Body in decades-old Florida cold case ID'd as transgender woman

Name: Florida cold case body ID'd as transgender woman
Uploaded: 2025-03-11T19:01:09-04:00
Description: The Lake County Sheriff's Office said its detectives have made a breakthrough in a cold case dating back nearly four decades. A body found in a wooded area near Clermont in 1988, referred to as "Julie Doe," has been identified as a transgender woman.

Florida cold case body ID'd as transgender woman

The Lake County Sheriff's Office said its detectives have made a breakthrough in a cold case dating back nearly four decades. A body found in a wooded area near Clermont in 1988, referred to as "Julie Doe," has been identified as a transgender woman.

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Lake County Sheriff's Office said its detectives have made a breakthrough in a cold case dating back nearly four decades. A body found in a wooded area near Clermont in 1988, referred to as "Julie Doe," has been identified as a transgender woman.

Who was Julie Doe?

The backstory:

On September 25, 1988, a body was found in a heavily wooded area about 30 feet off the side of County Road 474 in Clermont. Officials said the person had been dead anywhere from two to four weeks.

She was wearing a skirt and had breast implants and was referred to as "Julie Doe." In 2015, DNA testing revealed that the deceased was born a biological male. Authorities said it appeared that the body was dragged into the woods and the deceased was possibly the victim of a sexual assault. There was also evidence that she may have been taking female hormone injections.

Finding Julie Doe's identity

What we know:

After several years, genealogists identified possible relatives of Julie Doe, who were soon contacted by the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

The relatives submitted their DNA for comparison, which led to Julie Doe being identified as Pamela Leigh Walton.

Detectives say Pamela was born a biological male in Kentucky and was put up for adoption. Once adopted, his name was Lee Allen Walton, and at some point in his life, he changed his name to Pamela Leigh Walton.

What is the DNA Doe Project?

The DNA Doe Project is a volunteer organization that seeks to identify John Does and Jane Does and return their remains to their families, a news release said.

They use DNA and genealogy to identify unknown persons by looking into their biological relatives.

What we don't know:

It is unknown how Walton came to be in Florida.

Detectives said the manner of death is undetermined, and the Lake County Sheriff's Office is continuing to gather information regarding the details of the death.

What they're saying:

"It was clear from the start that our Doe had strong family ties to Kentucky, but we didn’t know for sure if she was born there or if she ever lived there," said Lance Daly, investigative genetic genealogist. "While searching Fayette County records, we discovered the names of two key relatives who were crucial to unraveling the mystery."

"Pamela Walton’s identification is the result of over five years of work by nearly 50 volunteers," said Emily Bill, investigative genetic genealogist. "Their efforts laid the foundation for a series of recent discoveries that finally led us to her name."

"Pamela’s story includes many common themes that trans people face," said Pam Lauritzen, Executive Director of Media and Communications. "From derogatory notations left in high school yearbooks about her to a headstone pre-carved with her former male name, it’s heartbreaking to know that the community was not willing to accept her and the identity she chose."

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