A 27-year-old murder mystery in North Texas moved closer to resolution after DNA testing identified a woman whose body was discovered in Lake Ray Hubbard in 1998.
Houston forensic lab Othram used advanced genetic genealogy to identify the victim as Penny Gunn, also known as Penny J. Morris, who was 35 when her body was found on April 2, 1998.
The breakthrough offers hope for solving one of North Texas’ coldest cases. For nearly three decades, investigators had only a sketch and the label “Jane Doe” to represent the murder victim.
Othram’s technology succeeded where traditional DNA testing had failed.
“When traditional DNA testing fails to reveal an identity, we have new tools in the tool belt that we can offer these investigators,” said Michael Vogen, Othram’s director of case management, NBC 5 DFW reported.
The lab developed methods to sequence DNA and build profiles that detect distant relationships.
“We’ve developed some really cool scientific methodologies of sequencing DNA and building these profiles that can then be used to detect very distant relationships,” Vogen explained, per NBC 5
Dallas police featured the case in their “Cold Case Tuesday” social media initiative in October 2024. The department noted, “The attached image is a sketch of what the woman may have looked like when she was killed. The investigation and evidence determined the woman was a victim of homicidal violence.”
The collaboration began when representatives from the Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office met Othram officials at a Fort Worth missing persons event. The lab agreed to examine several cases, including Gunn’s.
“Our job was to build a profile and try to find relatives of hers, and we were able to do that and get that information back to investigators,” said Vogen.
The identification process relied on finding distant relatives through genealogical databases.
Othram’s sophisticated techniques can extract usable DNA from evidence that is decades old.
“Through these human enrichment processes, we’re able to take a bone from, you know, 20, 30, 50, 100 years ago, really, develop a profile that would be the equivalent of me spitting in a tube today, and that’s essentially what we’re doing,” Vogen said, per NBC 5.
The analysis examines extensive genetic markers.
“So when we do our analysis, we look at like half a million markers of DNA upwards to a million markers of DNA. That allows us to detect a sixth or seventh cousin, which oftentimes you need for these types of analysis.”
Gunn became the 21st person in Texas publicly identified using Othram’s technology. The company has contributed to high-profile investigations nationwide, including the 2022 murders of four Idaho college students.
“We did our analysis and started working with the FBI and came to the direct family of the Kohbergers, and the investigators did the rest,” said Vogen about the Idaho case.
For families seeking resolution in cold cases, Vogen offered guidance.
“If they are in touch with a detective, they could have the detective reach out to us. Our standard operating procedure is to only work for law enforcement.”
Dallas police remain tight-lipped about investigation details. They confirmed only that Gunn died of “homicidal violence” and that the case remains active.
Investigators urge anyone with information to contact Detective Patty Belew at 214-671-3603 or [email protected], referencing case number 234123-G.
The technology transforming cold case investigations has become routine rather than exceptional.
“The cool thing about the work that we do is, historically, this has been applied to very high-profile cases, and it was an extraordinary outcome. But the truth is, this isn’t extraordinary. This is ordinary now. We have technology that can be applied to cases. If there’s DNA, there’s no reason why these people shouldn’t have their names,” Vogen said.