Description:
On March 18, 1998, a tugboat captain reported a body floating in the Cumberland River near Cleese’s Ferry and Hunter’s Marina.
Upon arrival, the rescue squad pulled the body of a partially clothed woman from the water. She had been shot in the head twice.
A woman fitting her description was seen on the previous evening on Music Valley Drive with a man. She was dressed in a white Tweetie Bird tee shirt with black pants and wore a gold zodiac necklace.
1998 Jane Doe Identified by DNA Doe Project
Country singer Diane Minor
Nashville, TN – When she was found in the Cumberland River near Cleese’s Ferry in March, 1998, the body of a partially clothed woman could not be identified by investigators. After 26 years as a Jane Doe, Diane Minor now has her name back thanks to the volunteer investigative genetic genealogists with the DNA Doe Project. Her death is being investigated as a homicide.
Diane Minor
Formerly known as Leo Jane Doe because of an astrology pendant she wore, Diane Minor was a country singer and former beauty queen and weather girl. Originally from Alabama, Minor moved to Nashville after high school, signing a recording contract with Wilburn Brothers.
She was living in Nashville at the time of her death at age 54, and her case quickly went cold when she was not identified. Then, in 2023, the Nashville Police brought the case to the DNA Doe Project after lab work to develop a DNA profile was done at Bode Technology. After less than three months, volunteer investigative genetic genealogists were confident that they had identified Diane Minor. This was confirmed with DNA testing of a close relative.
“This case was a challenge, given the presence of endogamy in the genetic matches of Jane Doe,” said team co-leader Cairenn Binder, who is now the Director of the Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center at Ramapo College of New Jersey. “Using carefully-honed techniques to separate her genetic matches by parent, we were able to make a breakthrough and find her identity.”
The DNA Doe Project is grateful to the groups and individuals who helped solve this case: the Metro Nashville Police Department, who entrusted the case to the DNA Doe Project; Bode Technology for extraction of DNA, whole-genome sequencing, and bioinformatics; GEDmatch Pro and FTDNA for providing their databases; and DDP’s dedicated teams of volunteer investigative genetic genealogists who work tirelessly to bring all our Jane and John Does home.
NamUs ID:
UP10155
Date Body Found:
3/17/1998
Race:
White/Caucasian
Sex:
Female
Estimated Age:
45-55
Estimated PMI:
1 day
Agency of Jurisdiction:
Metro Nashville Police Department
Det. Matthew Filter
615-862-7803
[email protected]
More Information:
https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/10155
https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/194uftn.html
Status:
Identified
Last Updated: July 16, 2024
