- The ‘Midtown Jane Doe’ case, a chilling mystery from the 2000s, has now been solved with the identification of the victim as Patricia Kathleen McGlone, thanks to advancements in forensic science and genealogical testing.
Newsypeople – In 2003, construction workers in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen uncovered a body during the demolition of a building on West 46th Street, leading to the discovery of a previously unknown murder victim, known as ‘Midtown Jane Doe’. This case remained unsolved for over two decades, until Detective Ryan Glas from the NYPD’s Cold Case Squad, with the aid of advanced forensic techniques, managed to identify the victim as Patricia McGlone. Despite the identification, the killer remains at large, with the hope that the new information will shed light on the case.
The body was found in the 2000s, but it is believed that Patricia had been deceased for over 30 years at the time of discovery. The victim was a 16-year-old girl who had been tied up in a fetal position and then encased in cement. The discovery was made when a skull was unearthed from beneath a carpet during the demolition. The victim was initially unidentified and was given the moniker ‘Midtown Jane Doe’, sparking a wave of shock and curiosity.
A medical examination revealed that the victim died from strangulation. Among the items found with the body were a gold signet ring with ‘PMcG’ engraved, a 1960s Bulova watch, a 1969-minted dime, and a classic green toy soldier. The building where the body was found had previously been a nightclub and rock and roll venue, known as Steve Paul’s The Scene, which hosted famous acts like The Doors and Jimi Hendrix from 1964 to 1969.
The case was reopened in 2017, and modern forensic techniques were employed to analyze the evidence. DNA from the victim’s remains was used to create a genetic profile, which helped detectives to reconstruct the victim’s appearance. This profile was then matched with potential relatives using updated genealogy databases, revealing that the victim was born in 1953. However, the victim’s suspected parents had passed away, and she had no siblings, making it challenging to find a DNA match.
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Genetic experts suggested that the DNA of a specific maternal cousin could provide the answer. After conducting interviews with potential relatives across the US, Detective Glas was able to identify the cousin. However, this cousin had also passed away. The detective then found her son, who revealed that the cousin had submitted a DNA swab after the 9/11 attacks because her daughter, Patricia’s cousin, was killed in the terrorist attack. This led to the identification of ‘Midtown Jane Doe’ as Patricia McGlone.
Patricia Kathleen McGlone was the daughter of Bernard and Patricia Gilligan, born on April 20, 1953. She attended a Catholic school and a public middle school in Sunset Park during the 1960s, but her attendance records dropped off in 1968 and 1969. Patricia was described as a runaway and a truant leading up to her death. She reportedly married and lost contact with her family around the time of her disappearance, although no missing persons reports were filed after her disappearance. An active homicide investigation is ongoing to uncover more about Patricia’s life and the circumstances of her death.
