Answers Sought After Jane Doe Identified Through DNA

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A woman whose decomposed remains were found nearly 60 years ago in coastal Sonoma County has been identified through DNA, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday.

Formerly known as Jane Doe, her remains were found Feb. 3, 1967, down a cliff off Highway 1, north of Jenner. Doe's cause of death: multiple fractures to her skull and ribs. How she got those injuries was not known. Efforts to identify her were not successful and she was laid to rest at the County of Sonoma Cemetery.

More than 40 years went by until her body was exhumed in 2009 with the help of San Francisco State University anthropology professor Dr. Mark Griffin. An examination by Dr. Griffin determined she was a 40- to 46-year-old white woman and was the victim of a homicide.

Fourteen years later, in early 2023, Jane Doe’s DNA was analyzed by a firm called Othram Inc. and she was identified as Lillian Marie Cardenas. Lillian was born in 1928 and her last known residence was San Francisco. Before her death, she was estranged from her family members.

The Sheriff’s Office is now hoping anyone with information about Lillian's life or death will come forward to help piece together what happened to her. Anyone with such information is urged to call the Cold Case Unit at 707-565-2727 or email sheriff-coldcase@sonoma-county.org.

The Sheriff's Office noted that because of the success of its DNA Doe Project, it has expanded its genetic genealogy caseload with the help of the California DOJ's Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit. A pilot program under the DOJ, Othram agreed to take on 10 of the county's Doe cases. With their help, the sheriff's office hopes Lillian will be the first of many identified.