November 23, 2021:
The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office has announced the identity of an unidentified female found in a secluded, wooded area in rural Ashford, Wisconsin on November 23, 2008.
Known as the “Fond du Lac Jane Doe“, the deceased as been identified as 18-year-old Amy Yeary of Rockford, Illinois. The identification was made after investigators sought the help of the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children, which recommended Jane Doe’s remains be exhumed. During the exhumation in 2018, tooth, hair and bone samples were collected, so that new forms of forensic testing could be conducted.
The samples were sent to laboratories across the United States, and the results compared to other DNA profiles. Individuals believed to be direct relatives of Jane Doe were subsequently identified, prompting investigators to collect DNA from those who turned out to be her mother and sister. When the DNA comparisons brought back a positive match, an examination of dental X-rays was done to confirm the remains were indeed those of Amy Yeary.
According to Amy’s mother, the last time she heard from her daughter was when she was in Beloit, Wisconsin. She’d called to ask for a ride home, but her mother had been unable to help due to extenuating circumstances. Her family never heard from her again.
The Sheriff’s Office has shared that the 18-year-old was a victim of sex trafficking and oftentimes transient. In the weeks leading up to her death, she spent time in Milwaukee, Chicago and Beloit.
The investigation into Amy’s death is ongoing. Those with information regarding the case are asked to contact the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office at 920-929-3380 or the Fond du Lac County Law Enforcement Tipline at 920-906-4777.
Stories of the Unsolved will update this article as more details emerge.
Image Credit: Unidentified Wiki/Carl Koppelman
Stories of the Unsolved 