{"id":105674,"date":"2025-07-30T20:09:13","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T20:09:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/105674\/"},"modified":"2025-07-30T20:09:13","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T20:09:13","slug":"remains-found-in-phoenix-dumpster-identified-41-years-later","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/105674\/","title":{"rendered":"Remains found in Phoenix dumpster identified 41 years later"},"content":{"rendered":"

PHOENIX \u2014 Human remains that were found in a Phoenix dumpster 41 years ago were identified on Wednesday as a girl who went missing when she was 14 years old.<\/p>\n

The remains were identified as Renee Isabel Nilsson by the DNA Doe Project<\/a> after the Maricopa County Medical Examiner\u2019s Officer brought the case to the organization in 2023.<\/p>\n

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Nilsson was reported missing two weeks before her partial remains were found on June 10, 1984, in a dumpster in an industrial area in Phoenix.<\/p>\n

When the remains were found they were believed to belong to a Caucasian girl who was 5\u20194\u2033 and between 16 to 18 years old. The case was quickly identified as a homicide and the investigation is still ongoing.<\/p>\n

How were the human remains found in Phoenix dumpster identified?<\/p>\n

Investigative genetic genealogists with the DNA Doe Project worked pro bono to develop a DNA profile for the remains in May 2024.<\/p>\n

The team then connected the DNA to two families and from there found a marriage record that showed a man from one family married a girl from the other in 1968.<\/p>\n

The investigation hit a snag when that couple\u2019s only daughter, Nilsson, was shown to have been married in 1987 \u2014 three years after the remains were found.<\/p>\n

However, it was later discovered that someone else had used Nilsson\u2019s identity to get married.<\/p>\n

Further DNA testing confirmed that the remains, previously referred to as Del Rey Jane Doe, belonged to Nilsson.<\/p>\n

Anyone with information regarding the Nilsson\u2019s death\u00a0is asked to contact the Maricopa County Medical Examiner\u2019s Office<\/a>.<\/p>\n

We want to hear from you.<\/p>\n

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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