Mary Edith Silvani, born on September 29, 1948, in Pontiac, Michigan, was a 33-year-old woman whose life was tragically cut short on July 17, 1982. Her body was discovered by hikers in the Sheep's Flat area, a popular hiking trail near Lake Tahoe in Washoe County, Nevada. At the time of her death, she was dressed in attire suggestive of a day at the lake, wearing a light yellow pair of tennis shoes, a sleeveless blue shirt, Lee brand jeans, and a one-piece swimsuit underneath.
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circumstances of her death were particularly gruesome; she had been sexually assaulted and shot in the back of the head while in a bent-over position, possibly tying her shoes. The bullet hole was covered with men's underwear. Autopsy findings revealed vaccination scars on her left arm and abdomen, possibly from a Caesarean section, and a large bruise underneath one of her toenails. She had hazel eyes, stood approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall, and weighed 112 pounds, with brown hair tied back in a bun. Her last meal was a salad, indicating she may have been preparing for a leisurely day.
For 37 years, Silvani remained unidentified, known only as 'Sheep's Flat Jane Doe' or 'Washoe County Jane Doe.' Initial investigations led to the belief that she might be from Europe due to an inoculation scar on her arm and her dental work, but this was later discredited by an independent dental examination in 2010. The t-shirt she wore was determined to have been sold only on the West Coast of the United States, suggesting she may have visited or resided in the Western United States before her murder.
The breakthrough in identifying Silvani came in 2018 through the use of DNA analysis and genetic genealogy. In February 2018, a Washoe County forensic investigator attended a lecture on forensic genealogy, which led to the involvement of the DNA Doe Project and Identifinders International. By July 2018, Silvani had been tentatively identified, and her identity was confirmed in September of the same year. However, her name was withheld by the police due to the ongoing homicide investigation. Her identity was further confirmed through a fingerprint kept on file by the Detroit Police Department from a 1974 arrest for loitering. The Washoe County Sheriff's Office officially announced her identity as Mary Edith Silvani on May 7, 2019.
The investigation also led to the identification of her murderer, James Richard Curry, a serial killer. Curry was born in an unspecified location and had a history of violent crimes. He was arrested on January 6, 1983, as a suspect in another murder and subsequently confessed to two more murders. However, he committed suicide in the Santa Clara County, California jail just a day after his arrest. Curry is also suspected in a fourth murder. The identification of both Silvani and Curry through genetic genealogy marked a significant milestone, as it was the first known case where both the victim and perpetrator were identified using this method.
Curry's connection to Silvani's murder was established through the same genetic genealogy techniques that identified Silvani. The DNA evidence linked him to the crime scene, providing the long-sought resolution to the cold case. As of May 2019, Silvani's case is considered closed, bringing a measure of closure to her family and the community that had been searching for answers for nearly four decades.
Mary Edith Silvani's life was marked by tragedy and abandonment. Born in Pontiac, Michigan, she grew up in Detroit with her two brothers after her father's death in 1964. Her mother had left the family when Silvani was a child and spent much of her life in mental institutions, eventually passing away in 1980. Silvani herself became homeless at the age of 16 and later moved to California between 1974 and 1982. Despite her challenging life, she was remembered by friends as quiet, kind-hearted, and having an affinity for art and reading.
The resolution of Silvani's case is a testament to the advancements in forensic science and the dedication of law enforcement and volunteers who worked tirelessly to identify her and bring justice to her family. She was buried at Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Cemetery in Reno, Nevada, and her grave, once nameless, now bears her name, ensuring she will never be forgotten again.
