Las Vegas, NV (KXNT) – Las Vegas Metro Police on Tuesday announced that they’ve identified a cold case murder victim who was found back in 1993.
On April 18, 1993, a biologist working in what was then a desert area near Tropicana and Durango discovered a handmade quilt half buried in the dirt with several large rocks placed on top of it. Upon closer examination, the biologist observed what appeared to be human hair and smelled a foul odor of decomposition. The LVMPD Homicide Section responded and took over the investigation.
The Clark County Coroner’s office conducted an autopsy on the female remains and ruled her death to be a homicide that occurred mid to late 1991. At the time, none of the investigative efforts led to the identification of the female and she was given the name of Jane Tropicana Doe.
The case remained unsolved and was assigned to the LVMPD Homicide Cold Case Section.
In February of 2023, LVMPD Cold Case Investigators requested a forensic genetic genealogy investigation performed by Othram. With the help of the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NAMUS) and the FBI, detectives were able to identify and contact possible family members who gave DNA samples for comparison.
On December 29, 2023, detectives were notified by Othram that Jane Tropicana Doe had been positively identified through DNA as Linda Sue Anderson aka Andrews.
Cold Case Investigators learned through family members that Anderson, who was 38 years old, was living in Henderson at the time of her death. The family never heard from Anderson again after a phone call with her in June of 1991.
The LVMPD Homicide Cold Case Section continues to investigate the case, and is asking anyone with information about Linda Sue Anderson to contact the Homicide Section by phone at 702-828-3521, or by email at homicide@lvmpd.com.
To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 702-385-5555, or on the internet at www.crimestoppersofnv.com.