After 22 long years, an unidentified homicide victim discovered in McLean, Texas has finally been given a name: Brenda Sue Guessler. The Texas Rangers, in conjunction with Othram Inc., have made a breakthrough in their efforts to identify the Gray County Jane Doe, bringing closure to a decades-old mystery.
Revisiting the Cold Case: Texas Rangers’ Tireless Efforts
The investigation began in August 1999 when the Texas Rangers were called in to assist with the case of an unidentified female body found along I-40 west of McLean, Texas. Despite exhaustive attempts to identify the victim through fingerprintsFingerprint, impression made by the papillary ridges on the ends of the fingers and thumbs. Fingerprints afford an infallible means of personal identification, because the ridge arrangement on every finger of every human being is unique..., DNADNA, or Deoxyribonucleic Acid, is the genetic material found in cells, composed of a double helix structure. It serves as the genetic blueprint for all living organisms. analysis, and composite sketches, all efforts proved unsuccessful. However, a DNA profile was created and entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) in hopes of finding a match in the future.
In February 2004, the Texas Ranger’s Unsolved Crimes Investigation Program (UCIP) reviewed the case file, exploring various avenues to uncover the identity of the Jane Doe. Unfortunately, their search yielded no significant leads, and the case eventually went cold. The unidentified woman was listed as UP6936 in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs).
Revitalizing the Investigation: Othram’s Cutting-Edge DNA Analysis
In April 2022, the Texas Ranger’s UCIP personnel reexamined the case, spurred by advancements in DNA technology. They decided to collaborate with Othram Inc., a renowned DNA laboratory. With funding assistance from the Roads to Justice (RTJ) program, skeletal remains were submitted to Othram’s state-of-the-art lab for analysis. Othram’s team of scientists successfully extracted DNA and utilized Forensic-Grade GenomeA genome is the complete set of an organism's genetic material, while genomics is the study of genomes, investigating their evolution, structure, and function. Sequencing® to create a comprehensive genealogical profile. This profile became instrumental in generating crucial investigative leads for the case.
The leads provided by Othram pointed towards a potential match with Brenda Sue Guessler. To confirm the identity, standard familial DNA comparisons were conducted with a close relative, ultimately confirming that the Jane Doe was indeed Brenda Sue Guessler. It is believed that Guessler resided in or near the Phoenix, Arizona area.
Continuing the Investigation: Seeking Public Assistance
The Texas Rangers are determined to further develop leads and gather information related to this investigation. They are calling on the public to come forward with any information they may have about Brenda Sue Guessler. If you have any details that could aid the ongoing investigation, please reach out to the Texas Rangers via email at rangers@dps.texas.gov. The identification of Brenda Sue Guessler has injected new life into this cold case, providing renewed hope of bringing closure and justice to her tragic story.
