(WDRB+WAVE/WOIO/WKYT) — Police in northeast Ohio are asking for the public’s assistance to identify a woman known only as “Janet,” who died in a car crash nearly six decades ago. Investigators believe that she may have ties to Kentucky and other neighboring states.
Our sister station WOIO reports that the woman died in a 1965 crash in the Cleveland area carrying no identification. An investigation revealed that before the crash, she had stayed at several hotels using aliases including Janet Atkins, Akenson, Tralley, Fralley, and Wycliff.
Detectives believe “Janet” may have lived in or had family connections across Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Tennessee.
Investigators also note she may have had two young sons who lived near the river in West Virginia or Kentucky.
“Maybe it’s someone that ran away from a life and maybe nobody reported it and that was it,” said Sgt. Csaba Hortobagyi of the Avon Police Department. “They disappeared and that was it. We just knew that they disappeared and nothing else. But having that information out there throughout the country that, hey, this could be a match to somebody else that might have gone missing.”
Police described the woman as between 18 and 30 years old, 5 feet 4 inches tall, and weighing approximately 115 pounds, with hazel eyes and brown hair.
Investigators are now working with the DNA Doe Project to identify her using modern forensic DNA technology and genealogical research.
Anyone with information that could assist in identifying the woman is encouraged to contact law enforcement.
