Police asking for public's help in 1988 cold case of I-196 Jane

 

Michigan State Police are asking for the public's help in the investigation into the death of Marcia Bateman, whose body was found near I-196 and CR 378 in Van Buren County in October 1988.

Bateman had only been known as the I-196 Jane for the last 20 years.

In April 2019, police partnered with BODE Laboratories for the DNA processing and received a grant from Kalamazoo Mortgage to pay for the processing fees.

Police then partnered with the DNA Doe Project to try to find potential family members through genealogy DNA.

In August 2019, the DNA Doe Project contacted MSP with leads for a potential identity.

In November 2019, her identity was confirmed as Bateman, who had been reported missing from Oklahoma City in August 1988 when she was 28-years-old.

How Bateman made it to Michigan is part of the investigation.

Police are asking you to call them if:

• You knew Marcia Bateman
• You camped at the Covert Campground off CR378 or the South Haven State Park/Campground during the summer of 1988.
• You were in the area of I-196 and CR-378 during the summer of 1988 and saw anything suspicious or vehicles stopped on the ramp

If you have any information, please call 844-642-8384 or email MSP-51TIPS@michigan.gov.