Coroner uses DNA to identify Yakima woman after 26 years

The Wahkiakum County Coroner’s Office used DNA and genealogy to identify a Jane Doe whose body was discovered on the shore of Puget Island 26 years ago. Ramona Lorene Hughes, a Yakima woman born on July 6, 1956, had not been seen since late 1997 or early 1998.

Last year, former Clark County death investigator Nikki Costa joined Wahkiakum County as a volunteer deputy coroner to investigate cases involving unidentified persons. Costa found an affordable lab that could perform whole genome sequencing and board-certified genealogist Melinde Byrne also volunteered her services. The team sent DNA from the remains to Gene by Gene, a Texas-based genetics lab that owns the FamilyTree DNA genealogy database. Because Ramona had a first cousin once removed and a second cousin who consented to Doe matching, investigators concluded that circumstantial evidence and the physical characteristics appeared to fit Hughes's case. Byrne used atDNA and X DNA to triangulate conclusively on a granddaughter of Barbara Katherine Holland of Oregon. Barbara had 12 children and by contacting government agencies, verifying records, and interviewing numerous descendants, Costa was able to meet with one of Ramona’s children, who provided a family reference DNA sample. The University of North Texas Center for Human Identification, which developed the initial DNA profile in 2008, sent that profile to the Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory for comparison to the Family Reference Sample. Analysis confirmed that the decedent is Ramona L. Hughes. Ramona’s family now has answers to her disappearance.

Hughes’ cause of death is drowning and the manner of death is undetermined. Law enforcement has no information on Hughes’ activities or travels leading up to the recovery of her body on the shore of Puget Island.

Anyone with information about Hughes can contact Coroner Dan Bigelow at 360-795-3652 or bigelowd@co.wahkiakum.wa.us.

The Wahkiakum County Coroner’s Office encourages people to consider uploading their DNA profiles from other direct-to-consumer genealogy companies and opting in to public searches. Doing so can help bring names to the unidentified, provide truth to their families, and help law enforcement bring justice to perpetrators of violent crime. Both FamilyTreeDNA and GEDmatch allow users to upload their profiles from other companies for free. Find more information on the GEDmatch and FamilyTreeDNA websites.