In April 1981, a young woman’s body was found in a ditch in rural Ohio, wearing a distinctive buckskin poncho. Dubbed “Buckskin Girl,” she remained unidentified for 37 years. Strangled and beaten, her case went cold despite extensive investigations. In 2018, genetic genealogy revealed her identity: Marcia Lenore King, a 21-year-old from Little Rock, Arkansas. It was one of the first widely publicized cases where genetic genealogy was used to identify a Jane Doe, marking a significant milestone in forensic science. Though she was identified and her name was restored, her killer remains unknown. Explore the mystery, forensic breakthroughs, and ongoing quest for justice in this gripping true crime story.

#arkansas #history #podcast #BuckskinGirl #ColdCase #TrueCrime

Sources:

-Miami County Sheriff’s Office, Case File and Press Release, April 2018.

-DNA Doe Project, “Buckskin Girl Identified as Marcia King,” April 2018.

-National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Case Summary, 2016.

-Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Investigative Report, 1981.

-Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, “Family of Marcia King Speaks on Identification,” April 2018

.-DNA Doe Project, Annual Report on Genetic Genealogy Successes, 2025.

-U.S. Customs Service, Pollen Analysis Report, 2016.

-Miami Valley Regional Crime Laboratory, Forensic Analysis Summary, 2018.

-Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cold Case Review, 1980s Midwest Murders, 2010.