Additionally, it appears that Joyce did not have any children. Although she was not reported missing, her family had spent years looking for her and even hired a private detective. At the time of her death, Meyer was not reported missing and did not have family in the immediate area. Family members believe Meyer may have moved to the Virginia area sometime after the mid-1980s. Meyer was 69-years-old when she was found deceased. The woman known for a quarter century as “Christmas Tree Lady” was determined to be Joyce Marilyn Meyer Sommers, originally from Davenport, Iowa. A DNA sample from a close relative confirmed a match and this confirmation was further corroborated by conversations with long-lost siblings. From there, the investigation led to additional family connections across the country. In May 2022, investigative leads were returned to the detectives and this led to a connection with one suspected family member of the unknown woman. The costs associated with this casework were funded by a DNASolves crowdfund and a substantial contribute from an anonymous donor. Othram worked with forensic genetic genealogist, Carla Davis, to execute the genealogical search and perform the research necessary to produce investigative leads. In January 2022, Fairfax Police Department detectives sent physical evidence to Othram and Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to develop a comprehensive genealogical profile for the unknown woman.
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