The Daily Leader Newspaper
Brookhaven, MS
16 May 2023
More than 30 years after her body was discovered in the bushes at a rest stop in Lincoln County, officials say they have identified the female homicide victim. On May 10, a multi-state investigation and additional DNA testing of a close family member the woman was positively identified as Melinda Lou Barnhouse of Maryland. The investigation began in September 1989, when a woman's body nude was found in the bushes at a rest stop near mile marker 26 along the southbound side of I55 in Lincoln County. She had been strangled to death. Subscribe to our free email newsletter Get the latest news sent to your inbox Investigators at the time were unable to definitively determine the woman's ancestry. They estimated her to be between 16 and 35 years old, with brown shoulder-length hair, possibly naturally curly or wavy, and blue eyes. She was about 5 foot 2 inches tall, 140 pounds and had a scar on her forehead and another on her right high. She was buried as "Jane Doe" in a pauper's plot at Rosehill Cemetery in Brookhaven. A year after her body was found, Alfred Ray Case, then 26, of Brookhaven was arrested and eventually convicted of manslaughter. At the time, reports said he would not be eligible for release until July 31, 2030. In 2003, a reporter for The Daily Leader wrote that Case had told her the victim's name was Jennie Miti and he said she was a prostitute he picked up in New Orleans. In 2009, the case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as case UP4769. Law enforcement investigators worked diligently to uncover leads about the unknown woman's identity. Unfortunately, despite exhaustive efforts, no matches were found, and the case eventually went cold due to a lack of viable leads. In 2022, the Mississippi Office of the State Medical Examiner in partnership with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office and Mississippi Bureau of Investigation explored the potential of forensic genetic genealogy as a tool to generate new leads. "The Cold Case Unit of MBI contacted me late last year about working with them on this," said Lincoln County Sheriff Steve Rushing. "Fortunately, we still had files and some evidence here from the case." Forensic evidence collected in the case was sent to Othram's laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas. Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to build a comprehensive genealogical profile for the unknown woman. Othram's in-house genealogy team then leveraged this profile to conduct extensive genetic genealogy research, ultimately providing investigative leads to law enforcement. Rushing said they received DNA confirmation a few days ago and are still working on a few details, such as verifying date of birth for Barnhouse. "We know 100 percent it was her," Rushing said. "We've been in touch with family members — an aunt and a brother — and they'll come down to Brookhaven later, probably in August." The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation Cold Case Unit facilitated the interstate investigation required to bring this case to a resolution. On May 10, 2023, through additional DNA testing of a close family member, the unidentified woman was positively identified as Melinda Lou Barnhouse. Originally from Maryland, the circumstances surrounding how she ended up in Mississippi remain unclear. Significantly, the suspect in the case had been apprehended prior to the Barnhouse's identification and is currently serving time in prison. "A lot of people worked on this case back then, and it's been a long time coming," Rushing said. "Now the family has got some closure on it, too."
Jane was discovered on September 17th, 1989, naked and in the bushes by a rest stop along Interstate 55 in Southern Lincoln County, Mississippi near mile marker 26. Charges were filed in her murder but her assailants were unable to provide information regarding her identity. Her killers reported that Jane was a prostitute they picked up in New Orleans, Louisiana. They intended to rob her but ended up murdering her and dumping the body.
Jane was between the ages of 16 and 35 at the time of her death. She was 5'2 and between 135-145 pounds. She had brown hair and brown eyes. She had freckles, a mole on her neck, and a scar on her forehead about 1 cm in length. Dental information is available for this decedent and she remains unidentified.
Buried 14 December 1980 by former Hartman Funeral Home, now Harrigill Funeral Home. Buried in Potters field. White female possibly mixed race of Caucasian and American Indian or Oriental. Small hands and feet with stocky torso.
Case File: 845UFMS
Unidentified Female
Date of Discovery: September 17, 1989
Location of Discovery: Lincoln County, Mississippi
Estimated Date of Death: Days prior
State of Remains: Recognizable face
Cause of Death: Homicide by strangulation
Physical Description
** Listed information is approximate
Estimated Age: 16-35 years old
Race: White, mixed with either Asian or Native American.
Gender: Female
Height: 5'2"
Weight: 135-145 lbs.
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Brown (other sources list blue)
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Freckles. Mole on neck. Pierced ear - unknown which. Scar on forehead about 1.0 cm in length.
Dentals: Available; jaw restricted paronex shoevel shaped incisor ortho.
Fingerprints: Available. RT: PM 14 18 14 17; LT: PI 63 13 16 11.
DNA: Not available.
Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: White athletic socks, rolled down, with three blue stripes.
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown
Case History
The victim's nude body was found in the bushes at the rest area on Interstate 55 South in Lincoln County near mile marker 26, which is one mile north of the Dixie Springs exit.
Those charged with her murder state that she was a prostitute and was picked up in New Orleans, Louisiana. They intended to rob her, but killed her and dumped her body in the area where she was found. They did not know her name.
She was buried on December 14, 1989 in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Brookhaven.
Investigating Agency(s)
If you have any information about this case please contact;
Agency Name: Mississippi Chief Medical Examiner's Office
Agency Contact Person: Mark LeVaughn
Agency Phone Number: 601-987-1440
Agency Name: Lincoln County Medical Examiner's Office
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 601-833-6680
Agency Case Number: B0096789C
NCIC Case Number: U382447056
NamUs Case Number: UP #4769
Former Hot Case Number: 1600
Brookhaven, MS
16 May 2023
More than 30 years after her body was discovered in the bushes at a rest stop in Lincoln County, officials say they have identified the female homicide victim. On May 10, a multi-state investigation and additional DNA testing of a close family member the woman was positively identified as Melinda Lou Barnhouse of Maryland. The investigation began in September 1989, when a woman's body nude was found in the bushes at a rest stop near mile marker 26 along the southbound side of I55 in Lincoln County. She had been strangled to death. Subscribe to our free email newsletter Get the latest news sent to your inbox Investigators at the time were unable to definitively determine the woman's ancestry. They estimated her to be between 16 and 35 years old, with brown shoulder-length hair, possibly naturally curly or wavy, and blue eyes. She was about 5 foot 2 inches tall, 140 pounds and had a scar on her forehead and another on her right high. She was buried as "Jane Doe" in a pauper's plot at Rosehill Cemetery in Brookhaven. A year after her body was found, Alfred Ray Case, then 26, of Brookhaven was arrested and eventually convicted of manslaughter. At the time, reports said he would not be eligible for release until July 31, 2030. In 2003, a reporter for The Daily Leader wrote that Case had told her the victim's name was Jennie Miti and he said she was a prostitute he picked up in New Orleans. In 2009, the case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as case UP4769. Law enforcement investigators worked diligently to uncover leads about the unknown woman's identity. Unfortunately, despite exhaustive efforts, no matches were found, and the case eventually went cold due to a lack of viable leads. In 2022, the Mississippi Office of the State Medical Examiner in partnership with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office and Mississippi Bureau of Investigation explored the potential of forensic genetic genealogy as a tool to generate new leads. "The Cold Case Unit of MBI contacted me late last year about working with them on this," said Lincoln County Sheriff Steve Rushing. "Fortunately, we still had files and some evidence here from the case." Forensic evidence collected in the case was sent to Othram's laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas. Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to build a comprehensive genealogical profile for the unknown woman. Othram's in-house genealogy team then leveraged this profile to conduct extensive genetic genealogy research, ultimately providing investigative leads to law enforcement. Rushing said they received DNA confirmation a few days ago and are still working on a few details, such as verifying date of birth for Barnhouse. "We know 100 percent it was her," Rushing said. "We've been in touch with family members — an aunt and a brother — and they'll come down to Brookhaven later, probably in August." The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation Cold Case Unit facilitated the interstate investigation required to bring this case to a resolution. On May 10, 2023, through additional DNA testing of a close family member, the unidentified woman was positively identified as Melinda Lou Barnhouse. Originally from Maryland, the circumstances surrounding how she ended up in Mississippi remain unclear. Significantly, the suspect in the case had been apprehended prior to the Barnhouse's identification and is currently serving time in prison. "A lot of people worked on this case back then, and it's been a long time coming," Rushing said. "Now the family has got some closure on it, too."
Jane was discovered on September 17th, 1989, naked and in the bushes by a rest stop along Interstate 55 in Southern Lincoln County, Mississippi near mile marker 26. Charges were filed in her murder but her assailants were unable to provide information regarding her identity. Her killers reported that Jane was a prostitute they picked up in New Orleans, Louisiana. They intended to rob her but ended up murdering her and dumping the body.
Jane was between the ages of 16 and 35 at the time of her death. She was 5'2 and between 135-145 pounds. She had brown hair and brown eyes. She had freckles, a mole on her neck, and a scar on her forehead about 1 cm in length. Dental information is available for this decedent and she remains unidentified.
Buried 14 December 1980 by former Hartman Funeral Home, now Harrigill Funeral Home. Buried in Potters field. White female possibly mixed race of Caucasian and American Indian or Oriental. Small hands and feet with stocky torso.
Case File: 845UFMS
Unidentified Female
Date of Discovery: September 17, 1989
Location of Discovery: Lincoln County, Mississippi
Estimated Date of Death: Days prior
State of Remains: Recognizable face
Cause of Death: Homicide by strangulation
Physical Description
** Listed information is approximate
Estimated Age: 16-35 years old
Race: White, mixed with either Asian or Native American.
Gender: Female
Height: 5'2"
Weight: 135-145 lbs.
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Brown (other sources list blue)
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Freckles. Mole on neck. Pierced ear - unknown which. Scar on forehead about 1.0 cm in length.
Dentals: Available; jaw restricted paronex shoevel shaped incisor ortho.
Fingerprints: Available. RT: PM 14 18 14 17; LT: PI 63 13 16 11.
DNA: Not available.
Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: White athletic socks, rolled down, with three blue stripes.
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown
Case History
The victim's nude body was found in the bushes at the rest area on Interstate 55 South in Lincoln County near mile marker 26, which is one mile north of the Dixie Springs exit.
Those charged with her murder state that she was a prostitute and was picked up in New Orleans, Louisiana. They intended to rob her, but killed her and dumped her body in the area where she was found. They did not know her name.
She was buried on December 14, 1989 in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Brookhaven.
Investigating Agency(s)
If you have any information about this case please contact;
Agency Name: Mississippi Chief Medical Examiner's Office
Agency Contact Person: Mark LeVaughn
Agency Phone Number: 601-987-1440
Agency Name: Lincoln County Medical Examiner's Office
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 601-833-6680
Agency Case Number: B0096789C
NCIC Case Number: U382447056
NamUs Case Number: UP #4769
Former Hot Case Number: 1600
The Daily Leader Newspaper
Brookhaven, MS
16 May 2023
More than 30 years after her body was discovered in the bushes at a rest stop in Lincoln County, officials say they have identified the female homicide victim. On May 10, a multi-state investigation and additional DNA testing of a close family member the woman was positively identified as Melinda Lou Barnhouse of Maryland. The investigation began in September 1989, when a woman's body nude was found in the bushes at a rest stop near mile marker 26 along the southbound side of I55 in Lincoln County. She had been strangled to death. Subscribe to our free email newsletter Get the latest news sent to your inbox Investigators at the time were unable to definitively determine the woman's ancestry. They estimated her to be between 16 and 35 years old, with brown shoulder-length hair, possibly naturally curly or wavy, and blue eyes. She was about 5 foot 2 inches tall, 140 pounds and had a scar on her forehead and another on her right high. She was buried as "Jane Doe" in a pauper's plot at Rosehill Cemetery in Brookhaven. A year after her body was found, Alfred Ray Case, then 26, of Brookhaven was arrested and eventually convicted of manslaughter. At the time, reports said he would not be eligible for release until July 31, 2030. In 2003, a reporter for The Daily Leader wrote that Case had told her the victim's name was Jennie Miti and he said she was a prostitute he picked up in New Orleans. In 2009, the case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as case UP4769. Law enforcement investigators worked diligently to uncover leads about the unknown woman's identity. Unfortunately, despite exhaustive efforts, no matches were found, and the case eventually went cold due to a lack of viable leads. In 2022, the Mississippi Office of the State Medical Examiner in partnership with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office and Mississippi Bureau of Investigation explored the potential of forensic genetic genealogy as a tool to generate new leads. "The Cold Case Unit of MBI contacted me late last year about working with them on this," said Lincoln County Sheriff Steve Rushing. "Fortunately, we still had files and some evidence here from the case." Forensic evidence collected in the case was sent to Othram's laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas. Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to build a comprehensive genealogical profile for the unknown woman. Othram's in-house genealogy team then leveraged this profile to conduct extensive genetic genealogy research, ultimately providing investigative leads to law enforcement. Rushing said they received DNA confirmation a few days ago and are still working on a few details, such as verifying date of birth for Barnhouse. "We know 100 percent it was her," Rushing said. "We've been in touch with family members — an aunt and a brother — and they'll come down to Brookhaven later, probably in August." The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation Cold Case Unit facilitated the interstate investigation required to bring this case to a resolution. On May 10, 2023, through additional DNA testing of a close family member, the unidentified woman was positively identified as Melinda Lou Barnhouse. Originally from Maryland, the circumstances surrounding how she ended up in Mississippi remain unclear. Significantly, the suspect in the case had been apprehended prior to the Barnhouse's identification and is currently serving time in prison. "A lot of people worked on this case back then, and it's been a long time coming," Rushing said. "Now the family has got some closure on it, too."
Jane was discovered on September 17th, 1989, naked and in the bushes by a rest stop along Interstate 55 in Southern Lincoln County, Mississippi near mile marker 26. Charges were filed in her murder but her assailants were unable to provide information regarding her identity. Her killers reported that Jane was a prostitute they picked up in New Orleans, Louisiana. They intended to rob her but ended up murdering her and dumping the body.
Jane was between the ages of 16 and 35 at the time of her death. She was 5'2 and between 135-145 pounds. She had brown hair and brown eyes. She had freckles, a mole on her neck, and a scar on her forehead about 1 cm in length. Dental information is available for this decedent and she remains unidentified.
Buried 14 December 1980 by former Hartman Funeral Home, now Harrigill Funeral Home. Buried in Potters field. White female possibly mixed race of Caucasian and American Indian or Oriental. Small hands and feet with stocky torso.
Case File: 845UFMS
Unidentified Female
Date of Discovery: September 17, 1989
Location of Discovery: Lincoln County, Mississippi
Estimated Date of Death: Days prior
State of Remains: Recognizable face
Cause of Death: Homicide by strangulation
Physical Description
** Listed information is approximate
Estimated Age: 16-35 years old
Race: White, mixed with either Asian or Native American.
Gender: Female
Height: 5'2"
Weight: 135-145 lbs.
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Brown (other sources list blue)
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Freckles. Mole on neck. Pierced ear - unknown which. Scar on forehead about 1.0 cm in length.
Dentals: Available; jaw restricted paronex shoevel shaped incisor ortho.
Fingerprints: Available. RT: PM 14 18 14 17; LT: PI 63 13 16 11.
DNA: Not available.
Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: White athletic socks, rolled down, with three blue stripes.
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown
Case History
The victim's nude body was found in the bushes at the rest area on Interstate 55 South in Lincoln County near mile marker 26, which is one mile north of the Dixie Springs exit.
Those charged with her murder state that she was a prostitute and was picked up in New Orleans, Louisiana. They intended to rob her, but killed her and dumped her body in the area where she was found. They did not know her name.
She was buried on December 14, 1989 in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Brookhaven.
Investigating Agency(s)
If you have any information about this case please contact;
Agency Name: Mississippi Chief Medical Examiner's Office
Agency Contact Person: Mark LeVaughn
Agency Phone Number: 601-987-1440
Agency Name: Lincoln County Medical Examiner's Office
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 601-833-6680
Agency Case Number: B0096789C
NCIC Case Number: U382447056
NamUs Case Number: UP #4769
Former Hot Case Number: 1600
Brookhaven, MS
16 May 2023
More than 30 years after her body was discovered in the bushes at a rest stop in Lincoln County, officials say they have identified the female homicide victim. On May 10, a multi-state investigation and additional DNA testing of a close family member the woman was positively identified as Melinda Lou Barnhouse of Maryland. The investigation began in September 1989, when a woman's body nude was found in the bushes at a rest stop near mile marker 26 along the southbound side of I55 in Lincoln County. She had been strangled to death. Subscribe to our free email newsletter Get the latest news sent to your inbox Investigators at the time were unable to definitively determine the woman's ancestry. They estimated her to be between 16 and 35 years old, with brown shoulder-length hair, possibly naturally curly or wavy, and blue eyes. She was about 5 foot 2 inches tall, 140 pounds and had a scar on her forehead and another on her right high. She was buried as "Jane Doe" in a pauper's plot at Rosehill Cemetery in Brookhaven. A year after her body was found, Alfred Ray Case, then 26, of Brookhaven was arrested and eventually convicted of manslaughter. At the time, reports said he would not be eligible for release until July 31, 2030. In 2003, a reporter for The Daily Leader wrote that Case had told her the victim's name was Jennie Miti and he said she was a prostitute he picked up in New Orleans. In 2009, the case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as case UP4769. Law enforcement investigators worked diligently to uncover leads about the unknown woman's identity. Unfortunately, despite exhaustive efforts, no matches were found, and the case eventually went cold due to a lack of viable leads. In 2022, the Mississippi Office of the State Medical Examiner in partnership with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office and Mississippi Bureau of Investigation explored the potential of forensic genetic genealogy as a tool to generate new leads. "The Cold Case Unit of MBI contacted me late last year about working with them on this," said Lincoln County Sheriff Steve Rushing. "Fortunately, we still had files and some evidence here from the case." Forensic evidence collected in the case was sent to Othram's laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas. Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to build a comprehensive genealogical profile for the unknown woman. Othram's in-house genealogy team then leveraged this profile to conduct extensive genetic genealogy research, ultimately providing investigative leads to law enforcement. Rushing said they received DNA confirmation a few days ago and are still working on a few details, such as verifying date of birth for Barnhouse. "We know 100 percent it was her," Rushing said. "We've been in touch with family members — an aunt and a brother — and they'll come down to Brookhaven later, probably in August." The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation Cold Case Unit facilitated the interstate investigation required to bring this case to a resolution. On May 10, 2023, through additional DNA testing of a close family member, the unidentified woman was positively identified as Melinda Lou Barnhouse. Originally from Maryland, the circumstances surrounding how she ended up in Mississippi remain unclear. Significantly, the suspect in the case had been apprehended prior to the Barnhouse's identification and is currently serving time in prison. "A lot of people worked on this case back then, and it's been a long time coming," Rushing said. "Now the family has got some closure on it, too."
Jane was discovered on September 17th, 1989, naked and in the bushes by a rest stop along Interstate 55 in Southern Lincoln County, Mississippi near mile marker 26. Charges were filed in her murder but her assailants were unable to provide information regarding her identity. Her killers reported that Jane was a prostitute they picked up in New Orleans, Louisiana. They intended to rob her but ended up murdering her and dumping the body.
Jane was between the ages of 16 and 35 at the time of her death. She was 5'2 and between 135-145 pounds. She had brown hair and brown eyes. She had freckles, a mole on her neck, and a scar on her forehead about 1 cm in length. Dental information is available for this decedent and she remains unidentified.
Buried 14 December 1980 by former Hartman Funeral Home, now Harrigill Funeral Home. Buried in Potters field. White female possibly mixed race of Caucasian and American Indian or Oriental. Small hands and feet with stocky torso.
Case File: 845UFMS
Unidentified Female
Date of Discovery: September 17, 1989
Location of Discovery: Lincoln County, Mississippi
Estimated Date of Death: Days prior
State of Remains: Recognizable face
Cause of Death: Homicide by strangulation
Physical Description
** Listed information is approximate
Estimated Age: 16-35 years old
Race: White, mixed with either Asian or Native American.
Gender: Female
Height: 5'2"
Weight: 135-145 lbs.
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Brown (other sources list blue)
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Freckles. Mole on neck. Pierced ear - unknown which. Scar on forehead about 1.0 cm in length.
Dentals: Available; jaw restricted paronex shoevel shaped incisor ortho.
Fingerprints: Available. RT: PM 14 18 14 17; LT: PI 63 13 16 11.
DNA: Not available.
Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: White athletic socks, rolled down, with three blue stripes.
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown
Case History
The victim's nude body was found in the bushes at the rest area on Interstate 55 South in Lincoln County near mile marker 26, which is one mile north of the Dixie Springs exit.
Those charged with her murder state that she was a prostitute and was picked up in New Orleans, Louisiana. They intended to rob her, but killed her and dumped her body in the area where she was found. They did not know her name.
She was buried on December 14, 1989 in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Brookhaven.
Investigating Agency(s)
If you have any information about this case please contact;
Agency Name: Mississippi Chief Medical Examiner's Office
Agency Contact Person: Mark LeVaughn
Agency Phone Number: 601-987-1440
Agency Name: Lincoln County Medical Examiner's Office
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 601-833-6680
Agency Case Number: B0096789C
NCIC Case Number: U382447056
NamUs Case Number: UP #4769
Former Hot Case Number: 1600
Inscription
Young Murder Victim, Found At Rest Stop I-55 South. Sept. 17, 1989. Known But To God.
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