03/18/2026
We are incredibly excited to share the news of Melinda Beardsleyโs identification.
Moments like this remind us why this work matters so deeply โ restoring a name, a story, and dignity to someone who was never forgotten.
This identification is the result of persistence, collaboration, and a shared commitment to seeking answers. We are honored to support and work alongside our dedicated law enforcement partners in these efforts.
While we celebrate this important milestone, we remain focused on the work ahead. There are still many unidentified individuals who deserve to be named and remembered. We look forward to continuing our mission and helping bring more answers to families and communities.
Together, we will keep pushing forward. ๐
๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ ๐๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: โ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐โ ๐๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ
The Placer County Sheriffโs Office, in partnership with Moxxy Forensic Investigations and the Reno Police Department, has officially identified a woman who was found dead at Emigrant Gap nearly five decades ago. For years she was known only as the โEmigrant Gap Jane Doe.โ Through advancements in DNA technology and decades of investigative work, she has now been identified as Melinda โPipโ Beardsley, a mother who had been missing since the mid-1970s.
๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ด๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ:
On December 17, 1977, a woman was discovered deceased in a snowbank in the Emigrant Gap area of Placer County. Investigators later determined she had been strangled to death. Despite extensive investigative efforts over the years, her identity remained unknown.
Since the case began, Placer County Sheriffโs Office investigators have continued working to identify the victim and bring answers to her family.
๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ด๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ง๐ถ๐บ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ:
In 1978, the Placer County Sheriffโs Office distributed approximately 300 copies of the victimโs fingerprints and identifying information to major law enforcement agencies across the United States and Canada, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation. No matches were located.
In 2006, the victimโs fingerprints were again submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for comparison, but investigators still received no matches.
As forensic technology advanced, investigators revisited the case. In 2011, the Placer County Sheriffโs Office exhumed the victimโs remains in hopes that new forensic techniques could assist in identifying her.
In 2018, investigators obtained a partial DNA profile from the remains that was suitable for direct comparison. Additional DNA work was conducted in 2019, but the available profile was not suitable for investigative genetic genealogy.
In 2024, the Placer County Sheriffโs Office Cold Case Investigations team submitted the remains for further DNA testing and genealogical analysis. Initial testing determined the remains were too degraded to develop a profile for investigative genetic genealogy. In 2025, additional portions of the remains were tested, ultimately producing a DNA profile with sufficient information for investigative genetic genealogy.
In 2025, the Placer County Sheriffโs Office began working in coordination with Moxxy Forensic Investigations, a nonprofit organization that assists law enforcement agencies with investigative genetic genealogy and missing persons research. The partnership began after Melinda Beardsleyโs family contacted The Doe Network, a volunteer organization that works to bring closure to missing and unidentified person cases. The Doe Network then contacted Moxxy Forensic Investigations for assistance.
Moxxyโs Missing Persons Task Force conducted extensive research into Melinda Beardsleyโs life and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. During that research, investigators identified a potential connection between Beardsley and the Emigrant Gap Jane Doe. Moxxy also worked with the Reno Police Department to ensure Beardsley was formally reported missing, allowing investigators to move forward with additional investigative steps and DNA comparison with the Placer County Sheriffโs Office.
๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป:
Through these collaborative efforts, Melinda Beardsleyโs family was located and a DNA comparison was conducted. In February 2026, testing confirmed that the Emigrant Gap Jane Doe was Melinda โPipโ Beardsley, a mother who had been missing since the mid-1970s.
Melinda Beardsley was born in 1946 in Michigan and was known to family and friends by the nickname โPip.โ She was believed to have been living in the Nevada area during the mid-1970s.
This identification hopefully provides long-awaited answers to Beardsleyโs family, but the work is not done. The Placer County Sheriffโs Office is actively investigating the homicide of Melinda Beardsley.
Advancements in DNA technology are making it possible to solve cases that once seemed impossible. The Sheriffโs Office remains committed to identifying unknown victims and bringing answers to families.
Anyone with information related to the homicide of Melinda Beardsley is encouraged to contact the Placer County Sheriffโs Office Investigations Tip Line at (530) 889-7830.
๐ก๐ผ๐ป๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด:
Investigations like this can take years and require specialized forensic testing. The Placer County Sheriffโs Office is grateful for the support of the newly formed Placer County Cold Case Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps fund cold case investigations. DNA testing and forensic analysis can be costly, and the foundation helps offset those expenses so investigators can continue pursuing answers in unsolved cases. You can learn more and donate through their website: placercoldcase.org.
Moxxy Forensic Investigations is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that specializes in investigative genetic genealogy to identify unidentified human remains and assist in identifying perpetrators in violent crimes. Most of Moxxyโs cases are funded through private donations. Community support makes it possible for the organization to continue assisting families and agencies in complex cases like this one. Those wishing to support ongoing investigations can learn more at moxxyforensics.com/donate.
