York County Jane Doe (Biddeford Jane Doe)

Case background and investigation

On July 25, 2009, a human cranium was discovered on a beach in Biddeford, a coastal city in York County, Maine. The skull lay wrapped in seaweed near beachgrass, approximately 10 to 15 feet from the tide line. Examination determined that the remains belonged to a young female, estimated to be between 13 and 21 years old at the time of her death. Forensic analysis of marine exposure indicated the skull had been submerged in the ocean for roughly 12 to 18 months before it washed ashore, and investigators estimated the young woman may have died anywhere from one to ten years before the discovery — placing her death sometime between about 1999 and 2008.

Because only the cranium was recovered, investigators had limited physical evidence to work with. One notable feature was her dentition, which examiners described as unique. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), the unusual dental characteristics may suggest that she spent her childhood outside the United States, or may instead reflect chronic grinding or clenching of her teeth. Early assessments suggested she was possibly of African American descent, but preliminary genetic genealogy testing later indicated she is of Hispanic descent.

The Maine State Police (case number SP09-052003) and the Maine Office of Chief Medical Examiner have led the investigation, with support from NCMEC, which assigned the case number 2010046 and whose forensic artist produced a facial reconstruction depicting how the young woman may have appeared in life. The case is also registered in the national NamUs database as UP15139. According to an October 2024 report by WGME, the Maine Medical Examiner's Office uploaded the woman's DNA profile to the FBI's database but has not found a match, and the office stated it is investigating all leads.

The case was accepted by the DNA Doe Project, a nonprofit that uses investigative genetic genealogy to identify unidentified decedents. The organization lists Biddeford Jane Doe 2009 — also known as York County Jane Doe — among its active cases, and its preliminary work produced the finding of Hispanic ancestry. As of the DNA Doe Project's most recent case update in March 2026, identification efforts remain ongoing.

More than sixteen years after the cranium washed ashore, the young woman's identity, cause of death, and the circumstances that led to her remains entering the ocean are all unknown. It has not been determined whether her death resulted from foul play, accident, or other causes. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Maine Office of Chief Medical Examiner or NCMEC's 24-hour call center at 1-800-843-5678.