Jane Doe for 28 Years: Who Killed Wilma June Nissen? Case Breakdown

In October 1978, a utility worker made a horrifying discovery along a rural roadside in Lyon County, Iowa. The badly decomposed body of a young woman had been left face down in a ditch. Her injuries were so severe that investigators couldn't identify her through dental records, and for nearly three decades she remained known only as the **Lyon County Jane Doe**. Then, in 2006, a fingerprint match finally gave her back her name: **Wilma June Nissen**, a 23-year-old woman from California. But while one mystery had finally been solved, another remained. Who killed Wilma? How did she end up hundreds of miles from home? And why has no one ever been charged in her murder? In this episode of **True Crime Unsolved**, Sean Cahill and Myles Reiff examine the known timeline of Wilma's final months, the decades-long Jane Doe investigation, the eventual identification through fingerprint evidence, and the investigative theories that continue to surround this unsolved homicide. We also explore the extraordinary story of Wilma's daughter, Krissi, who spent years searching for the mother she never knew—only to discover she had been the victim of an unsolved murder all along. This is the first chapter in Wilma's story. Next week, we'll sit down with Krissi herself to discuss her lifelong search for answers and her ongoing fight for justice. --- ## CASE TIMELINE 00:00 Introduction 00:30 Discovery of the Lyon County Jane Doe 02:50 The Initial Investigation 07:10 Decades Without a Name 08:05 The 2006 Identification 12:20 Krissi's Search for Her Mother 14:05 Wilma June's Early Life 21:40 Wilma's Final Months 35:20 Where the Investigation Stands Today --- 🎙️ **LISTEN TO TRUE CRIME UNSOLVED** **Apple Podcasts** [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-unsolved/id1848906709](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-unsolved/id1848906709) **Spotify** [https://open.spotify.com/show/6MhlBrpvNnRJZ73TCWnnqO](https://open.spotify.com/show/6MhlBrpvNnRJZ73TCWnnqO) **Amazon Music** [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/4ba9885c-dd47-480e-8037-6d77f415c101/true-crime-unsolved](https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/4ba9885c-dd47-480e-8037-6d77f415c101/true-crime-unsolved) **Pocket Casts** [https://pca.st/za1ydvhj](https://pca.st/za1ydvhj) --- 🔎 **SUPPORT TRUE CRIME UNSOLVED** Become a **True Crime Unsolved Investigator** to receive: • Exclusive members-only content • Early access to select episodes • Behind-the-scenes updates • Bonus interviews and livestreams Your support helps us continue producing in-depth investigations into missing persons, suspicious deaths, cold cases, and unsolved murders. 👍 If you enjoy our work, please **Like**, **Subscribe**, and **Turn On Notifications** to help us continue bringing attention to families still searching for answers. --- ⚖️ **DISCLAIMER** This episode is based on publicly available records, including law enforcement records, historical reporting, and other verified sources. This video contains discussion of investigative theories and disputed interpretations of evidence presented for informational and discussion purposes only. No individual discussed in this episode has been charged with a crime in connection with Wilma June Nissen's death unless explicitly stated. All persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. --- ## ABOUT TRUE CRIME UNSOLVED True Crime Unsolved investigates unsolved murders, suspicious deaths, missing persons, and cold cases through interviews, document analysis, and in-depth case breakdowns. Our mission is to bring renewed attention to forgotten cases and help families continue the search for truth and justice. --- #TrueCrime #WilmaJuneNissen #LyonCountyJaneDoe #JaneDoe #ColdCase #UnsolvedMurder #Krissi #TrueCrimeCommunity #CrimeDocumentary #Investigation #Missin Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.