Remains that were found in Missouri 46 years ago have been identified as southeast Iowa girl. Wapello County Sheriff’s Detective Aaron McConnell is asking for the public’s help in the death of 15-year-old Helen Renee Grooms of Ottumwa who went missing in 1977.
Grooms was dubbed “Lincoln County Jane Doe” after her body was found in the Mississippi River near Elsberry, Missouri back in March of 1978. Her body was exhumed last October, and a Southeast Missouri University Anthropology professor and undergraduate students were able to collect a DNA sample.
McConnell says a family DNA sample he collected matched the girl’s DNA and allowed investigators to identify Grooms. Her remains were returned to her family. McConnell described meeting Grooms’ brother.
The Wapello County Sheriff’s Office says there are approximately 585 cold cases in the state of Iowa.
