Chicago woman identified 30 years after being found in Illinois cornfield

In September 1991, a woman was discovered deceased in a cornfield in LaSalle County, Illinois. For over three decades, her identity remained a mystery until recent advancements in DNA technology allowed authorities to identify her as Paula Ann Lundgren, a resident of the Chicago area. The investigation into her identity began in earnest more than ten years ago, with her body being exhumed in 2013 to obtain DNA samples. This effort was part of a broader initiative to utilize modern investigative techniques that were not available in the early 1990s. In 2019, a professor at Illinois Valley Community College employed investigative genetic genealogy, which helped generate a list of potential living relatives. The LaSalle County coroner's office spent years sifting through this list to find a match. In February, the FBI was brought in to assist, leading to a breakthrough in July when a living relative's DNA was confirmed as a match to Lundgren's. At the time of her death, Lundgren was 29 years old, and the coroner's office determined that she died from cocaine intoxication. Her remains were buried in an Ottawa cemetery, marked with a headstone that read, 'Somebody’s Daughter, Somebody’s Friend.' This poignant inscription reflects the community's recognition of her lost life and the mystery surrounding her death. Now that her identity has been established, law enforcement hopes to uncover new leads regarding the circumstances that led to her being found in the cornfield. The case highlights the importance of modern forensic techniques in solving cold cases and bringing closure to families affected by such tragedies.