On October 12, 1988, the body of a young woman was found in Covert Township, Michigan near I-196 and CR-378 in Van Buren County.

 

Over time the young unidentified woman became known to State Police investigators as “I-196 Jane”. As the years went by, all available technology and investigative means were used to try to identify “I-196 Jane”, however, all were unsuccessful, and the case went cold.

 

In late 2018, investigators began the process of utilizing genealogy DNA to help identify “I-196 Jane”. Paw Paw Post detectives partnered with BODE Laboratories for the DNA processing and received a generous grant from Kalamazoo Mortgage to pay the processing fees.

 

Earlier this month DNA confirmation was received that “I-196 Jane” was Marcia Kaylynn Bateman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

 

Marcia’s family members have been contacted and are grateful to know that their loved one has been located. Her family is hopeful that investigators will determine how she ended up deceased in Michigan.

 

Marcia was last seen in May 1988. Her family reported her missing in August 1988 to the Oklahoma City Police. She was 28 years old at the time of her disappearance. At this point investigators have been unable to determine how she made it to Michigan from Oklahoma.