Nearly eight decades after a gruesome discovery shocked Clackamas County, Oregon police say they have recovered partial remains belonging to the state’s oldest unidentified-person case. Known for generations as “Oak Grove Jane Doe,” the woman’s identity has never been confirmed.
The case, long considered unsolvable, may now see new progress thanks to modern forensic science.
The 1946 Discovery
On April 12, 1946, authorities pulled a burlap sack from the Willamette River south of Portland. Inside were partial remains of a woman. Over the following months, investigators uncovered more body parts at multiple sites: near Willamette Falls, the McLoughlin Bridge, and again close to the original discovery point. Clothing linked to the victim was also retrieved from the Clackamas River.
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An autopsy determined the victim was a white woman between 30 and 50 years old, small in stature, who had died from blunt-force trauma to the head. After her death, she was dismembered, and the remains were distributed in several sacks before being discarded in the river.
The brutality of the crime drew national attention, but investigators were never able to put a name to the victim.
Evidence Lost to Time
While the case initially held promise, crucial evidence disappeared in the 1950s. According to Oregon State Police, both the victim’s remains and other materials in law enforcement custody went missing without explanation or documentation.
That loss effectively froze progress for decades. Without physical remains, investigators had little chance of applying even the limited forensic techniques available in the mid-20th century.
The case resurfaced briefly in 2008, when the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office reopened the file. But with no body to analyze and only historical records to consult, detectives reached another dead end.
A Breakthrough in 2025
The turning point came when the Oregon State Police Medical Examiner’s Office Human Identification Program determined that the remains were most likely interred at Mountain View Cemetery in Oregon City. Acting on that lead, investigators exhumed the burial site earlier this year.
Although degraded by time, the newly recovered remains are now slated for advanced forensic testing. Using modern techniques such as DNA profiling, isotope analysis, and forensic anthropology, specialists hope to accomplish what was once impossible: to restore the victim’s identity.
“For decades, this case was presumed impossible to resolve,” said State Forensic Anthropologist Hailey Collord-Stalder. “Now, after nearly 80 years, we are hopeful we can restore this victim’s name and return her identity to history.”
Community and Forensic Support
The recovery effort was made possible with assistance from Mountain View Cemetery staff, who helped locate and exhume the burial site.
“Cemetery staff have been instrumental in assisting with this process,” Collord-Stalder noted. “They have moved quickly and professionally in support of this important effort. We appreciate their commitment as we work to resolve this case.”
Their cooperation underscores the unusual complexity of investigating a cold case where remains had been misplaced for half a century before being rediscovered.
Why It Matters
Cases like “Oak Grove Jane Doe” highlight the importance of modern forensic science in revisiting unsolved crimes. In the 1940s, investigators lacked DNA testing, computerized databases, and advanced imaging tools. Today, even degraded samples can sometimes yield genetic information that can be cross-referenced with genealogical databases to identify victims and, in some cases, their killers.
For law enforcement, identifying victims is not only about closing cases but also about restoring dignity to those lost. “Restoring her name would mean she is no longer just a tragic mystery,” said one official. “She would once again be recognized as a person, with a life and history of her own.”
The Long Road Ahead
Despite the recovery, investigators caution that the process will take time. The remains are fragile, and testing must proceed carefully. Success is not guaranteed—decades of decay may limit what can be learned. Still, the team remains optimistic.
The renewed investigation may also generate public interest and fresh leads. Families with missing relatives from the 1940s could potentially come forward, and researchers may uncover overlooked historical records that add context.
A Case Frozen in Time
“Oak Grove Jane Doe” stands as Oregon’s oldest unidentified-person case. For many, it has symbolized the frustrating limits of law enforcement in the mid-20th century, when investigative tools were rudimentary and record-keeping sometimes inconsistent.
Now, in 2025, the discovery at Mountain View Cemetery provides a rare second chance. With science, community support, and persistence, authorities hope that the woman who was denied justice for nearly 80 years will finally be given back her name.
