City of Columbia Missouri Police Department

600 E. Walnut Street
Columbia, MO 65201

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 24, 2020

CONTACT: Brittany Hilderbrand
Community Relations Specialist/Public Information Officer
Columbia Police Department
City of Columbia
573.874.7671
[email protected]

Jeff Pitts
Community Relations Specialist/Public Information Officer
Columbia Police Department
City of Columbia
573.817.5049
[email protected]

Columbia police partner with Othram taking a different approach to solving the 2019 Baby Doe Case, Sept. 22

(COLUMBIA, MO) -

On Sept. 22 Columbia Police Department partnered with Othram, a private lab known for forensic genealogy testing, taking a different approach to solving the 2019 investigation involving the remains of an infant found at Mcknight Tire, 1900 block of North Providence Rd. 

The investigation began Aug. 15, 2019 when employees of Mcknight Tire found a small backpack inside a tire that contained the decomposed remains of an infant, known as Baby Doe. Since then, there have been little to no leads in this investigation.

"Traditional methods used by detectives to identify have been unsuccessful in this case, including submission of evidence to state labs," said Lt. Matt Stephens. "By using forensic genealogy testing, we believe the services provided by Othram to be a viable option in identifying the remains of the infant." 

Othram is the world’s first private DNA laboratory built specifically to apply the power of modern parallel sequencing to forensic evidence. The technology used by the lab could potentially help identify Baby Doe and bring closure to a year-long investigation.

For more information on Othram’s involvement in this investigation, please visit dnasolves.com

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to please contact the Columbia Police Department at 573.874.7652 or CrimeStoppers at 573.875.TIPS (8477) to remain anonymous. 

Case number 2019-008433

Previous Press Release(s):

Columbia Police seek community help to identify remains of a baby found Aug. 15

https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php?id=6311


Columbia Police provide an update on the infant remains found on Aug 15

https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php?id=6314



City of Columbia Vision
Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.

City of Columbia Mission
To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.

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