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#Post#: 5892--------------------------------------------------
Re: YONKERS JANE DOE: WF, 30-35, found in Westchester County, NY
- 27 June 1992 *GRAPHIC*
DIR By: Akoya
Date: May 26, 2020, 3:47 pm
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HTML https://i.imgur.com/FGU6dCO.gif
#Post#: 9928--------------------------------------------------
Re: YONKERS JANE DOE: WF, 30-35, found in Westchester County, NY
- 27 June 1992 *GRAPHIC* *Meresa Hammonds*
DIR By: Scorpio
Date: December 19, 2021, 7:31 pm
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Yonkers Jane Doe has been Identified as 31-year-old Meresa
Hammonds from New Jersey.
HTML https://i.imgur.com/DWFyLcNh.png
#Post#: 9962--------------------------------------------------
Re: YONKERS JANE DOE: WF, 30-35, found in Westchester County, NY
- 27 June 1992 *GRAPHIC* *Meresa Hammonds*
DIR By: Scorpio
Date: December 20, 2021, 11:21 pm
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HTML https://pix11.com/news/themissing/serial-killers-yonkers-jane-doe-idd-nearly-30-years-after-body-found-in-dumpster/
Serial killer’s ‘Yonkers Jane Doe’ ID’d nearly 30 years after
body found in dumpster
YONKERS, N.Y. — She was a victim of serial killer Robert
Shulman, a postal worker from Hicksville, Long Island convicted
of killing and dismembering five women in the 1990s using
barbells and a baseball bat. But no one knew her name — until
now.
Det. John Geiss, of the Yonkers Cold Case Squad, told PIX11 News
on Monday Meresa Hammonds was the victim found in a Yonkers
dumpster on June 27, 1992. She was a mother of two sons who was
living in New Jersey. She was 31 years old.
For 29 years, Hammonds was listed as missing.
Now, using genetic genealogy, police have confirmed she was one
of the serial killer’s victims.
Shulman once said he used to smoke crack with his victims at his
apartment in Patchogue, black out, and then wake up to find them
dead in bed.
The women, who were sex workers, were then dismembered. Shulman
deposited the body parts in Long Island dumpsters, sometimes
going to Manhattan or — in Hammonds’ case — Yonkers.
“I wanted to try the genealogy (for identification), because it
was successful in a Mount Vernon case,” Geiss told PIX11 News on
Monday.
Genetic genealogy was also used to track down California’s
notorious serial killer and rapist, Joseph DeAngelo, a former
cop who was arrested in 2018 at the age of 73.
DeAngelo pleaded guilty in 2020 to 26 counts of murder and
kidnapping.
In the Yonkers case, Det. Geiss said he went through the FBI,
which has a specialized team. The DNA from Hammonds was put into
private genealogy websites.
“After three weeks, we got a hit and it was right on the money,”
Geiss said.
Hammonds was identified because one of her cousins had submitted
DNA to a genealogy website and it was tied to the then-unknown
murder victim.
Geiss then flew to Michigan in early November to meet with
Hammonds’ sister and two brothers. They gave DNA samples, which
provided a genetic link to the victim. They also identified
Hammonds from a photo and a butterfly tattoo on her right, rear
shoulder.
The final DNA test that sealed the identification came from
Hammonds’ now-adult son, Jason Di Tripani. Geiss said he met
with him in New York.
“Jason didn’t know too much about his mom and wondered why his
mother didn’t go looking for him,” Geiss said. “At least they
have answers.”
One of the positives to come out of the tragedy was Di Tripani
learning he has aunts, uncles and cousins. He met his late
mother’s family for Thanksgiving in Michigan.
Di Trapani wrote to forensic genealogist Carl Koppelman on
Facebook after his mother’s identification was confirmed.
“I’m truly thankful, and to detective John. She will always be
missed, was taken from all of us to(o) young, but like you said,
at least we know she was loved and can rest in peace. Best part
is getting my mom’s family in my life, because before all of
this, I had no clue who they were. Love every single one of the
Hammonds family. Truly grateful to have found you. Better late
than never. Love all of you more than you could ever know. My
mom was truly loved and blessed. Rip MOM 92,'” he wrote.
Shulman initially received a death sentence for one of his
murders, but he was later re-sentenced to life without parole
for the five killings. He died of natural causes on April 13,
2006, at the age of 52.
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