After 32 Years, “Jane Doe” Identified as Joann Zamora Through Forensic Genetic Genealogy

After 32 Years, “Jane Doe” Identified as Joann Zamora Through Forensic Genetic Genealogy

HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS — A decades-old mystery has finally been solved. The woman whose remains were discovered in Harris County on September 8, 1992, has been positively identified as 60-year-old Joann Zamora, born August 27, 1963. For more than 32 years, Zamora remained a “Jane Doe,” leaving family and investigators searching for answers.

According to Moxxy Forensic Investigations, Joann’s identification was made possible through Investigative Genetic Genealogy, a method combining DNA technology with genealogical research. The process, initiated in 2024 and supported by public crowdfunding and Criminal Coffee Co., allowed investigators to extract DNA from Zamora’s remains and generate a viable profile.

Joann’s daughter, Spencer Zamora Graham, expressed gratitude mixed with sorrow: “Words cannot fully express what it means to finally have answers after more than 32 years. While the outcome is not what we had hoped for, we are deeply grateful to those who cared enough to seek the truth about a stranger who had no name and stood alone for so long.”

The Houston Police Department confirmed that Zamora’s death was a homicide, and the investigation remains ongoing. Criminal Coffee Co. is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible.

Katie Thomas of Moxxy Forensic Investigations emphasized the human side of the case: “Joann was never just a case number to us—she was someone’s mother, someone’s daughter, someone who mattered.” Derrick Levasseur, founder of Criminal Coffee Co., added that this case demonstrates the transformative power of genetic genealogy in solving cold cases and delivering long-awaited justice.