DNA Used To Solve 25-Year-Old Cold Case

DNA Identifies “Jane Doe” As 41-Year-Old Eileen Truppner

BROWARD COUNTY, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2023) — DNA used to identify murder victim found in SW Broward County 25 years ago.

For more than twenty years, she was simply known as Jane Doe. An unidentified victim of a brutal rape and murder who was left for dead in 1998 in a grassy area in southwest Broward County off of U.S. 27.

The identity of Jane Doe remained a mystery until earlier this year when persistent detective work and DNA analysis revealed her true name; Eileen Truppner. Now, nearly 25 years after Eileen’s tragic murder, the Broward Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit has apprehended her killer.

The perpetrator’s name is Lucious Boyd, a convicted murderer, rapist and suspected serial killer. Boyd is currently on death row for the murder of 21 year old Dawnia Dacosta, which occurred approximately two weeks before Eileen’s homicide.

Eileen’s story was prominently featured in the fourth episode of the Broward Sheriff’s Office “Open and Unsolved” cold case series. An updated version of that episode was subsequently released.

Subsequently, on November 29th, Boyd was indicted by a grand jury in Broward County for Eileen’s murder. As a result, he now faces additional charges of first degree murder and sexual battery.

“Lucious Boyd’s indictment for Eileen’s homicide is possible due to the collaborative efforts of BSO cold case detectives, crime lab analysts and crime scene investigators,” Sheriff Gregory Tony said. “Now, Eileen’s family can put an end to decades of living with uncertainty while detectives continue their mission with one thing in mind – justice has no expiration date.”

Once again, DNA analysis played a pivotal role in the relentless efforts of investigators to bring closure to this case. As part of the Roberto Fernandes case investigation, BSO cold case homicide detectives reexamined the sexual assault kit from Jane Doe’s case in 2021. The detectives conducted these tests with the intention to determine if Fernandes could be linked to her murder.

Investigators reached out to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and sought their assistance from the genetic genealogy unit. This specialized field combines DNA analysis with traditional genealogical research, empowering law enforcement to generate leads for unsolved crimes. Thanks to the DNA results, a significant breakthrough was achieved. They identified her.

Furthermore, there was another crucial development in the case. The advancements in DNA testing technology allowed crime lab investigators to establish a connection between Eileen’s DNA and Boyd’s DNA, which had been collected as evidence in the Dacosta homicide.