Jane Doe in 30-Year-Old U.S. Murder Case Finally Identified

Thanks to cutting-edge DNA testing, the identity of a woman murdered in New York over three decades ago has been uncovered.

The victim, previously known as Jane Doe, has now been identified as Judy Rodriguez. She was discovered on August 25, 1991, with her ankles tied by a cord and her body hidden beneath a wooden board, according to a statement from Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz on Monday.

Rodriguez was last seen on January 23 of that year, attending her 1-year-old daughter’s birthday celebration.

Authorities quickly arrested and charged four suspects within weeks of the discovery. The individuals were 18, 19, and two were 20 years old at the time.

“Three decades ago, four men were convicted for a gruesome killing of an unidentified woman,” said Katz. “Though justice was served, the family went 33 long years without any answers about their loved one.

“Thanks to our partners at the NYPD and the Office of Chief Medical Examiner, we have now provided those crucial details, which I hope brings a measure of solace.

“This case is a prime example of the determination of my Cold Case Unit in identifying victims and solving the borough’s oldest, most challenging homicides,” she added.

On the day of the crime, the four men approached Rodriguez and managed to get her into their vehicle.

While driving, two of them restrained her, according to Katz.

At some point, they forced Rodriguez out of the car, and one of them struck her on the head with a heavy metal flashlight, killing her before they fled the scene.

Two weeks later, they returned to conceal her body.

Due to the extent of decomposition, authorities were initially unable to determine her identity when her remains were found.

It wasn’t until April 2024 that advanced testing conducted by DNA Labs International provided a breakthrough.

With assistance from the NYPD’s Investigative Genealogy Squad, her identity was finally confirmed.

As for the perpetrators, one suspect pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in September 1992. He was released in 2009, completing his parole in 2016.

Two others admitted to first-degree reckless endangerment in October 1992. They served their sentences and were released in 1996, with parole concluding in April 1998.

The fourth man, who pleaded guilty in February 1993 to hindering prosecution, was also released in 1996 and discharged from parole in July 1997.