The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) is reaching out to the public for assistance in solving a mystery that has vexed the authorities: the identity of a woman found dead in San Francisco last May. On Sunday, May 18, the woman, identified as a white female, was discovered unresponsive behind a planter box at 1301 Franklin Street, as per the City and County of San Francisco.
Described as approximately 50 years old with red hair and green eyes, miscast by tragedy, she was pronounced dead after emergency services arrived at the scene. At a diminutive 5 feet 4 inches tall and just 107 pounds, the OCME notes that she has multiple tattoos, including a large, distinctive one on her back displaying a sequence of stacked, curving shapes reminiscent of ribs.
In the vast majority of cases, the OCME can positively identify decedents quickly through fingerprints, government ID, or DNA. But in this rare occurrence, their usual methods have been stumped. To aid in the effort, a sketch artist with the San Francisco Police Department has contributed a rendering of the decedent, hoping it might trigger recognition and lead to a successful identification.
With the cause and manner of death still under investigation and the details pending, the community's help has been solicited at the crux of an unsolved case. According to the City and County of San Francisco, the OCME urges anyone with information to contact them. They have provided contact details including phone numbers (415) 641-2220 for the OCME Investigative Division and emails [email protected] or [email protected], referring to OCME Case Number: 2025-0699.
