We’re just getting started, and you can help.

We keep the costs to our law enforcement and medical examiner partners low with your help. Your gift will make it possible for the DNA Doe Project to take all the cases that come to us in 2025. Please become a donor today and click here for more ways to help.

Our Cases

Since our founding in 2017, DNA Doe Project has worked on more than 250 cases of unidentified remains. Among our success stories are the very first identifications made using investigative genetic genealogy.

At DNA Doe Project, we are committed to helping identify unidentified individuals from every community, regardless of circumstance, race, gender identity, or cause of death. Some cases may take months or even years to resolve, but we remain dedicated to pursuing answers with care and compassion. We believe every person deserves to be recognized by their name and identity, and every family deserves the opportunity for answers. That commitment guides our work each day.

We’re featuring Lincoln County Rail Car John Doe, whose story is featured in Episode 4 of the documentary series Naming the Dead – The Body on the Train. Check out the full case details on our website here.

The public can also help by uploading their DNA profiles to DNAJustice.org (and GEDmatch.com, FamilyTreeDNA.com) Find out how here.

DNA Doe Project News

Naming the Dead

For the very first time, we pull back the curtain on the work we do. We're dedicated to ensuring no Jane or John Does are left nameless. And, we can't wait to share these six cases with you! Join us in August as we pull back the curtain in #NamingTheDead, premiering Saturday, August 2 at 10/9c on @natgeotv. Streaming on @DisneyPlus and @hulu....

Margaret Press: Justice Entrepreneur

You know those cold cases where families are left with unanswered questions and profound, unresolved grief? Well, the techniques developed and deployed by DNA Doe Project (DDP), Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) have been a game-changer for those cases – and we owe a huge debt to some seriously amazing women, including DDP co-founder Margaret...

The Case that Started it All

In February 2017, DNA Doe Project’s co-founder Margaret Press was newly retired from her tech job and had moved across the country to be closer to her daughter, settling in California. She was looking forward to some peace and quiet, to spend time doing genealogy and reading. Within her stack of books was Sue Grafton’s Q is for Quarry. At the end...

Historic Discovery Made in 1921 Graves Investigation

First ID Announced of Tulsa Race Massacre Victim

It's been 103 years, and C.L. Daniel is finally being returned to his family and community. Today, the City of Tulsa announced the first positive identification of one of the victims of the Tulsa Race Massacre who had been buried in a potter's field. DNA Doe Project is proud to be one of the investigative genetic genealogy partners on the...

“I’m proud to have ticked the box to allow law enforcement use of my DNA! If I ever help identify a person or criminal I’ll be very pleased!”

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