The Woman With The Irish Ring: Jane Doe No. 49

HOLLYWOOD, CA — For 20 years now, she’s been known as simply Jane Doe No. 49. She was a young woman killed in a fiery wreck on the Hollywood (101) Freeway in the Hollywood area 20 years ago. Her body was incinerated, leaving almost nothing to identify her. But investigators have never given up hope that they could to uncover her identity. All they have to go on are her two pieces of jewelry.

The woman, estimated to be between 18 and 35 years of age, wore a necklace with a glass pendant shaped like a chocolate kiss and a traditional Irish Claddagh ring: a gold band with two hands holding a heart topped with a crown. The ring represents love, loyalty, and friendship. And to investigators with the coroner's office, it represents hope. Officials released images of the jewelry on the 20th anniversary of Jane Doe’s crash in hopes that someone would finally help identify her.

According to tradition, If Jane Doe No. 49 had been wearing the ring’s heart pointed inward, it would mean she had found love, that there is someone who will mourn her after all these years.

The crash occurred on the southbound freeway at Western Avenue at about 11 p.m. on Nov. 17, 1999, said Sarah Ardalani of the coroner's office.

Jane Doe was driving a maroon 1985 Mitsubishi Galant that became disabled in the number three lane and was rear-ended by another vehicle, Ardalani said.

"Due to the extent of a fire that was caused by the collision, the woman's body was unrecognizable," Ardalani said. "When authorities attempted to identify the woman through the car license plate, they discovered the person it was registered to had sold the car a few months prior. Additionally, the car seller no longer had information on who they sold the vehicle to. Moreover, the buyer of the vehicle never updated their information with the Department of Motor Vehicles."

Jane Doe is believed to have been between 5 feet and 5 feet 6 inches tall, and weighed about 145 pounds. Her race, hair and eye color are unknown.

Authorities urged anyone with information on the woman's identity to call 323-343-0754. Callers should reference coroner's case number 1999-07845.

City News Service contributed to this report.