Pregnant woman identified 32 years after being found dead in basement

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA/Gray News) - Tabetha Ann Murlin was given her name back Thursday after nearly 32 years of being known as Mary Jane Doe.

Authorities in Indiana shared her name Thursday after DNA was able to identify Murlin, who was found dead in a Fort Wane basement in 1992.

Murlin’s last known address was in Fort Wayne, but her family said the last time they knew of her whereabouts she said that she was going to Memphis, Tennessee.

Allen County Coroner’s Office gives update in 1992 death investigation. (Credit: WPTA)

Murlin was buried a week after a construction worker found her remains partly submerged in the basement at 3512 Reynolds St. on May 15, 1992.

She was badly decomposed and an examination of her remains could not identify a cause or manner of death.

At the time of her death, Murlin was 23 years old and 26 weeks pregnant.

In 2017, Murlin’s body was exhumed for further testing, and a DNA profile was created from her femur bone. This helped create a bust and images of the bust were released to the public two years later.

Allen County Coroner’s Office gives update in 1992 death investigation — Allen County Coroner’s Office gives update in 1992 death investigation(Courtesy)

In April 2023, IGGniteDNA co-founder Lisa Needler reached out to Allen County Coroner’s Chief Investigator Chris Meihls to offer her services as a genetic genealogist. She set up a fundraiser that was able to cover the costs of her work.

In January, Needler told the coroner’s office that she had identified Murlin’s biological father, mother and two aunts, one of whom adopted Murlin. One of the aunts was able to produce a marriage license for Murlin and her husband, Jerry Murlin.

Authorities spoke with Jerry Murlin and learned he separated from his wife in 1989. Fort Wayne Police Detective Brian Martin said Jerry Murlin is not considered a suspect at this time.

The identification investigation ended Tuesday when Indiana State Police forensic scientists were able to confirm Robert Bowers Sr. was Murlin’s father with a “very strong likelihood.”

Allen County Coroner Dr. Jon Brandenberger said it was “an exciting day” but acknowledged Murlin’s family’s grief. The coroner said he had been a deputy coroner with the office for only five months when her remains were found.

Allen County Coroner’s Office gives update in 1992 death investigation — Allen County Coroner’s Office gives update in 1992 death investigation(Courtesy)

Martin praised the work of those who led to Murlin’s identification.

“The work that was done in this case and the tenacity that was shown by the coroner’s office, the state police laboratory and everybody involved is amazing,” Martin said. “It obviously gives us hope in all the other missing person cases, unidentified cases and cold case homicides.”

Those with any information about Tabetha’s disappearance or death are asked to call the Fort Wayne Police Department Detective Bureau at 260-427-1201 or Crime Stoppers at 260-436-7867. Anonymous tips can be made by using the P3Tip mobile app.

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