Imagine if a loved one, disappeared. And, their body was found ... in another state. But, you never knew that ... because, no one could identify the body.
There are thousands of agonizing cases, like that ... all across the country.
But a volunteer organization is using the internet to do something about it.
John Hollenhorst explains, with the still unsolved case of Saltair Sally.
Detectives were first called to the scene alongside Interstate 80 almost five years ago.
Birdhunters had been trying to flush out birds near the Saltair Pavilion.
SGT. JERRY TOWNSEND, S.L. COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: "AND THEY CAME ACROSS THE REMAINS OF WHAT'S COME TO BE KNOWN AS SALTAIR SALLY."
Jerry Townsend was one of the original detectives on the case. Today was his last day on the job. He's retiring after a long career.
SGT. JERRY TOWNSEND: "35 AND A HALF YEARS. AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO SOLVE THIS PARTICULAR CASE. BUT UP TO THIS POINT WE HAVEN'T DONE IT."
Experts used the latest in 3-D modeling techniques, starting with her skull, calculating what she might have looked like.
They came up with a clay model. And a simulated photo. But they still know essentially nothing about her.
DETECTIVE TODD PARK, S.L. COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: "I DON'T KNOW WHO SHE IS OR WHERE SHE CAME FROM OR EVEN HOW SHE DIED RIGHT NOW."
Todd Park is the cold-case detective.
DETECTIVE TODD PARK, S.L. COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: "I GET LEADS ON IT FREQUENTLY AND I TRY TO FOLLOW UP ON EACH OF THOSE LEADS." Q: "BUT THE LEADS DON'T GO ANYWHERE YET. NOT YET."
SGT. JERRY TOWNSEND: "I PATROL THIS AREA AND COME OUT HERE ALMOST DAILY, THINKING ABOUT IT, WONDERING WHAT WE COULD HAVE DONE TO TRY TO SOLVE IT."
JOHN HOLLENHORST REPORTING: "BECAUSE THE BODY WAS FOUND SO CLOSE TO AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, IT'S A PRETTY GOOD GUESS THAT IT WAS DUMPED HERE BY SOMEONE WHO CAME FROM OUT OF STATE. "
That's where an internet effort called The Doe Network comes in. Volunteers collect data on John Does and Jane Does around the country. And they try to match them with information and photos on missing persons compiled from official and unofficial sources.
TODD MATTHEWS: "STATE POLICE WEBSITES, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WEBSITES, MEDIA."
Todd Matthews of Nashville helped found The Doe Network to help thousands of families.
TODD MATTHEWS, THE DOE NETWORK, NASHVILLE: "I DON'T SEE HOW THE FAMILIES OF THE MISSING PUT ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER AND ACTUALLY GET OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING. I CAN'T IMAGINE THE TYPE OF PAIN THEY'RE GOING THROUGH AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DONT SEE THE TYPE OF PAIN."
The Utah detectives say they support The Doe Network because it's easier to use and often more effective than official databases. Nothing's worked, though in the case of Saltair Sally.
SGT. JERRY TOWNSEND: "WE'VE DONE DNA ON, I THINK, TWO DIFFERENT MISSING PERSONS FROM THE DOE NETWORK, AND THEY UNFORTUNATELY DIDN'T MATCH."
So far, the Doe Network has helped solve about 35 cases, a small drop in a big ocean. The nation has 105,00 missing persons, and almost 6,000 John and Jane Does. John Hollenhorst, Eyewitness News, Saltair.
If you want to browse the case files, or if you want to volunteer, you can reach The Doe Network through our website at KSL.COM.