‘Baby Jane Doe’ identified; Mother, boyfriend charged in death of 5-year-old found in 1988 in Ware County

Nearly 35 years after a 5-year-old’s remains were found dumped in a rural area of Ware County, “Baby Jane Doe” has a name and her mother and live-in boyfriend have been arrested. Police say Kenyatta Odom died at the hands of her mother and her boyfriend sometime in 1988. Her remains were found later that year on Dec. 21 after road workers discovered a container inside an old television cabinet just off Duncan Bridge Road that contained her young body.

Authorities say Kenyatta’s mother, Evelyn Odom, aka Zmecca Luciana, and her live-in boyfriend in 1988, Ulyster Sanders, have been indicted on charges of felony murder, first-degree child cruelty, aggravated battery-family violence, conspiracy to conceal a death, and concealing a death. It is unclear how long authorities were investigating Odom and Sanders, but a grand jury indictment from September was filed on November 1. 

The indictment indicates that Kenyatta lived in a home with Odom and Sanders in Albany, Georgia, and that’s where she died. In Georgia, the charges the two face, child cruelty and aggravated battery, typically have a four-year statute of limitations. Concealing a death and conspiracy to conceal a death have a two-year statute of limitations. However, the application is different in this case. Per Georgia Code, those statutes were “tolled” or stopped running because the person who committed the crimes was unknown.

Investigators said in the indictment that Odom and Sanders submerged Kenyatta in hot water, seriously disfiguring her legs and feet, which caused her death. They then conspired to cover up her death by encasing her body in cement and putting her in the large television console that was dumped in the woods in Ware County, about two hours east of Albany. 

Investigators spent decades trying to solve the case and identify the child. Last year, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge – Jason Seacrist – announced that a $5,000 reward was offered for information leading to the child’s identity. 

When her body was found, authorities said it was clear that whoever placed the girl there went to great lengths to keep her hidden. The road itself, at the time, was used as an illegal dump site. Said Seacrist, “She was definitely placed in this area hoping not to be found. We know that from the container she was in.”