Woman killed and dumped in Lake Pontchartrain in 1986 is finally identified

COVINGTON, La. — It took 38 years, but Louisiana authorities have finally identified a woman whose body was found floating in Lake Pontchartrain.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office said the murder victim’s body was found June 19, 1986, near the Interstate 10 Twin Span bridges near Slidell. For years she was known only as “Lake Lady Jane Doe.”

The woman has now been identified as Pamela Lee Hupp, also known as Deborah Gail Justice, the sheriff’s office said in a news release Tuesday. Born in April 1958, Hupp was pregnant at the time of her death and her last known residence was in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, authorities said.

The circumstances surrounding her death are still under investigation. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at (985) 898-2341.

“I would like to thank the many investigators who worked on this case over the years and used available resources and technology to identify and name the victim,” said Sheriff Randy Smith. “Our detectives will not stop working until they identify and arrest the person(s) responsible for Ms. Hupp’s death.”

The case started when a fisherman saw Hupp’s body in the lake. Her body was turned over to the parish coroner’s office, which ruled the death a homicide. Despite multiple attempts over the years, including DNA analysis and appearances on “America’s Most Wanted,” Hupp’s identity remained unknown.

In September 2022, a grant from NamUs (National Missing and Unidentified Persons System) enabled further DNA analysis and genealogical research. By April 2023, investigators had identified potential relatives of the victim and were able to confirm Hupp’s identity.