June 25, 2020 5:45 p.m.
The victim of a murder which took place in Everett, Washington in 1977 has been identified as a teen who ran away from Roseburg 15 days earlier.
After nearly 43 years of working to identify a body dubbed as Precious Jane Doe, the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit, Cold Case Team and the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office have positively identified her. The victim was born in 1959 as Elizabeth Elder in Hood River. She was adopted at around age two and named Elizabeth Roberts, but went by the name Lisa Roberts.
Detective Jim Scharf told News Radio 1240 KQEN that he has worked on the case for 12 years.
Scharf told KQEN that Lisa moved with her family to Roseburg when she was around five years old, in 1964. On July 25th, 1977 her father reported that the 17-year old, who was a junior at Roseburg High School, had run away. The girl called home from Everett a couple of weeks later and asked her parents for money. They begged her to come home and she said she would think about it. Her parents sent money to an Everett bank, but it was never picked up.
The release said during the murder investigation in Washington State, detectives learned that Precious Jane Doe was hitchhiking near Silver Lake on August 9th. She was picked up by David Roth who gave her a ride and asked her to have sex. When she declined, he strangled her and shot her seven times in the head. Her body was found five days later in unincorporated south Everett. The body was unrecognizable. The release said the man confessed to the murder and was sentenced to 26 years in prison. The remains were initially thought to be those of a 25 to 35-year old woman.
Scharf said the report of Lisa being missing was removed from a national data base by mistake which is why no connection was ever made to the crime just 400 miles away.
Scharf said he had the body exhumed in 2008 as extensive efforts began to identify the victim. An examination then revealed the body was that of a teenage girl, between 16 and 19 years of age. That got the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children involved to assist.
Scharf said successful identification of Lisa was established using SNP DNA and Investigative Genetic Genealogy. The DNA used for identification was obtained by Lisa’s hair using a new technique developed by scientist Dr. Ed Green. The new technique, previously thought to be impossible, enables DNA-based forensics from rootless hair and other difficult sources. Scharf told KQEN this is only the third case in the world to be solved this way.
Using the Investigative Genetic Genealogy, Dr. Barbara Rae-Venter and her Firebird Forensics Group used public genetic websites and were able to build a family tree to identify Lisa’s biological parents. Scharf identified them as Stanley and Mary Elder, who are both deceased. Scharf said the girl was given up for adoption after the couple divorced. Further DNA work found a biological half-brother, whose DNA was used to verify that he matched Lisa’s maternal DNA profile. Adoption records were then obtained from the Oregon Health Authority. Based on this new information, Snohomish County Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Matt Lacy established the positive identification of Elizabeth Ann Roberts on June 16th.
Detective Scharf contacted Lisa’s family to make the notification. Lisa’s sister, identified only as “Tonya” was only ten years old when her sister ran away. The sister lives out of state. Her father lives elsewhere in Oregon. Scharf said neither wanted to speak with the media. Scharf said arrangements are currently being made for a memorial service and burial, in a family plot in Hood River.
Scharf told KQEN he wanted residents of Roseburg to hear the story, presuming that many long-time residents will remember the case. Scarf said its important to know that police agencies keep records differently now than in decades past. He said anyone who reported a person missing years ago, should check back to make sure they are still listed as missing.
Scharf and many others spent hundreds of hours on the case. Snohomish County Sheriff Adam Fortney said he is proud of Scharf’s “incredible work and dedication”, along with all the others who were involved. He said “Precious Jane Doe finally has her name back, and she can now be returned to her family and loved ones”.
A picture of Lisa Roberts during her youth is posted with our story at www.541radio.com