WA VANCOUVER JANE DOE: WF, 40-59, found in a field and woods in Vancouver, WA - 6 Nov 2004 *DONNA SWINDELL*

Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP10801
Female, White / Caucasian

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Height: 5' 4", estimated
Weight: Cannot estimate
Hair color: Red/Auburn
Head hair Description: Medium length red-brown hair.
Not recognizable - Near complete or complete skeleton
Clothing on the body: Hooded black nylon zippered jacket size XXL, "Seventy Seven" brand. High necked sweater size grande, "Carolyn Taylor Essentials by Design". Knit long sleeved pullover size large, "Clairborne" brand. Blue jeans size 16 tall, Classic Fit, "Faded Glory" brand. Boots "Route 66" brand - size 9. Sock on left foot only.

Cold case unit off and running

The blood has all dried, and the police tape has long since been removed. Evidence is collecting dust in storage, and some witnesses now have to search back years into their memory to recall events.

www.columbian.com

Nov. 6, 2004

The decomposed body of an unidentified woman was found in a field and woods north of the 1400 block of Northeast 78th Street in Hazel Dell. Investigators said she was a middle-aged, heavy-built white female with short to medium reddish brown hair. The victim appeared to be a transient. Her cause of death was not determined.

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[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Identity of woman in 2004 cold case identified by medical examiner’s office - The Reflector

The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office recently confirmed the identity of Donna Lee Swindell, whose body was discovered in Hazel Dell on Nov. 6, 2004, although the cause of her death is …

www.thereflector.com

Identity of woman in 2004 cold case identified by medical examiner’s office​

The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office recently confirmed the identity of Donna Lee Swindell, whose body was discovered in Hazel Dell on Nov. 6, 2004, although the cause of her death is still unknown.

Swindell was 57 years old, according to a news release from Clark County Communications.

Randon Walker, who was the homicide detective working the case when Swindell’s body was found, is now a death investigator for the medical examiner’s office who identified Swindell’s body, stated the release. He has notified her family.

“It was gratifying and sad,” said Walker in the release. “Sad that it had been this long.”


With the help of University of Oregon professor, Dr. Jeanne McLaughlin, Walker was able to track down possible relatives in Lane County, Oregon. McLaughlin gathered a DNA sample from a family member to compare in the medical examiner’s office, which proved to be a match. Swindell’s identity was then confirmed.

After 17 years, Walker and McLaughlin were able to return Swindell’s remains to her loved ones.

“Everybody deserves the human dignity of being cared for and returned to their family,” he said in the release.