Genealogy DNA has led to the identification of the body of a young woman found more than 31 years ago in Covert Township. She’d been known as “I-196 Jane” since the October 12, 1988 discovery, and Michigan State Police say they’ve determined she was 28-year-old Marcia Kaylynn Bateman of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Bateman was reported missing by her family in August 1988 and hadn’t been seen since May of that year.
Investigators still don’t know how or why she made it to Michigan from Oklahoma. Police add Bateman’s family has been told of her identification and say they’re grateful to get closure. The Paw Paw Post of MSP worked with BODE Laboratories for DNA processing and partnered with the DNA Doe Project, which is a non-profit research group that works with genealogy DNA to help identify people.
