Do you know ‘Vandy Doe’? Woman found dead in Nashville remains unidentified years later

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — In September of 2018, a deceased young woman was found on the side of Sulpher Creek Road in rural Davidson County.

She had no identification when she was discovered, and there were no witnesses nor anyone to claim her from police. With no more information about her other than sporting all Vanderbilt gear, investigators dubbed her “Vandy Doe.”

Since her initial discovery nearly six years ago, police still don’t know much about her, how she died or how she ended up in a Sulpher Creek Road ditch. While the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) is able to solve most of its unidentified remains cases, Vandy Doe was different. With no one coming to claim her, the identity of Vandy Doe has remained a mystery since she was discovered.

A forensic analysis determined Vandy Doe to be likely of African American heritage, with a possibility of mixed Hispanic heritage, according to police. It wasn’t possible to determine her precise age, weight, or eye color, however, due to the condition of her remains.

Investigators guessed she could be anywhere between 15 and 25 years old. She had black, curly hair and was approximately 5-feet- to 5-feet-5-inches tall.

As recently as two years ago, Metro’s Cold Case-Homicide/Missing Persons Unit exhumed her remains to collect more DNA for a sample to be used in “advanced testing.”

According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), Vandy Doe was wearing head-to-toe Vanderbilt gear, including a black 1/4 zip Under Armour brand top with “VANDY” in gold stitching, black leggings with the Vanderbilt logo in a geometric pattern and a ZooZatZ brand black running hip band with a zip pocket that also had the Vandy logo. She was also wearing a white metal necklace from the “From the Heart” brand that appeared to be missing a charm.

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The NCMEC Forensic Artist put together a digital reconstruction of her face as well, depicting what she may have looked like in life.

Anyone with any information about Vandy Doe or the circumstances surrounding her death are asked to contact either Metro Police at 615-862-7803 or the NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) .

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