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Woman's body found on a pile of burning tires in Westport identified after 39 years

Her death was certified as a homicide in 1985.

Nicole Alarcon

Nov 27, 2024, 6:09 PM

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The body of a woman found on a pile of burning tires on I-95 in Westport was identified after 39 years.

Barbara Heyward-Manners, 33, was formerly identified as "Fairfield County Jane Doe," according to the state's chief medical examiner.

Manners' death was certified as a homicide in 1985.

Officials were able to send skeletal samples to the forensic genealogy corporation Othram, which was able to extract DNA for genetic testing.

DNA was collected from the suspected family of the victim by state police and submitted to the Department of Scientific Services in Meriden, which confirmed Manners' identity.

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