Murder of Cynthia Gastelle
Cynthia Joan Gastelle (September 4, 1961- circa April 3, 1980) was a formerly unidentified American murder victim who disappeared on April 3, 1980. Her body was found two years later, but remained unidentified for 30 years before matching of mitochondrial DNA entered into the national DNA database provided her identity. Circumstances. Cynthia Gastelle was last seen heading to a job interview at a deli in Takoma Park, Maryland. She had left home around 10:30 and had boarded a Ride On bus to Silver Spring according to her brother Peter Gastelle. She had run away twice before  so her family waited a few days before reporting her missing. Gastelle's skeletal remains were found on February 11, 1982 upon Bull Run Mountain in Haymarket, Virginia; they were located in a secluded wooded area, nearly a mile off of U.S. Route 15. Apparently, the skeleton had clothing on it which could have been recognized by Gastelle's family. However, the Prince William County Police Department was unaware that Gastelle was missing and so, they never contacted the Takoma Park Police Department. The remains eventually became a Jane Doe. Identification. Over the years, Gastelle's father would be called  to examine remains and visit morgues according to her brother Greg Gastelle. Gastelle would eventually be added to NamUs and the Doe Network, however neither her dental X-rays or DNA was included on both sites which made comparisons between her and unidentified decedents challenging. In 2001, DNA evidence from the Jane Doe was entered into the national DNA database. In 2011, DNA samples from Gastelle's family was collected from an unrelated case elsewhere. That same year, a user on Websleuths noted that Gastelle was not on NamUs's exclusion list for the Jane Doe. The Takoma Park police  was contacted in February of 2011 to make a comparison between her and Jane Doe which was initiated that July. It was revealed in June 13, 2012 that a match had been made.