DNA Discovery Cracks Case Of Pregnant Woman Found Dead 33 Years Ago, Suspect Also Identified

A massive development has finally cracked a cold case that's remained unsolved for more than 30 years, revealing not only who the victim was but also possibly who ended her life.

Back in 1992, the body of a young pregnant woman was discovered in a ditch about 15 miles north of Sheridan, Wyoming. She had died from what appeared to be both blunt force trauma and strangulation.

For years, she was only known to investigators and the public as 'I-90 Jane Doe'. Her body had been found near Interstate 90, wearing only a blouse and jeans. Interestingly, her shoes and socks were nowhere to be found at the scene.

The autopsy revealed signs of head trauma, indicating she had been struck. Medical examiners also confirmed that she was about two-and-a-half months pregnant when she died. According to Cowboy State Daily, it was also determined that she had given birth in the past.

But beyond those facts, almost everything else about her remained a mystery for decades—until now.

Thanks to new advancements in DNA testing, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) was able to make a direct match between DNA from her remains and that of her biological mother. As a result, police were able to confirm the victim’s identity as 21-year-old Cindi Arleen Estrada.

Cindi Arleen Estrada's identity and killer remained unknown for decades Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation

Investigators now believe that Cindi Estrada was born in Torrance, California, and at some point in her life, she may have lived in Long Beach, according to The Daily Mail.

Even more significant than identifying her, authorities believe they may also have identified the man responsible for her death.

When they examined her body, investigators found a paper towel placed in her crotch area. Testing by the Wyoming State Crime Lab later confirmed the presence of semen on it.

A DNA sample very similar to this one had already been found during an earlier investigation into another murder case involving a woman dubbed 'Bitter Creek Betty'. Her real name was later discovered to be Irene Vasquez. Her nude body had been found frozen just off I-80 near Rock Springs on March 1, 1992.

Like Estrada, Vasquez had also been strangled. Her identity was finally confirmed in 2022 using genetic genealogy and DNA tracing through family trees.

According to the DCI, these developments have now conclusively (linked) the two Wyoming homicides to the same DNA contributor.

"Subsequent investigations, including the use of publicly accessible DNA databases and investigative genetic genealogy, provided leads that ultimately identified Clark Perry Baldwin as the unknown DNA contributor." the DCI continued.

That suspect is Clark Perry Baldwin, a former long-haul truck driver. He is already in prison in Tennessee after being convicted for the 1991 murder of Pamela McCall. He was sentenced in 2020.

Clark Perry Baldwin is accused of murdering her Black Hawk County Sherriff's office

Authorities arrested Baldwin on May 6 in Iowa. FBI agents had managed to collect his DNA from a discarded shopping cart and trash from his home, which turned out to be the breakthrough they needed.

Now, there’s a possibility he might be extradited to Wyoming to face charges in the killings of both Estrada and Irene Vasquez, according to Cowboy State Daily.

It’s worth noting that in 1991—around the same time Pamela McCall was murdered—Baldwin had also been accused of kidnapping and raping a woman named Mary Ann Newton. She later testified against him during his Tennessee court proceedings.

Although Baldwin faced serious allegations in that rape case, he was never convicted. The charges were eventually dropped due to a failure to prosecute.