The remains of a missing woman in California have been identified three decades after the disappeared by the police – but internet -speuznos made the connection years ago.
Wendy Abrams-Nishikai was a 21-year-old UC Berkeley student with a young daughter when she disappeared on October 31, 1989.
Her remains were discovered on a dike on Yankee Jims Road in Colfax on February 10, 1990. The police were initially unable to identify the body and she was considered a cold case of Jane Doet.
There were no developments until 2023 when the Placer County Sheriff's Office Cold Case Investigations Team was established.
A year later, the California Department of Justice Laboratory in Richmond successfully identified a likely closest chin via DNA analysis, in which the remains are related to a family member of Abramsishikai.
“We actually had fingernails and that is what they could use to extract DNA,” Elise Soviar from Placer County Sheriff's Office Communications Elise Soviar told KCRA.
Researchers obtain additional DNA samples from family members for further comparison, and officially determine the remains belong to Abramsishikai in January.
Internet-Speurnezen, however, suspected that the Jane Doe remains of Abrams-Nishikai belonged long before the police made the connection.
Wendy Abrams-Therhikai (photo) was a 21-year-old UC Berkeley student with a young daughter when she disappeared on October 31, 1989
Her remains were discovered on a dike on Yankee Jims Road (photo) in Colfax on February 10, 1990, but were not identified for 35 years
The Placer County Sheriff's Office continues his research into the circumstances surrounding her death
Users on the online forum Websleuths pointed to the similarities between the Jane Doe and Abrams -nishikai in 2020 – including a unique breast tattoo.
“I found this Jane Doe and couldn't help it, but think that their facial structures seem similar and the timeline/statistics usually match?” said one person.
“It seems a crazy coincidence like nothing else. Clothing can be changed, but to have the exact same tattoo would be wild! '
Another added: 'According to someone who claims to have known Wendy, she had a cross -tattoo on her chest. The Placer Jane Doe – Statistics sound similar, but not sure if the rest of it is a match – only her family/friends could confirm the clothing, shoes and jewelry. '
'Its stating that Doe was estimated in its early mid-20s, 5'2-5'3'. More evidence indicates Wendy because the vital statistics match. Mystifying why they are not compared in the world, I am convinced that she is this, “said a third person.
The friends and family of Abramsihikai were relieved to finally know that she was found.
“There is the closure that we thought we might never have. And for me it may not sound that way here, but it is just like my first time in 35 years to start mourning, “said her brother Dale Abrams.
'It is really great and sweet to be able to remember her and get those tears. They literally had no place at the time. It was just not in vocabulary and we can now have a monument. '
The Placer County Sheriff office continues his research into the circumstances surrounding her death.
“This case has not been resolved yet,” said Soviar, the spokesperson for the Sheriff.
“Although we have identified Wendy and we hope this closes her family, we also want to find out what exactly happened to her and if someone is responsible, which we believe is there.”
