A body discovered in Monroe County 27 years ago has been identified as Ruth Sharon Hoffman of River Rouge.
Fox 2: The body found in December 1986 in Exeter Township, about 35 miles southwest of Detroit, previously was listed as unidentified.
The department says current DNA technology was used to make the identification.
Hoffman had been missing since June 30, 1986 and the story of her disappearance is strange to say the least. According the GINA for Missing Person's Foundation's database, Hoffman returned to the apartment she and her grown daughter shared bruised and wearing hospital scrubs after having been out all night following a job interview at the Poorhouse Saloon. A rape kit was taken at the hospital.
After bathing and changing clothes, Hoffman went for a walk and never returned home. A few days later, July 3, she reportedly visited a medical clinic for a diphtheria/tetanus immunization. Someone using an identification similar to hers (same DOB, address, similar name) in Pennsylvania was given a traffic ticket in 1993.
According to a webpage posted by her daughter Debbie Hall Smeaton in 2006, Hoffman suffered from schizophrenia. She also questioned the River Rogue's handling of the case.
Realcrimes.com: In October 2004, my husband and I went down to the police department and asked to see Mom’s file. When the officer came back from looking for it, he said to his partner, “That’s strange, I found only the jacket. The case file is missing.” He, then, told me, “I think your Mom came in here and removed the report,” as if people could walk in off the street, get into the police files, and remove whatever they wanted. He went on to say, “Look, lady, just accept the fact that your mother doesn’t want anything to do with you.”
In 2005, Smeaton filed a new missing persons report with Wayne County Sheriff's Department.
