Holly Glynn

Holly Jo Glynn (September 11, 1966 – September 20, 1987) was a formerly unidentified American woman who committed suicide in September 1987 by jumping off a cliff in Dana Point, California. Her body remained unidentified until 2015, Nonetheless, the woman had pierced ears, and had received several distinctive dental fillings in both her upper and lower jaw.

A further examination of her remains revealed she may have been pregnant or undergone a dilation and curettage procedure at one time during her life, requesting to be driven to Laguna Beach, or as far as the $18 she had in her possession would take her. According to the taxi driver, the woman had informed him that her car had broken down close to the gas station from where he had picked her up, but had otherwise been largely uncommunicative throughout the remainder of her journey in his taxi, although he did note she seemed very unhappy in demeanor. This driver further informed investigators he had dropped the young woman off at the Chart House near the intersection of Cove Road and Scenic Drive, and that he had last seen her walking in the direction of the cliff where her body was later found.

Further investigation

From all evidence discovered at the scene of the death, investigators believed that the woman had climbed over a fence at the edge of the cliff and jumped to her death. As such, her death was ruled a suicide. Nonetheless, other theories initially remained, including the possibility she may have been pushed from the cliff, or had accidentally fallen. She had initially survived the fall, and had moved somewhat before her death, leaving impressions similar to that of a snow angel.

In efforts to trigger recognition from those who may have seen the victim in life, a composite drawing of the woman was created by a forensic artist from the Orange County Police Department.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department Coroner Division subsequently contacted surviving relatives of Holly Glynn and obtained DNA samples for formal comparison with the Dana Point Jane Doe. It was eventually announced by Unsolved Mysteries that, via this technique of DNA analysis, the Dana Point Jane Doe had been Holly Jo Glynn.

Cremation More than 20 years prior to her identification, Holly Jo Glynn's remains had been cremated in a ceremony costing $425, paid for by Orange County, on her behalf. Her ashes had then been placed in a cardboard box and buried at sea.