020, a suitable sample was successfully obtained for genealogical research after a fourth lab was consulted.[13][11]

Additionally, DNA Doe Project volunteers Lee and Anthony Redgrave founded The Trans Doe Task Force to advocate for unidentified victims who were transgender or gender non-conforming. The pair voiced concern that genetic genealogy research may reveal a decedent's birth and/or legal name, but may not provide what title the individual preferred during life. One of the task force's goals is to research, following an identification, how the subject identified to prevent deadnaming.[11]

References
  1. Ray, Karla (17 December 2018). "Science provides new lead in 30-year-old Florida cold case". WFTV. ABC. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  2. Hayes, Christal (21 November 2015). "New sketch released: Do you recognize this transgender woman?". orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  3. ""Julie Doe" - Transgender woman likely murdered in 1988, believed to be cisgender for 27 years". Daily Kos. November 19, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  4. "Body Found in Woods Still Unidentified". Orlando Sentinel. 26 September 1988. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  5. "2752UMFL". www.doenetwork.org. The Doe Network. May 1, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  6. Ray, Karla (17 July 2018). "9 Investigates: New technology could bring closure to cold cases". WFTV. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  7. "Do you know this woman? Police release sketch of transgender victim in cold case - Watermark Online". Watermark Online. November 30, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  8. "Unidentified Person Case". www.namus.gov. National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. October 14, 2009. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  9. Redgrave, Lee and Anthony (28 December 2018). "The Incredible Postmortem Journey of "Transgender Julie Doe"". Trans Doe Task Force. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  10. Hyman, Jayme (November 21, 2015). "New Sketch of "Julie Doe", Transgender Woman Still Unidentified After 27 Years". Daily Kos. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  11. Zhang, Sarah (23 December 2019). "Sleuths Are Haunted by the Cold Case of Julie Doe". The Atlantic. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  12. "Transgender Julie Doe". DNA Doe Project. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  13. "DNA Doe Project Case Updates". Facebook. 17 January 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
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