US "Jane Doe" case: Azerbaijan among possible origins

Authorities in Burlington County have announced a major breakthrough in a decades-old unidentified remains case, following advanced genetic analysis.

The skeletal remains of a woman, discovered in October 2004 in a wooded area of Mount Laurel, had long been listed as an unidentified “Jane Doe.” For years, investigators were unable to determine her identity using traditional forensic methods, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Recent testing conducted by the Ramapo College of New Jersey has now provided new clues about her origins. According to officials, the genetic profile suggests the woman had Turkic ancestry, with the strongest indicators pointing to Central Asia.

Further analysis has narrowed the possible countries of origin to Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan. Investigators believe the most likely origin is the Issyk-Kul Region in eastern Kyrgyzstan.

Authorities are now appealing to diaspora communities worldwide for assistance in identifying the woman, hoping that renewed attention and modern forensic tools will finally provide answers in a case that has remained unresolved for over 20 years.

The investigation remains ongoing.

By Sabina Mammadli