For 30 years, the unidentified remains of the "Tent Girl" in Scott County mystified law enforcement officials.

Then, after the case was publicized for only six months on a publicly accessible web site, the Kentucky State Medical Examiner was able to make a positive identification.

Now, thanks to a partnership between Eastern Kentucky University and the state Medical Examiner's Office, the public and law enforcement have another tool in the often frustrating and painstaking task of victim identification.

A new and more comprehensive public web site, www.UnidentifiedRemains.net, features information on unidentified human remains found across the Commonwealth. The site was developed at the request of the state Medical Examiner's Office and will be maintained by staff in the Justice and Safety Center (JSC) located in EKU's nationally recognized College of Justice & Safety.

"The outstanding expertise and cooperation of the staff and students at EKU made this project possible," state Forensic Anthropologist Dr. Emily Craig said. "We are all fortunate to have them show such a willingness to get involved and volunteer their time and talents. Without their help, this whole project would have been impossible."

More than 40 case files of unidentified victims dating back to 1975 remain open across the Commonwealth, according to Craig. Kentucky is one of the few states that keep current statistics and open case files on each case of unidentified remains.

"The new web site will not only be an advantage to Kentuckians," Craig said, "it should prove to be an advantage to people from all around the globe. In Kentucky, we have victims of violent crime who are from many different states. We at the Medical Examiner's Office think this will be a giant step toward solving some of our most difficult cases."

While media coverage is sometimes helpful, Craig said, "the recurrent problem with this sort of publicity is that is so localized. Information on unidentified victims in Kentucky rarely reaches across the state. We can have a case of unidentified remains in Lexington that is not covered at all in Louisville, and the same goes for cases found in other parts of the state.

With today's so-called transient society, unidentified victims in Kentucky can be from anywhere. Hopefully, this web site will disseminate critical information to those people who have friends or family members who may be missing and presumed dead."

Numerous Internet sites post pleas from individuals looking for missing and/or
endangered persons, according to Emily Mullins, a graduate assistant in the Justice and Safety Center who authored the project proposal. "A much smaller number of web pages post information on unidentified remains."

One is operated by the Kentucky State Police and another is a privately-operated site entitled "Lost and Found."

"Both of these web sites contain case information and occasionally offer sketches, photographs and/or clay reconstructions but, overall, are ineffective because of inherent limitations," Mullins said. "With the Internet, the technology exists to develop and effectively coordinate investigations involving unidentified human remains. Our new web site presents timely and accurate information that includes the time, location and circumstances surrounding the discovery of the remains and a detailed description of the victim."

The new web site launched at EKU opened with six unidentified victim cases from Greenup, Lyon, Henry, Pendleton, Pulaski and Fayette counties. Most of the cases feature clay reconstructions and sketches of the victims that approximate their appearance before death; some include photographs of clothing or artifacts associated with the victim. One case features photographs of the skull itself that depict surgical repairs from a previous incident.

"If this web site results in one case being solved, it will all be worthwhile," said Ryan Baggett, JSC technology specialist, who designed the site and will continue to work closely with Craig on updates. "As new cases arise, they will be placed on the site at Dr. Craig's request."

The site, which is hosted by Chapel Internet Services, includes a reply form for those who can offer information that might lead to identification. The information, which can be posted anonymously, is forwarded to respective law enforcement investigators.

Links to other similar victim identification sites around the nation also are included on the site.

The Justice and Safety Center, directed by Dr. Pam Collins, was established when the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education recognized EKU's College of Justice & Safety as a Program of Distinction.


Contact: Emily Mullins at 859-622-8106, Ryan Baggett at 859-622-8261 or Dr. Emily Craig at 502-564-4545.