OAKLAND PARK, Fla. – Detectives in South Florida have made progress in solving a cold case from 1998. A woman’s body was found by a boater in a grassy area off U.S. 27 in Southwest Broward County, and detectives believe she was brutally murdered and raped. The victim was only known as Jane Doe for over 20 years, as investigators had limited evidence to work with, including only the victim’s colorful clothing and a sketch.
Detective Zack Scott of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office cold case unit was determined to not only identify the victim, but also to find her killer. With advances in DNA technology, detectives were eventually able to positively identify Jane Doe as Eileen Truppner, thanks to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s genetic genealogy unit, which tracked down the DNA to three sisters and confirmed her identity through interviews.
Eileen Truppner’s sister, Nancy Truppner, shared that Eileen was dealing with postpartum depression after the birth of her second child in Puerto Rico. Eileen eventually lost custody of her children as her depression worsened, and the last time Nancy heard from her sister was in August 1998. Eileen had declined her sister’s offer to live with her, believing she could regain custody of her children.
Using DNA evidence found at the crime scene in 1998, investigators linked Eileen Truppner’s DNA to Lucious Boyd, a suspected serial killer who was already on death row for another murder. Boyd is now facing additional charges for Eileen Truppner’s murder, as a grand jury indicted him in November 2023. Sheriff Gregory Tony stated that the indictment was possible due to the collaborative efforts of detectives, crime lab analysts, and crime scene investigators, providing Eileen’s family with some closure and the promise of justice.
As the investigation continues, BSO urges anyone who may have been in contact with Boyd in the mid to late ’90s to come forward with any information. This case serves as an important reminder that justice has no expiration date.