Advanced DNA testing helps Las Vegas police identify cold homicide case from over 30 years ago

LAS VEGAS, NV - After 30 years, DNA testing helped authorities identify "Jane Tropicana Doe" in a cold case homicide investigation from 1993.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Cold Case Section has identified the victim, known for the last three decades as "Jane Tropicana Doe," as Linda Sue Anderson, also known as Linda Sue Andrews. According to reports, a biologist working in the area of Tropicana Avenue and Durango Drive discovered Anderson's remains back in April of 1993.

The biologist was working and conducting a survey on tortoises when a handmade quilt was found half-buried in the dirt along with several large rocks on top of it. The biologist took a closer look and found human hair and the smell of decomposition. 

At the time, the Clark County Coroner's office ruled the woman's death a homicide, based on apparent gunshot wounds, that took place in mid-to-late 1991. Due to the lack of DNA testing in the early 1990s and the state of the body, authorities were unable to identify the woman and the case remained unsolved. In February 2023, investigators contacted the genealogy company Othram for help with a forensic genetic investigation.

According to LVMPD, with the help of the National Missing and Unidentified Person System (NAMUS) and the FBI, detectives found possible family members and got DNA samples for comparison. Nearly 10 months later, the detectives were notified by Othram that "Jane Tropicana Doe" was identified through DNA as Linda Sue Anderson. 

Police said that at the time of her death, Anderson was 38-years-old and was living in Henderson. Her family never heard from her again after a phone call in June of 1991. 

Reportedly, Anderson's children told investigators that their mother suffered from mental health illness, and they were told by their stepfather that she had simply walked out on them. The story was believable to the kids because of her mental issues. They told police that knowing now what happened to her, they have "a tremendous amount of guilt."

Cold case detectives are now looking for additional information about the case. If anyone knows anything about Linda Sue Anderson, they are urged to contact the Homicide Section at 702-828-3521 or by email at homicide@lvmpd.com. Information can also be reported to Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555. 

This is not the only case where LVMPD was able to use updated DNA testing and technology to crack a cold case. In December 2023, after 44 years of being known as "Sahara Sue Doe," detectives were able to identify the deceased woman as 19-year-old Gwenn Marie Story. According to police, in August of 1979, a man walking along Sahara Avenue and Las Vegas Blvd found a body in the dirt.

The woman's death was later ruled a homicide by the Clark County Coroner's office and for decades, detectives tried to figure out who "Sahara Sue Doe" was. LVMPD again, contracted Othram for help to crack the cold case. Dr. Kristen Mittelman, chief development officer of Othram lab said, "Most cases were getting consumed without an answer, and so people were losing their chance to get justice to ever get their identity back." Detectives confirmed that Story was stabbed and beaten to death.

Police reached out to the family and confirmed that Story had left Cincinnati, Ohio with two male friends to head to California. Those two friends returned to Ohio without her and said that Story stayed in Las Vegas with family. She was never heard from again. Though Story was able to get her identity back, LVMPD detectives still urge anyone with additional information about the case or the two men Story traveled with back in 1979, to call.

Story's family provided the following statement, "...Our family just wants some answers, we would really appreciate the help. Our family would also like to thank all the many detectives who have worked on this case over the years at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. If it wasn't for them, we would still be wondering where Gwenn is. Thanks to all."