Contacts:
Christopher Harris, (216) 443-7157

Collaborative Investigation and Media Coverage Help Identify Woman Killed in 2016

CUYAHOGA COUNTY – County Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas P. Gilson, Cleveland Police Department Chief Calvin Williams, along with members and partners from both agencies, today announced that a positive identification has been confirmed in the Dibble Avenue homicide case.

“I can announce today that we have identified this unfortunate woman who was found in October of last year as Brooke Cameron. The state of Ms. Cameron’s remains did not permit a visual identification, so we partnered with other forensic professionals to help. Without their efforts and those of our colleagues in law enforcement, we would not be here today.” said Dr. Gilson. “I am also indebted to the media who disseminated this story, which ultimately led to this identification. It is my hope that this identification will offer closure to Ms. Cameron’s friends and family, and help bring her killer to justice.”

Investigation Timeline:

• October 17, 2016: The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office and Cleveland Police Department responded to a scene at 5605 Dibble Avenue, where an adult female was found deceased under suspicious circumstances.
• October 18, 2016: An autopsy is conducted by Dr. Todd Barr that reveals the victim suffered a gunshot wound of the head.
• October 26, 2016: Dr. Linda Spurlock, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Kent State University, examines the skeletal remains to obtain demographic information.
• November 4, 2016: The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office and Cleveland Police Department issued a joint press release to the local media, seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the victim.
• February 18, 2017: The victim’s skull is sent to Dr. Spurlock for facial reconstruction and forensic sketch creation.
• July 10, 2017: The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office and Cleveland Police Department issued a second press release to the local media, including Dr. Spurlock’s forensic sketch. The press release also indicated the victim could be of Asian or Native American heritage.
• July 11, 2017: A tipster contacted Detective Kathleen Carlin of the Cleveland Police Department after seeing the sketch in the media. 

Through collaborative investigative efforts between the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office and Cleveland Police Department, additional information was obtained to establish a tentative ID. Furthermore, on July 26, 2017, positive identification was made through a combination of forensic dentistry and x-rays to match:

Brooke Cameron of Cleveland
Native American
Age 40

“Cases wherein victims go unidentified are especially challenging for investigators and leave families without closure, preventing emotional wounds from beginning to heal. I want to recognize the great work of Detective Kathleen Carlin in this investigation; searching through out of state missing persons reports and matching evidence to identify this woman,” said Chief Williams. “In addition, I am grateful for the continued partnership the Cleveland Division of Police has with the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office as solving these cases requires both great police work and science equally.”

Additionally, Dr. Gilson announced that forensic sketches of unidentified decedents are now available on the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s website at: http://medicalexaminer.cuyahogacounty.us/en-US/Unidentified-Persons.aspx