Patricia McGlone: DNA from 9/11 victim help identify 'Midtown Jane Doe' who was found entombed in cement
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK: After two decades of mystery surrounding the identity of a woman found entombed in cement at a former Hell’s Kitchen hot spot, NYPD detectives have finally made a breakthrough.
The woman, known only as 'Midtown Jane Doe,' has been identified as Patricia Kathleen McGlone, a teenager from Sunset Park, Brooklyn, who vanished in the late 1960s.
Detective Ryan Glas, from the NYPD’s Cold Case Squad, spearheaded the exhaustive investigation that led to McGlone's identification. Utilizing a blend of traditional detective work and cutting-edge forensic and genealogical techniques, Glas and his team made the connection, aided by DNA from a 9/11 victim.
“Now we can start the next phase of the investigation — finding the killer,” Glas expressed to New York Post.
What led to Patricia Kathleen McGlone's tragic death?
McGlone was between 17 and 19 years old when her tragic fate involved being strangled, bound with electrical wire, and encased in cement in the basement of a building that once housed the infamous rock 'n' roll club, 'The Scene.' Her body was discovered when construction workers at 301 W 46th St in Manhattan in February 2003 stumbled upon the makeshift tomb.
“The work is incredibly rewarding,” remarked the detective, who served seven years in the Sixth Precinct before fulfilling his aspiration of joining the NYPD Cold Case Squad. “Everyone is someone’s child. We have to bring closure."
DNA evidence and genealogical tracking uncover Patricia McGlone's identity
Years of limited forensic technology and a surge in city homicides hindered progress in the investigation. However, advancements in DNA sampling and genealogical tracking eventually provided a breakthrough. A distant 90 year old cousin in Florida and DNA samples from a 9/11 victim played pivotal roles in confirming McGlone's identity.
Now armed with a name, detectives are intensifying efforts to uncover McGlone's killer. Nevertheless, a potential lead links the victim's mysterious husband to the building where her remains were found. “We’re still working on getting information on him, trying to verify what his situation was with her,” Glas alleged.
“At this point in the investigation, what I can say is, he does have a connection to where she was found.”
The identification of McGlone was a collaborative effort, with key individuals including Lt Michael Saccone, retired Detectives Gerard Gardiner and Robert Hahn, genealogist Linda Doyle, and others.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, under Siobahn Berry and Coleen Balbert, continues to lead the investigation, seeking justice for McGlone and closure for her family.
