LAKE COUNTY, FLA. – Authorities have identified “Julie Doe,” whose body was discovered in a heavily wooded area in 1988 through a genealogy DNA search.
The case baffled investigators until 2015 until DNA revealed that “Julie Doe” was transitioning from a man to become Pamela Leigh Walton. The body had been 30 feet off County Road 474 in Clermont for two to four weeks, according to sheriff’s investigators.
She was wearing a skirt and had breast implants and there was evidence of possible female hormone injections. It is unknown if Walton had undergone gender changing surgery.
Born in Kentucky, Lee Allen Walton was put up for adoption. As an adult, he changed his name to Pamela Leigh Walton and was transitioning to become a female.
The investigation was completed with the support of Dr. Barbara Wolf, the medical examiner for Districts 5 and 24. The case was evaluated by the DNA Doe Project, a non-profit organization that uses genetic genealogy to identify unidentified remains.
After years of difficult work, the genealogists were able to identify possible relatives, who submitted their DNA for comparison.
It’s unknown how Watson came to be in Florida. The cause of death is unknown. The Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation.
On September 25, 1988, a victim was found deceased 30 feet off the side of CR 474 in Clermont. The victim had been deceased for 2 – 4 weeks in a rural, heavily wooded area. The victim was initially thought to be female until 2015, when DNA testing revealed the victim was biologically male. The victim was wearing a skirt and had breast implants, and there is evidence she may have been taking female hormone injections. It is unknown if the victim had undergone any other gender reassignment surgery.
With the support of Dr. Barbara Wolf, the District Medical Examiner for Districts 5 and 24, the case was evaluated by the DNA Doe Project. The DNA Doe Project is a non-profit organization that utilizes investigative genetic genealogy to identify unidentified remains.
After years of difficult work, the genealogists were able to identify possible relatives of “Julie Doe,” who were then contacted by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. After additional information was obtained, the relatives submitted their DNA for comparison. These comparisons identified “Julie Doe” as Pamela Leigh Walton. Pamela was born a biological male in Kentucky and put up for adoption. Once adopted, his name was Lee Allen Walton. At some point in Lee’s adult life, he changed his name to Pamela Leigh Walton and was, at the very least, transitioning from male to female.
It’s unknown how Pamela came to be in Florida. Pamela’s manner of death is undetermined, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office is continuing efforts to gather information regarding the circumstances of the death.