IL JARVIS TOWNSHIP JANE DOE: WF, 25-35, found in field in Jarvis, IL - 20 Jul 1990 - Upper denture & turquoise heart ring *WYNONA MICHEL*

​

42UFIL - Unidentified Female​

Reconstruction of the victim; victim's ring.

Date of Discovery: July 20, 1990
Location of Discovery: Jarvis Township, Madison County, Illinois
Estimated Date of Death: 2-3 days prior
State of Remains: Not recognizable - Decomposing/putrefaction
Cause of Death: Homicide by stabbing

Physical Description​

Estimated Age: 25-35 years old
Race: White
Sex: Female
Height: 5'4" to 5'6"
Weight: 230 to 130 lbs.
Hair Color: Auburn
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown

Identifiers​

Dentals: Available. She wore an upper denture plate.
Fingerprints: Available.
DNA: Available.

Clothing & Personal Items​

Clothing: Clothing located near the victim included a pink Gelmart t-shirt with "Florida" and blue palm trees imprinted on the front; and Pebble Beach white sandals with side buckles, size 7.
Jewelry: White metal or silver ring with heart-shaped turquoise stone on the right ring finger.
Additional Personal Items: Unknown

Circumstances of Discovery​

The victim was discovered in a bean field, approximately 40 feet north of Lebanon Road and just west of the Troy and O' Fallon Road. She had been placed at the scene approximately two to three days prior to discovery. The cause of death was multiple stab wounds to her neck and torso. There was no evidence of defensive wounds on the victim, indicating she did not fight her murderer(s).

What was thought to be evidence of a hysterectomy, indicates that the uterus has been removed as a part of extensive cutting, stabbing and mutilation, and that the killer may have removed the reproductive organs. It is believed she was sexually assaulted.

Investigating Agency(s)​

Agency Name: Madison County Coroner
Agency Contact Person: Roger Smith
Agency Phone Number: 618-692-7478
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: Unknown

Agency Name: Madison County Sheriff's Department
Agency Contact Person: Lieutenant Leonard Suhre
Agency Phone Number: 618-692-7040 ext. 4819 or 618-692-6087
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 1990-0216

NCIC Case Number: U437200318
NamUs Case Number: 14919

Information Source(s)​

NamUs
Illinois State Police
BND

Doe Network: International Center For Missing and Unidentified Persons

Doe Network is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to bringing awareness to missing persons and unidentified persons throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Australia.

www.doenetwork.org

#JaneDoe was found in a bean field in Jarvis, #ILLINOIS on 20 Jul 1990 wearing this ring. Does it look familiar to you?

Estimated Age: 25-35 years old Race: White Sex: Female Height: 5'4" to 5'6" Weight: 230 to 130 lbs. Hair Color: Auburn

www.crimewatchers.net

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

 

[Kimster]

I’ve been familiar with this case for years! I’m looking forward to finding out who she was, if they will let us know.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

@Kimster

In 2024, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the woman. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the forensic evidence, and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive genealogical profile for the unknown woman. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used this profile to conduct genetic genealogy research, ultimately providing new investigative leads to law enforcement.

Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the woman. Reference DNA samples were collected from the potential relatives and compared to the DNA profile of the unknown woman using KinSNP rapid relationship testing. This investigation led to the positive identification of the woman, who is now known to be Wynona Nadine Michel, born August 23, 1959. She was 30 years old when she was murdered. An investigation into the Michel's murder is underway and anyone with possible information about the crime is urged to call the Madison County Sheriff's Office.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Her body was found in an Illinois farmer's field; 35 years later she has been identified

Wendy Michel, who would be 65 years old today, disappeared sometime in the summer of 1990 and her body was found by an Illinois farmer in a field.

www.wqad.com

Connor said Michel was born in Los Angeles, lived for a while in Tennessee and Florida, before returning to California. She had two children, one of whom is still alive.

According to the sheriff’s office, Michel, whose full name was Wynona Nadine Michel, had left her children with family members in April of 1990 in Nashville, Tennessee. A month later, she met her children for a short visit in Washington, D.C. and was not seen again.

While in Washington, the sheriff’s office said she was with a man who was a truck driver.

Connor shared, "Her lifestyle was riding around with truck drivers."

This information has brought some clarity to her brother Frank Barnard, who was in the crowd watching the news conference unfold.

Barnard told 5 On Your Side he learned about the news months ago.

"It’s pretty devastating she was brutally murdered like that," said Barnard. "Sadness, anger, because somebody does her like this, no one deserves that."

He described his sister as loving with a good heart, fun, and an animal lover.

The last time he saw her was the year she died.

"She dropped her children off with my brother, we didn’t think she’d come to any harm," he added. "My sister traveled a lot and sometimes you didn’t know where she was at for months at a time, you didn’t know. Over the years it got suspicious because it took so long to hear from her or hear about her."

5 On Your Side asked what message he had for the killer.

"I hope they lock you up forever and I didn’t even want him to get the death penalty, I want them to live the rest of their life in a cell. It was wrong, he knew it was wrong and there was no sense in that," said Barnard.


“We want to bring some closure to Wynona’s family,” said Connor. “But we also request that anyone reach out to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office to assist with finding her killer.”

 

[Kimster]

I hope whoever ever killed her has passed by now, or is behind bars for life.