Dawn Olanick ID'd and Suspect Charged in 1982 Case (Warren Co, NJ)

The Warren County Prosecutor’s office and New Jersey State Police announced today at a press conference the identity of Dawn Olanick, known for 40 years at “Princess Jane Doe”.

Dawn was discovered in a cemetery July 15, 1982, in Blairstown, NJ, the victim of a grisly murder, her face beaten and unrecognizable. The Warren County Prospecutors’s Office, New Jersey State Police and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children - literally scores of investigators over the years - never stopped pursuing the identity of the body or her killer. By being open to new technology, their dedication paid off.

The new genetic testing and genealogy work took less than one year to complete, from start to finish.

From the press release at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC):

With the help of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Princess Doe’s molar and eyelash were submitted to Astrea Forensics in 2021, for possible DNA extraction. 

“What is so special about Astrea is that they are able to extract DNA from samples that are degraded or otherwise would provide no value,” said Carol Schweitzer, forensic supervisor at NCMEC. "We knew that if anyone could get the information that was needed, Astrea could.” 

And they did. 

Astrea Forensics’s genealogy file was delivered to NCMEC and genetic genealogy services were offered pro bono by Jennifer Moore of Investigative Forensic Technologies.

Within days, IFG discovered Dawn’s name. Within two months, her identity was confirmed.

We want to especially thank the NIJ grantee that subcontracted Astrea Forensics thereby allowing us to offer genetic services pro bono in aid of solving this case.

Not only did Dawn Olanick get her name back, the alleged murderer has been charged with the crime.