Yakima County, WA – A 1988 cold case has finally been solved after nearly four decades. Authorities announced that the remains once known as “Parker Doe” have been identified as 31-year-old Rosa Elia Vargas Jimenez (also known as Rosa Everts) of Toppenish, Washington.
According to the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office, Jimenez was reported missing in August 1987. Her remains were discovered in February 1988 near Parker Bridge Road and Sunnyside Dam by a horseback rider. Despite years of investigation, her identity remained unknown—until recent advances in DNA technology provided a breakthrough.
Investigators from the Toppenish Police Department, the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Cold Case Unit, and several forensic labs collaborated to match DNA samples from Jimenez’s family to the unidentified remains. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety confirmed the match in October 2025.
“This case shows the power of persistence and partnership,” officials said in a statement, crediting extensive cooperation among state and local agencies, including the Washington State Attorney General’s Office and University of North Texas Center for Human Identification.
Family members of Rosa Elia Vargas Jimenez expressed relief at finally having closure after 38 years. Authorities are now working to return her remains home.
Anyone with additional information about the case is urged to contact Cold Case Investigator J. Mark Keller at (509) 833-2240.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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