Description
In the early morning hours of June 10, 2020 a person out for a walk discovered an unidentified woman in a grassy area in Trinity Bellwoods Park in Toronto, Ontario. The White/Caucasian female was found lying on a “Mountain Warehouse” sleeping bag, and had with her a band-aide, a protein bar, and a travel-size tube of toothpaste. She was wearing olive green Northern Reflections capri pants, a Tabi green and blue patterned shirt, and black cotton socks. The police were called and arrived to find the woman unresponsive, and pronounced her dead at the scene. Officials determined the woman to be 27 to 49 years of age with a slender/thin build, 5’1” to 5’4”, and weighing 108 lbs. She had long, wavy brown and grey hair. Investigators do not consider the woman’s death suspicious.
NamUs ID: UNA
Date Body Found: June 10, 2020
Race: White / Caucasian
Gender: Female
Estimated Age: 27 to 49
Estimated PMI: Hours
Location: Toronto, ON
Agency of Jurisdiction
Toronto Police Department, Missing Person Unit
Michael Kelly, Detective Constable
416-808-7411
[email protected]
Link to More Information
https://www.services.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/missing-disparus/case-dossier.jsf?case=2020021304&id=0
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/trinity-bellwoods-death-investigation-1.5625564
https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/toronto-police-release-sketch-of-woman-found-dead-in-a-park-in-hopes-of-an-id
https://globalnews.ca/news/7102009/toronto-police-deceased-woman-identity-trinity-bellwoods/
Status: Identified
On February 9, 2022 the DNA Doe Project (DDP) and the Toronto Police Department announced that a woman found in a grassy area in Trinity Bellwoods Park in Toronto in 2020 had been identified. DDP used investigative genetic genealogy to solve the case known as Trinity Bellwoods Park Jane Doe. Her family has requested her name be withheld and their privacy respected.
On June 10, 2020, an early morning walker discovered the woman’s body in Trinity Bellwoods Park. She was pronounced dead at the scene, but Toronto police were unable to identify her as she had very few possessions with her. The case quickly went cold.
In January of the following year, Detective Constable Mike Kelly brought the case to the DNA Doe Project for help learning her name, and the case was solved in partnership with the Toronto Police . A DNA sample from the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service was sent for whole genome sequencing and bioinformatics to create a DNA profile that could be uploaded to GEDmatch. When DNA Doe Project’s volunteer investigative genetic genealogists began work on the family tree for this Jane Doe, they found a number of good matches in the database. In less than a week, they had zeroed in the identity of the woman..
“The search to find our Jane Doe’s name was greatly aided by a couple family genealogical projects — families who had several members DNA tested, then uploaded (and opted in) to Gedmatch, and who also had built out beautiful family trees,” team leader C. Lauritsen shared. “That information being available completely enhanced our ability to readily our Jane Doe.”
“This case really highlights the importance of uploading DNA profiles from sites like Ancestry and 23andMe to GEDmatch,” co-leader Matt Waterfield explained, “The more people who upload their DNA to this database, the more John and Jane Does can be given back their names.”
The DNA Doe Project wishes to thank the many dedicated law enforcement professionals, scientists and volunteers who helped solve this case, including the Toronto Police Department and especially Detective Constable Mike Kelly. HudsonAlpha Discovery labs provided the whole genome sequencing and Kevin Lord of Saber Investigations performed the bioinformatics. We also extend our gratitude to GEDmatch for providing their database. Talented DDP volunteer genealogists and generous donors to this case, including audiochuck, made this identification possible.
Doe-Nate Fund Goal: $2,730
This was a Doe-Nate Funded case. This goal of $2,730 to pay for required special lab testing and DNA extraction was fully raised from targeted and general public donations. Thank you to our generous donors who contributed to this important project.
Last Updated: February 12, 2024
