The Bensalem Township Police Department has identified the skeletal remains of a young pregnant female that were discovered on Jan. 24, 1988, in an underground pump house at the abandoned Publicker Distillery, located along State Road in Bensalem. At the time, “Jane Doe” was an unidentified female estimated to be 17 to 23 years of age and approximately six months pregnant. Her description did not match any reports of missing persons or runaways at the time.
A forensic sculpture was made by Frank Bender (deceased), of the Vidocq Society, in 1994 in an attempt to help identify Jane Doe. The case remained unsolved for years but was never forgotten. In 2007, DNA was extracted from the skeletal remains and uploaded into CODIS, the national DNA database. In 2017, DNA was extracted from the fetal bones. In 2020, additional DNA was extracted by Bode Technology and genome sequencing was performed so that the profile could be uploaded into GEDmatch.
Then, in 2021, a team of DNA genealogists assisted in building a family tree based on the DNA results. This work directly led to Jane Doe being identified as Lisa Todd, of Philadelphia.
Todd was originally reported missing in Philadelphia in October of 1985. The circumstances surrounding Todd’s death are suspicious and investigators are still attempting to determine what led to her untimely death and body being left at Publicker Distillery. Todd’s family has been notified and are cooperating with Bensalem Police detectives.
Bensalem Police acknowledged and thanked Bode Technology, Yolanda McClary and her DNA genealogy team, Cathy DeBuono and Cynthia LaMonatagne for their research and contributions on the fetal DNA, and NCMEC and St. Mary’s Hospital for providing a 3dCtScan for a forensic image.
Anyone with information is urged to call the Bensalem Township Police Department, Detective Chris McMullin at 215-633-3719.
