APD and FBI utilize genealogy to identify two women whose remains were found in 1994 and 2013

ALBUQUERQUE – Through the use of Investigative Genetic Genealogy, the Albuquerque Police Department in partnership with the FBI has identified two woman whose remains were found in 1994 and 2013.

January 1994

On January 24, 1994, the skeletal remains of a woman were found along Interstate 40 by crews cleaning up the roadside. In addition to a woman’s skull, an upper denture and other pieces of bone were collected. There was also a distinctive piece of clothing, a sweater found near the remains, which led to her being referred to as “Jane Doe Sweater”.

Through the investigation, the remains were determined to be that of a Hispanic female between 30 to 40 years old and the autopsy indicated she had suffered blunt trauma to the face. At the time of locating “Jane Doe Sweater” it was suspected they had been there about a year.

In 2006, a DNA analysis was completed and the female’s DNA profile from the remains was entered into CODIS but no matches were ever found. Additionally, a clay reconstruction was made of the woman’s face along with artist renderings of the reconstruction. In 2022, a Crime Stoppers bulletin was issued in an attempt to get tips about the woman’s identity. Then, in August of 2022, grant funding was approved to conduct additional DNA testing to try and locate “Jane Doe Sweater’s” family.

In April 2023, after APD’s Cold Case Unit and FBI investigators built a family tree and were able to locate possible relatives living in Albuquerque. After more investigation and through DNA collected, it was confirmed the woman found near the sweater in 1994, was Carmela Vivian Duran.

Family stated, they’d lost touch with Duran up until the late 1980s and thought she’d moved away. Having not heard from her in some time, they thought she may have passed away, and never reported her missing.

January 2013

In January of 2013, a man walking in an empty field found human bones near Broadway Boulevard SE and Murray Road SE. The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office responded and identified the remains as human, found in a shallow grave. Given some similarities to the bodies found in 2009 on the cities west mesa, APD assisted in additional searches with cadaver dogs and investigative support.

In September 2013, more remains were found in a nearby area and were determined to have been from the same woman. Forensic anthropologists learned the woman was a white female, between 40 to 60 years old.

In June 2022, APD Cold Case and FBI investigators with the assistance of grant funding completed additional DNA testing and analysis on the remains to help identify relatives. In September of 2023, the two agencies (APD and FBI) located family members in Albuquerque who assisted in identifying the woman as 54 year-old Terry Matthews.

Terry got married in February of 2006 and was last seen that same summer. Terry was never reported missing, and her case has since been handed back over to BCSO.

“We never stop fighting for victims, even after years have passed, and this work shows the diligence of our investigators to keep trying until all avenues have been exhausted” said Chief Harold Medina.” “I hope the identities of these women being brought to light, brings closure to the families, and all those who for year’s wondered where they were.  We now continue searching for answers as to who’s responsible for their deaths.”

"This work reflects the persistence of our agents and partners, who never give up until every lead is explored. I hope identifying these women brings a sense of closure to their families and to those who have wondered about their fates," said FBI Albuquerque Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda. "We continue to search for answers about who is responsible for their deaths, as our commitment to seeking justice for victims never wavers."

Any information on the 1994 case of Carmela Vivian Duran or the 2013 case of Terry Matthews can be submitted anonymously to the Albuquerque Metro Crime Stoppers at (5050)-843-STOP or p3tips.com/531.

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