WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — Maple Hill Cemetery near Ashley has been the resting place for the body of a woman known only as "I-80 Jane Doe".
Her body was found on August 9, 1973, along Interstate 80 in Black Creek Township near Sugarloaf.
"She was wrapped in a blanket, and sulfuric acid was found on her body. Obviously, that shows that the death was suspicious; however, at the time, way back in the 1970s, they were not able to determine the cause or manner of the death, nor were they able to determine who this woman was," said Assistant District Attorney Carl Frank.
Investigators believe she was a black woman in her 20s.
"Fast forward to 2016. The body was exhumed, and tests were performed, but they still were unable to determine who this person is," added Frank.
Now, they hope that technological and scientific advancements made since then will aid in finally discovering the woman's identity. A Luzerne County judge signed an order allowing her remains to be exhumed for a second time.
"Which will include an attempt to get a sufficient DNA sample to enter into a national database for DNA to see if the DNA could be matched with any potential relatives which could lead to an identification of who this woman was," said Frank.
Luzerne County Assistant District Attorney Carl Frank says he hopes the exhumation brings closure to her family.
"This is a tragedy any way you look at it, and hopefully, the body is identified, and we find out who her relatives are, and we could go from there."
It's not clear when the exhumation will take place. But officials hope it will finally make clear the identity of the woman known as I-80 Jane Doe.