BEL ALTON, Md. – For decades, she was simply known as Jane Doe—a woman whose body was found in a Bel Alton field in June 1998, with no name and no justice. That changed in October 2023, when the Charles County Sheriff’s Office identified her as LaQuanda Denise “Niecey” Williams, a 31-year-old from Southeast Washington, D.C.
The breakthrough followed a televised news segment marking the 25th anniversary of the case. That night, a viewer contacted authorities, suspecting the woman was a missing relative. A DNA sample from one of Williams’ siblings later confirmed the match.
Now, cold case detectives are refocusing efforts to solve her murder, pursuing new leads based on her identity and last known connections.
“This case has never left our radar,” said Detective Shankster. “Having her name gives us new direction. We believe someone out there knows what happened.”
Williams’ remains were discovered off Route 301 near Irving Road. At the time, investigators estimated she was in her early 30s, but had no identifying marks. Years of forensic work—including facial reconstruction, isotopic testing, and national outreach—failed to identify her.
That changed after the 2023 tip. Investigators noted a strong resemblance between family photos and archival sketches, and subsequent testing by Bode Technology confirmed the connection.
Williams’ last known residence was in Southeast D.C., but how she ended up in rural Charles County remains a mystery.
A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered by the Sheriff’s Office and Charles County Crime Solvers for information that leads to an arrest and indictment.
“Even the smallest detail can help bring justice,” said Deputy Director Noelle Gehrman of the Forensic Science Section. “LaQuanda deserves that. Her family deserves that.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Shankster at 301-932-3037 or shanksterc@ccso.us. Tips can be submitted anonymously via 1-866-411-TIPS, online at charlescountycrimesolvers.com, or through the P3Intel mobile app.
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