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DNA Solves 1990 Brooklyn Cold Case
14 Mar
Summary
- A mystery woman bludgeoned in 1990 was identified using DNA genealogy.
- The victim's son, 36, was an infant when his mother was murdered.
- Investigators built a family tree dating back to the late 1800s.
A murder victim, discovered bludgeoned in an abandoned Brooklyn building in 1990, has been identified as Sheila Ramsey, thanks to advancements in DNA genealogy. The investigation, which began in February 1990 after a caller reported finding a body in a basement, initially yielded no leads, leaving the woman as a nameless Jane Doe. She was buried at Potter's Field on Hart Island.
For her son, Rashard Ramsey, now 36, the identification provides a name for the mother he never knew. He was just eight months old when Sheila Ramsey was killed. He learned about her disappearance from his grandmother, who had filed a missing person report, but had no details about the perpetrator.
The NYPD's Cold Case Squad employed investigative genetic genealogy, a technique that uses DNA to identify relatives and build family trees. This method was crucial in identifying the Golden State Killer and has aided in solving numerous other cold cases. Researchers traced Sheila Ramsey's lineage back to ancestors in the late 1800s.
Following a genetic trail that led to Alabama, investigators found an obituary that mentioned a son named Rashard Ramsey, ultimately confirming the victim's identity. Rashard Ramsey provided a DNA sample in early 2025, which confirmed Jane Doe was his mother.
Investigators are now seeking to identify an unknown man who was reportedly accompanying Sheila Ramsey when she left home to buy medicine for her son. Rashard Ramsey himself had previously sought to identify his biological father. The case remains open as police continue their pursuit of justice for Sheila Ramsey.
