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The Biggest Cold Case Headlines of 2023

Remains of Daisy Mae Heath Finally Identified, Shining Light on Unsolved Murders of Native Women in Washington

In November 2008, skeletal human remains were discovered on remote land within the Yakima Reservation in Washington.

For almost 15 years, the individual remained unidentified as a Jane Doe.

However, in early January 2023, the Yakima County coroner confirmed that the remains belonged to Daisy Mae Heath, also known as Daisy Tallman.

Previous attempts to conduct a DNA test in 2008 had failed to yield useful results, and the case went cold.

In 2002, the coroner's office collaborated with Othram, a forensic genealogy service, to compare a comprehensive DNA profile with a reference provided by Heath-Tallman's family, which led to her identification.

Heath-Tallman had been missing since 1987, and her backpack, keys, and a turquoise ring were found near the remains in 2008.

The cause of death remains unknown, but the FBI is treating the case as a suspected homicide.

The identification of Daisy Mae Heath has brought attention to the unsolved murders or suspicious deaths of at least 14 Native women in Yakima and nearby Klickitat County during the 1980s and '90s.

Podcast Gone Missing - Daisy Mae Tallman

Woman Missing for 31 Years Found Alive in Puerto Rico at the Age of 83

In 1992, Patricia Kopta, a 52-year-old woman from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, disappeared.

She was known as "The Sparrow," a street preacher with a small build who struggled with mental illness.

Her family believed she had died, but in 2023, at the age of 83, she was found alive in a Puerto Rican nursing home.

Kopta had been wandering around northern Puerto Rico before being placed in the nursing home in 1999.

She had dementia but was able to provide information about her past, which led to her identification through a DNA match with her relatives.

Kopta's family and husband, Bob Kopta, were unaware of how she ended up in Puerto Rico, although they mentioned her fondness for vacationing there.

Despite never remarrying, Bob is content knowing she is in a safe and caring environment.

Sadly, Patricia's twin sister passed away before learning about her reappearance.

Podcast: Gone: Missing: Jeramy Burt and Patricia Kopta

🔒 SAFETY TIP OF THE DAY: Stranded on the Side of the Road

If stranded on the side of the road, prioritize safety by turning on hazard lights, staying inside your vehicle, and calling for assistance. Keep essentials like water, blankets, and a charged phone. If someone offers help, roll down the window slightly and use caution. Always trust your instincts and wait for professional assistance whenever possible.

The Unidentified Woman Found in 1971 Arizona Finally Receives a Name After 52 Years: The Story of Colleen Audrey Rice.

In January 1971, an unidentified woman's body was discovered in a canvas sack in Arizona.

After 52 years, on January 23, 2023, the woman finally received a name - Colleen Audrey Rice.

Initially estimated to be between 35 and 40 years old, she had curly brown hair and was found wearing a blouse, black cardigan, burnt-orange stretch pants, black leather boots, and bobby sox.

Despite efforts to identify her over the years, it was not until recently that new developments provided a breakthrough.

In October 2021, the Mohave County Sheriff's Office Special Investigation Unit (SIU) released a sketch and sought the public's assistance in identifying the woman.

With the hope of utilizing advanced DNA testing, SIU set up a fund to raise $6,500, which was quickly achieved after just five days.

By employing forensic genetic genealogy, investigators discovered that Colleen Audrey Rice was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, in 1931.

However, it remains unclear how she ended up in Arizona as she had severed ties with her family.

Though identified, many mysteries still surround Colleen Rice's life and death.

Authorities continue to seek information from the public to uncover more details about her time in Arizona and, ultimately, find her killer.

The case serves as a somber reminder of the importance of persistent investigation and the potential breakthroughs that advancements in technology can offer in solving long-standing mysteries.

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The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Initiative, launched by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2019, focuses on the alarming rates of missing and murdered Indigenous individuals, seeking to raise awareness and improve investigations.