Unveiling the Mystery: The Identification of Dorothy Glanton, New Buffalo Jane Doe
A woman who had been unidentified for decades as "New Buffalo Jane Doe" has finally been identified as 71-year-old Dorothy Glanton from Chicago, Illinois. She went missing in December 1987 and her remains were discovered along Lake Michigan near New Buffalo in April 1988. The Michigan State Police (MSP) reopened the case in 2023 and, with the help of the DNA Doe Project, were able to identify her through genetic genealogy. Initially thought to be a white woman in her 40s or 50s, the genetic genealogy process revealed that Glanton was Black and in her early 70s.
The identification of Dorothy Glanton after nearly four decades brings closure to her family who had been wondering about her fate all these years. The MSP investigators, along with the DNA Doe Project, worked together to upload DNA from Glanton's remains to databases and construct a family tree that led to her identification. The collaborative efforts of various entities, including the DNA Doe Project, WMU Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Astrea Forensics, HudsonAlpha Discovery, Kevin Lord, and the New Buffalo Police Department, played a crucial role in solving this long-standing mystery.
In conclusion, the identification of Dorothy Glanton as the "New Buffalo Jane Doe" after years of being unidentified is a significant development in this case. The use of genetic genealogy and collaborative efforts between multiple organizations led to the closure of a decades-old mystery and provided answers to Glanton's family about her disappearance and fate.