TOWSON, MD—Human remains found in a Baltimore County wooded area in 1996 have been identified as those of a 20-year-old mother who disappeared 12 years earlier, the Baltimore County Police Department announced on Thursday.
The woman, whose identity had been unknown for more than 29 years and was only known as “Falls Road Jane Doe,” was identified as Leoria Smith, police said.
With the help of DNA Labs International (DLI), a private forensic DNA laboratory with over 20 years of experience, detectives discovered that Smith was last seen in 1984, when she was 20 years old and the mother of an infant daughter. Her disappearance had never been reported to authorities.
In March 1996, human remains were found in a wooded area off Falls Road. The woman wore blue jeans, a light blouse with dark pinstripes and pearl buttons, a leather jacket, and high-tops. Additionally, investigators recovered two gold hoop earrings.
Despite extensive investigative efforts at the time, the woman’s identity could not be determined.
In April 2021, the Baltimore County Police Department enlisted DLI to use the latest technology available to identify the victim.
The private forensic DNA laboratory applied the newest Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG) technology to the case, which was designed specifically for challenging forensic samples. The testing enabled the development of a DNA profile, which was then used by genealogists to generate new investigative leads.
Detectives conducted numerous interviews and obtained samples for additional testing based on the leads, which ultimately led to Smith’s identification.
The Baltimore County Police Department is now searching for answers surrounding Smith’s suspicious death.
Anyone who knows Smith or has photographs of her should contact Baltimore County detectives at 410-887-3943. The Baltimore County iWATCH program may also provide information.
Police said that in the late 1970s, into 1980, Smith attended Gwynns Falls Park Junior High School. Before her death, she visited “Underground” on the 2100-block of Edmondson Avenue in Baltimore City. Detectives learned that Leoria was last seen alive at “Underground” celebrating her birthday in November 1984.
This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.
Photo via Baltimore County Police Department
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