Canada SASKATOON JANE DOE: WF, 25-35, found in an abandoned well in Saskatoon, Canada, 29 June 2006 - Early 1900s murder victim *ALICE SPENCE*

498UFSK - Unidentified Female​

Artistic renderings of the victim; Victim's jewelry and clothing

Date of Discovery: June 29, 2006
Location of Discovery: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Estimated Date of Death: 1920 to 1924
State of Remains: Skeletal
Cause of Death: Homicide

Physical Description​

Estimated Age: 25-35 years old
Race: White
Gender: Female
Height: 5'1"
Weight: Unknown
Hair Color: Light brown to reddish brown.
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Stocky build.

Identifiers​

Dentals: Available. Evidence of peridontal disease. Jaw bone not located.
Fingerprints: Not available.
DNA: Available.

Clothing & Personal Items​

Clothing: Skirt, blouse, and an undergarment, possibly a corset. Clothing was for spring or autumn wear.
Jewelry: An 18-karat gold necklace from European origin or an area of European influence, such as Montreal. The necklace was missing its pendant.
Additional Personal Items: Unknown

Circumstances of Discovery​

The victim's skeletal remains were located in an abandoned well by a work crew that was excavating gas tanks at a convenience store on the east side of the city near Central Avenue and 108th Street. The remains were wrapped in burlap that looked like part of a bag and had been placed in a barrel. There was also evidence that the woman's left upper arm had been sawed off. Police also found a man's vest and pants on top of the remains, leading investigators to believe the woman might have been killed at the well.

The victim's clothing, personal effects, and dental work put her time of death between 1900 and 1920, as well as point to her having been middle or upper class. Forensic investigations by the police and archeologist, Dr. Ernie Walker, narrowed the time frame between 1920 to 1924. Her clothing was typical of the 1908 to 1916 period. The well the woman was found in must have been abandoned at the time of her death, which suggests it happened after 1914, when Sutherland started getting water piped in from Saskatoon. In 1912, the Shore Hotel was built on the site where the remains would later be found. The building stood empty from 1919 to at least 1927.

At that time, Sutherland was a railway town of about 1,000 people. The town now is part of Saskatoon.

Saskatoon Police Services are determined to solve this case. You can help if you have a missing family member whose story fits the details and/or possibly recognize the face from old family photos.

Investigating Agency(s)​

Agency Name: Saskatoon Police Service
Agency Contact Person: Historical Crime Unit
Agency Phone Number: 306-975-8300
Agency Case Number: 2006-67978

Information Source(s)​

Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police
Victoria Wood - Cold Case Files​

498UFSK

 

[Romulus]

The jewelrly is very special, maybe that's where you need to start.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Human remains found in Canadian well identified as woman born in 1881

Police have identified a woman whose remains were found in a Canadian well nearly two decades ago. She was born in the 19th century, police said.

www.cbsnews.com

Human remains found in Canadian well identified as woman born in 1881​

Canadian authorities have identified a person known as "The Woman in the Well" nearly two decades after her remains were found.

The woman, Alice Spence, was born in September 1881 and had moved to Canada from Minnesota in 1913, police said.


In 2023, the Saskatoon Police Services submitted forensic evidence from the case to Othram. Othram's scientists were able to develop a DNA extract from the skeletal evidence. They built a comprehensive DNA profile, Othram said, which was used to generate "new investigative leads" that were returned to the police service.

A breakthrough came in June this year, Saskatoon Police Service Sergeant Darren Funk said in a news conference. At an event in Ottawa, Funk heard the Toronto Police Service describe how they had used investigative genetic genealogy to solve a homicide. Investigative genetic genealogy uses the DNA of people who were related to the subject to help make an identification.

Funk connected with the Toronto Police Service and asked them to review the case of "The Woman in the Well." The Toronto Police Service's follow-up investigation led investigators to people who may have been the woman's relatives. Police collected reference DNA samples from those subjects, and those samples were compared to the woman's DNA profile. Authorities also used historical information and city archives to help make the identification.

Alice Spence was married to a man named Charles Spence and had a daughter, Idella, police said. Spence's listing in a 1916 census was the last proof of life historians could find for her.

The family's home in Sutherland was destroyed by a fire in 1918, police said. Other records show Charles and Idella Spence living with a housekeeper in 1921. Investigators believe that Alice's death occurred sometime between 1916 and the fire in 1918.

Spence's descendants, located through forensic genetic genealogy, were largely unaware of their relative and her death, police said.

The police service said it believes this is the oldest investigation in Canada to be solved with the assistance of investigative genetic genealogy. Saskatoon Police Service Chief Cameron McBride called it a "testament to the determination and innovation of investigators throughout all these years."

100-year-old Saskatoon mystery solved: ‘Woman in the well’ identified as Alice Spence

After nearly a century, one of Saskatoon’s oldest mysteries has been solved. The woman whose remains were discovered in a well in 2006 has been identified as Alice Spence.

www.ctvnews.ca

100-year-old Saskatoon mystery solved: ‘Woman in the well’ identified as Alice Spence​

After nearly a century, one of Saskatoon’s oldest mysteries has been solved.

The woman whose remains were discovered in a well in 2006 has been identified as Alice Spence.

“Alice Spence is not invisible anymore,” forensic anthropologist Dr. Ernie Walker said at a police press conference, announcing the discovery.


Saskatoon police believe Spence died some time between 1916 and 1918.

Sgt. Darren Funk said he has “circumstantial evidence” of who was involved in Spence’s death, but refused to share the name.

“We believe we know who did it, but it’s 100 years old. That person does not have the right to defend themselves in court today,” Funk said.

“We’re going to consider the case closed.”

 

[Guess Who]

Human remains found in Canadian well identified as woman born in 1881

Police have identified a woman whose remains were found in a Canadian well nearly two decades ago. She was born in the 19th century, police said.

www.cbsnews.com

Human remains found in Canadian well identified as woman born in 1881​

Canadian authorities have identified a person known as "The Woman in the Well" nearly two decades after her remains were found.

The woman, Alice Spence, was born in September 1881 and had moved to Canada from Minnesota in 1913, police said.


In 2023, the Saskatoon Police Services submitted forensic evidence from the case to Othram. Othram's scientists were able to develop a DNA extract from the skeletal evidence. They built a comprehensive DNA profile, Othram said, which was used to generate "new investigative leads" that were returned to the police service.

A breakthrough came in June this year, Saskatoon Police Service Sergeant Darren Funk said in a news conference. At an event in Ottawa, Funk heard the Toronto Police Service describe how they had used investigative genetic genealogy to solve a homicide. Investigative genetic genealogy uses the DNA of people who were related to the subject to help make an identification.

Funk connected with the Toronto Police Service and asked them to review the case of "The Woman in the Well." The Toronto Police Service's follow-up investigation led investigators to people who may have been the woman's relatives. Police collected reference DNA samples from those subjects, and those samples were compared to the woman's DNA profile. Authorities also used historical information and city archives to help make the identification.

Alice Spence was married to a man named Charles Spence and had a daughter, Idella, police said. Spence's listing in a 1916 census was the last proof of life historians could find for her.

The family's home in Sutherland was destroyed by a fire in 1918, police said. Other records show Charles and Idella Spence living with a housekeeper in 1921. Investigators believe that Alice's death occurred sometime between 1916 and the fire in 1918.

Spence's descendants, located through forensic genetic genealogy, were largely unaware of their relative and her death, police said.

The police service said it believes this is the oldest investigation in Canada to be solved with the assistance of investigative genetic genealogy. Saskatoon Police Service Chief Cameron McBride called it a "testament to the determination and innovation of investigators throughout all these years."

100-year-old Saskatoon mystery solved: ‘Woman in the well’ identified as Alice Spence

After nearly a century, one of Saskatoon’s oldest mysteries has been solved. The woman whose remains were discovered in a well in 2006 has been identified as Alice Spence.

www.ctvnews.ca

100-year-old Saskatoon mystery solved: ‘Woman in the well’ identified as Alice Spence​

After nearly a century, one of Saskatoon’s oldest mysteries has been solved.

The woman whose remains were discovered in a well in 2006 has been identified as Alice Spence.

“Alice Spence is not invisible anymore,” forensic anthropologist Dr. Ernie Walker said at a police press conference, announcing the discovery.


Saskatoon police believe Spence died some time between 1916 and 1918.

Sgt. Darren Funk said he has “circumstantial evidence” of who was involved in Spence’s death, but refused to share the name.

“We believe we know who did it, but it’s 100 years old. That person does not have the right to defend themselves in court today,” Funk said.

“We’re going to consider the case closed.”

Domestic violence alive and well 100 years ago.

 

[Kimster]

I never in a million years thought she would get identified.

 

[Tresir]

This article gives a bit more info and includes details of her descendants.

Her name was Alice Spence: DNA identifies century-old Saskatoon body of 'woman in the well'

After a decades-long investigation into mysterious historical remains, 'the woman in the well' finally has her name again.

thestarphoenix.com

 

[Kimster]

This article gives a bit more info and includes details of her descendants.

Her name was Alice Spence: DNA identifies century-old Saskatoon body of 'woman in the well'

After a decades-long investigation into mysterious historical remains, 'the woman in the well' finally has her name again.

thestarphoenix.com

That’s incredible! I have a grandfather who never would speak about his family. I have a lot of genealogical information on both sides of my family, but his line is pretty much a mystery for the most part.

 

[Guess Who]

That’s incredible! I have a grandfather who never would speak about his family. I have a lot of genealogical information on both sides of my family, but his line is pretty much a mystery for the most part.

That’s incredible! I have a grandfather who never would speak about his family. I have a lot of genealogical information on both sides of my family, but his line is pretty much a mystery for the most part.

My grandmother and her siblings would not talk of their family either so my mom and her siblings knew basically nothing about their mom's side.

 

[Tresir]

That’s incredible! I have a grandfather who never would speak about his family. I have a lot of genealogical information on both sides of my family, but his line is pretty much a mystery for the most part.

I pretty much know my info. The oldest one side goes back (my father's line) is to the 1500's and the French Hugeonots escaping persecution. Then on my mother's side it is Ireland and Holland.