The mystery of a Connecticut woman's death in Tennessee remains unsolved two decades after her body was discovered

LA VERGNE, Tenn. Two decades have passed since the decomposed body of Mary Alice Maloney, a former Connecticut resident, was discovered in Tennessee, yet the investigation into her death remains active.

"This is considered a homicide," stated Detective Steve Crotts regarding Maloneys death. "We are trying to locate anyone who might have known her. She didnt have much presence here, and we havent uncovered any significant connections in Connecticut, but she may have maintained contact with someone there."

Her body was found on November 14, 2007, when Officer Rob Hayes was searching a wooded area off Hollingdale Road for a different missing person. Hayes discovered Maloney, a Hartford native who had been residing in the Nashville region, according to Crotts. She had been shot in the head, was found unclothed, and was wearing some jewelry.

Authorities estimate she had been deceased for at least six months before being found. Maloney was 40 years old at the time of her death. Crotts, assigned to the case in 2021, noted that the duration of her residence in Connecticut remains unclear. Despite years of following leads, investigators are hoping new information will come forward.

"The hope is that someone knows something," Crotts said. He has explored potential links to serial killings nationwide, but none matched the circumstances of her death. "Serial killers rarely use firearms, and the other cases we examined didnt fit."

The recent confirmation of her identity has renewed hopes for tips. The La Vergne Police Department collaborated with the DNA Doe Project, whose volunteer genetic genealogists assist law enforcement in identifying unknown remains.

Despite significant DNA degradation, a profile was created and uploaded to GEDmatch Pro and FamilyTreeDNA.com. Early matches were distant relatives, but investigators traced her ancestry to Puerto Rico and African-American heritage. The challenge was using this information to identify her conclusively.

A breakthrough occurred in April 2021 when a new GEDmatch DNA match led investigators to a distant cousin, revealing a family connection to Maloneys father. This confirmed that the Jane Doe discovered in 2007 was indeed Mary Alice Maloney.

The critical questions remain: how did she end up in the wooded area, and who is responsible for her death. Detective Crotts emphasized, "Theres still hope that someone knows something." Anyone with information is urged to contact La Vergne detectives at 615-287-8747.

Author: Connor Blake