In 1985 a skull and partial remains are found in a plastic bag near Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard, California. Thinking the remains are from a recent victim, investigators work to solve what they think is a murder. Failing to identify the victim, the case goes cold. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan will explain how the scientists at Othram Labs developed a DNA extract from the evidence and were able to identify “Ventura County Jane Doe "as the victim of a grave robbing that happened after her death in 1915. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack will share the story of Gertrude Elliot-Littlehale, a woman born in 1864 and the amazing life she lived well before she became the unidentified “cold case” of “Ventura County Jane Doe”. Othram Labs is helping solve cases that seem unsolvable with the help of everyday people willing to make a small donation at DNASOLVES.COM Please take a moment of your time and visit DNASOLVES.COM and see how you can help solve a case.  

Transcript Highlights 

00:00:08 Introduction of Ventura County Jane Doe 

00:03:44 Discussion of Skull found in a bag in 1985 

00:07:19 Talk about history and DNA 

00:11:58 Discussion identifying bodies 

00:15:13 Talk about going from 1985 back to 1864 

00:20:49 Discussion of dogs and old bones 

00:24:14 Discussion of forensic anthropologist 

00:29:04 Discussion of “suture lines” 

00:33:03 Talk about solving crimes with DNA 

00:38:20 Discussion of building a family tree 

00:42:12 Discussion of “Gertie” and her life 

00:46:50 Talk about Othram Labs