Mother Identified Nearly 30 Years After Body Found In Baltimore County

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — A mother was identified more than 29 years after her remains were found in Baltimore County.

Previously known only as "Falls Road Jane Doe," officers on Thursday identified the woman as 20-year-old Leoria Smith.

Smith, who had an infant daughter, was last seen 12 years before her remains were found in a wooded area off Falls Road in March 1996. Smith was never reported missing, so detectives didn't have any leads on the woman's identity until new DNA technology developed.

Police found the woman wearing blue jeans, a light-colored blouse with dark pinstripes and pearl buttons, a leather jacket and high-top style shoes. They also collected two gold hoop earrings from the scene.

In April 2021, the Baltimore County Police Department tapped DNA Labs International to help identify the woman. The laboratory used its ForenSeq Kintelligence System to apply the newest Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy technology designed for challenging forensic samples. The testing developed a DNA profile and generated leads for police.

Detectives then conducted numerous interviews and obtained samples for additional testing, helping them eventually identify Smith.

Smith attended Gwynns Falls Park Junior High School in the late 1970s and into 1980.

She frequently visited the club "Underground," which was located in the 2100 block of Edmondson Avenue in Baltimore City. Detectives think Smith may have been last seen alive at Underground celebrating her birthday in November 1984.

"While detectives now know Leoria's identity, the search for answers surrounding her suspicious death continues. Anyone who knew Leoria Smith, or may have photographs of her, is being asked to contact Baltimore County detectives at 410-887-3943. Information may also be provided through the Baltimore County iWATCH program," the police department said in a press release. "No detail is too small to share."