Woman Identified Through DNA After Being Found Dead in Cornfield 33 Years Ago

A body discovered in an Illinois cornfield in 1991 has been identified as Paula Ann Lundgren, a woman from the Chicago area, following years of investigation into this cold case. Authorities announced the identification last week after utilizing a posthumous DNA sample to shed light on Lundgren’s life and the circumstances surrounding her death.

Three sheriffs and four coroners have worked over three decades on the case, as confirmed by the LaSalle County Coroner’s Office. They stated that countless leads had been investigated, with flyers and communications sent across the United States and Canada in hopes of identifying the unknown victim, who had long been referred to as ‘Jane Doe.’

In 2013, authorities exhumed Lundgren’s remains to obtain DNA samples and apply modern investigative techniques that were not available in the early 1990s. By 2019, a professor at Illinois Valley Community College utilized investigative genetic genealogy to compile a list of potential living relatives. However, matching Lundgren’s DNA to a known family member took several more years.

In February of this year, the LaSalle County coroner’s office reached out to the FBI for assistance due to limited resources. A critical breakthrough occurred in July when the FBI helped confirm a match with a living relative’s DNA.

Before her untimely demise, Lundgren lived predominantly in the Chicago region. She was only 29 years old when a farmer stumbled upon her body in September 1991, in the LaSalle County cornfield.

According to the coroner’s office, Lundgren had extensive dental work done, breast implants, and two distinctive tattoos. One tattoo features a cross with a red flower, while the other depicts a star-shaped flower alongside a multicolored bloom emerging from a stem.

At the time of her death, the coroner’s investigation concluded that Lundgren had succumbed to cocaine intoxication. After her body remained unidentified for years, she was buried in an Ottawa cemetery with a headstone that poignantly reads, “Somebody’s Daughter, Somebody’s Friend.”

Now that Paula Ann Lundgren’s identity has been established, the LaSalle County sheriff’s office is hopeful that new leads will emerge regarding how she ended up in that cornfield.

As authorities continue to piece together the events leading up to her death, they are appealing to the public for any information that might help clarify the circumstances surrounding Lundgren’s tragic story.

The identification of Paula Ann Lundgren not only brings closure to a long-standing mystery but underscores the potential of modern forensic techniques in solving cold cases, opening the door for justice for victims and their families.

Authorities emphasize the importance of ongoing community assistance and encourage anyone with relevant information to contribute to the investigation, as they seek to provide clarity and justice for Lundgren and her loved ones.

Source: CBS News