Recognized as 5-year-old “Jane Doe” buried in concrete; The mom and her boyfriend are charged with homicide

A 5-year-old woman lined in concrete and previously referred to as “Child Jane Doe” has been recognized after 35 years, as authorities introduced the arrest of her mom and her mom’s boyfriend in Georgia on Monday.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation stated in A Press Conference Town of Waycross recognized the physique as that of Kenyatta “Kiki” Odom, who was present in Millwood, Ware County, Georgia on December 21, 1988.

Particular Agent in Cost Jason Seacrest advised the assembled media that the physique was present in an previous tv cupboard, wrapped in a blanket, positioned in a duffel bag after which surrounded by concrete, at an unlawful dump in Millwood.

Evelyn Odom, also referred to as Zmika Luciana, 56, and her live-in boyfriend on the time, Ulister Sanders, 61, each of Albany, Georgia, had been arrested with out incident on Nov. 9, police stated. They’ve been charged with felony homicide, first-degree little one cruelty, aggravated battery, concealment of demise, and conspiracy to hide demise, the FBI stated in a press release. statement Monday.

Each suspects stay in police custody. It’s now recognized whether or not they paid for authorized illustration. Investigators are working to find the woman’s father.

“Lastly, after 35 years, we’ve got not solely been in a position to establish Child Jane Doe’s stays, however we’ve got additionally been in a position to arrest the individual we imagine is accountable,” Seacrest stated.

An Albany Herald newspaper was discovered close to the physique in 1988 and served as a significant hyperlink to Albany, about 100 miles west of Melwood. However regardless of forensic assessments, nationwide media protection, and comparisons to lacking youngsters throughout the nation, no suspect was discovered and the kid remained unidentified.

Then in 2019, brokers used trendy DNA monitoring methods to find out that the kid belonged to a household within the Albany space.

The 2022 breakthrough got here after a public tip-off following information protection of the story’s anniversary and a renewed attraction for info, which led to the optimistic identification of Kenyatta in June this 12 months.

“One of many tipsters known as,” Seacrest stated on the press convention. “She had heard the story of child Jane Doe, and she or he thought she would possibly know who this little woman was.” “She discovered {that a} little one had disappeared and that her mom stated that the kid had gone to dwell along with her father. This individual by no means believed that story.”

Ware County Sheriff Carl James thanked an nameless native donor who supplied a $5,000 reward for info concerning the case of the “Ware County Child Jane Doe.”

James advised the press convention that he was one in every of two investigators known as to the scene in Melwood 35 years in the past.

“Once I arrived I used to be not likely ready for what we had been about to seek out,” he stated. “That physique of a younger woman, who we now know as Kenyatta Odom, was found in a wooded space a brief distance up the street.” He stated.

“I want to state all over the place that with regards to chilly circumstances, investigators are all the time engaged on these circumstances, although the general public can’t see any progress for months and even years.”