In the scorching Arizona desert near Florence Junction, a grim discovery in June 1988 would remain a mystery for over three decades. A partially buried body, found quarter-mile west of US 79, belonged to an elderly woman whose identity would elude investigators for 36 years – until now.
The woman’s remains told a partial story: she was over 50, stood about 5’3″ tall, and had medium-length gray hair with traces of blonde. Her curved spine and signs of osteoporosis would have given her a distinctive hunchback posture. She was found wearing a floral dress or housecoat, discovered in what investigators determined was a clandestine grave.
But beyond these physical details, her identity remained a haunting question – until breakthrough DNA technology and dedicated genetic genealogists stepped in.
The DNA Doe Project, a non-profit organization specializing in identifying unnamed remains through investigative genetic genealogy, took on the case in 2023. Their approach represents a revolutionary shift in solving cold cases: creating DNA profiles that can be compared against public genetic databases to build family trees and identify relatives of the unknown deceased.
Evelyn “Dottie” Lees , born in 1898 in Salt Lake City, Utah, was 88 or 89 years old at the time of her death – significantly older than investigators initially estimated. She had been living in Scottsdale before her disappearance, which, tragically, was never reported to authorities.
The case took a darker turn when investigators discovered evidence suggesting Lees had been murdered by strangulation. Further investigation revealed possible pension fraud, with suspects allegedly continuing to collect her benefits for almost a decade after her death. However, these suspects are now deceased, leaving some questions forever unanswered.
“For an elderly grandmother to be the victim of a violent crime, and then to remain unidentified for 36 years is a tragedy,” said Sheriff Mark Lamb of the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office. “We are grateful to the DNA Doe Project, its donors, and Dr. Bruce Anderson with the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner who all helped give this woman some peace in death.”
The identification was made possible through a collaborative effort between law enforcement and the DNA Doe Project, whose work was funded by 71 individual donors who contributed nearly $5,000 toward laboratory fees and case management costs. Dr. Bruce Anderson, who initially responded to the desert grave in 1988, never gave up hope of identifying Lees, bringing the case to the DNA Doe Project in 2023.
The success of this case demonstrates the powerful combination of modern genetic technology, dedicated volunteers, and law enforcement collaboration in bringing closure to cold cases. For the DNA Doe Project, whose motto declares that “to die without a name is an injustice,” Evelyn “Dottie” Lees represents another step toward ensuring that being nameless doesn’t mean being forgotten.
Living relatives have been notified, and after 36 years, Evelyn “Dottie” Lees has finally reclaimed her name from the desert sands of Arizona.
References:
https://dnadoeproject.org/case/florence-junction-clandestine-grave-jane-doe-1988
https://www.facebook.com/PinalCountySO
