Woman’s remains identified more than 30 years after her death
ROANE COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — The TBI uncovered a cold case of more than 30 years on Thursday morning.
A woman’s remains were found in 1987 in Roane County, Tennessee. The TBI identified those remains this week as Betty Lou Wisley.
The victim’s remains were burned after her death and were discarded next to a dumpster.
Early on, investigators could not identify the victim.
In April 2023, TBI agents began helping the Roane County Sheriff’s Office. They submitted a sample of her remains to a private lab in Texas for DNA testing.
In October 2023, agents contacted the victim’s family and obtained a familial DNA standard.
Scientists confirmed, based on these results, that the remains belonged to Wisley, who was originally from Clinton, Missouri. Wisley was born on December 30, 1935.
Betty Lou Wisley / TBI
Wisley was living near Knox County at the time of her death.
Investigators are now asking for the public’s help in determining the circumstances leading up to her death.
Anyone with this kind of information should contact the Roane County Sheriff’s Office at 865-717-4722.
