Good afternoon, NABURs! We at the Montrose Daily Press are happy to report that Montrose County Sheriff's Office investigators, the Montrose County Coroner's Office and Colorado Bureau of Investigation have, through forensic genetic genealogy, identified the remains once known as Windy Point Jane Doe as Susan E. Hoppes, 45, of Washington State.
Ms. Hoppes was reported missing Aug. 9, 1993. Her bones were found here, off Divide Road, on July 7, 1994.
You can find our full story, with information about how it all went down here, but I wanted to say a few more words.
First, this is a human being, who is loved and missed by others. Her case has profoundly affected people I know (investigators, coroners) and people who I do not know (family and friends). My thoughts are with everyone who is grieving Ms. Hoppes and I share investigators' hopes for justice. Rest in peace, Susan.
Also, the news comes from years of work and persistence by investigators and Dr. Thomas Canfield, now our coroner.
The skinny: The Montrose County Sheriff’s Office in 2020 asked to submit DNA samples to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for a forensic genetic genealogy — a.k.a. familial matches through commercial genealogy sites. In 2021, CBI also added the “Windy Point” case to a list of about 100 in the state that it would prepare samples from and submit. Just recently, the “Windy Point Jane” DNA matched to a family member of Ms. Hoppes and additional comparisons confirmed the ID.... (More)