In the quiet town of Troy, Ohio, a tragic mystery unfolded in April 1981 when the lifeless body of a young woman was discovered by three friends along Greenlee Road. Wrapped in a distinctive tasseled buckskin poncho, the victim, initially known as “Buckskin Girl” or “Miami County Jane Doe,” became one of the first unidentified decedents to be solved through groundbreaking DNA analysis and genetic genealogy over three decades later.
Marcia Lenore King, born on June 9, 1959, in Arkansas, met a tragic end at the age of 21. Her life story remained shrouded in mystery until April 2018 when advancements in forensic technology, particularly DNA analysis conducted by the DNA Doe Project, finally unveiled her identity.
Prior to her identification, Buckskin Girl’s murder investigation had been hampered by the lack of information about her. The discovery of her body, lying in a fetal position with signs of extensive blunt force trauma and strangulation, painted a grim picture. Despite efforts to identify her through fingerprints, dental records, and composite drawings, the case turned cold, leaving investigators with few leads.