She Turned to a Nurse for Help — Then Vanished for 20 Years

For two decades, she was known only as "Jane Doe." Her body was discovered in a Wisconsin cornfield in 1999, bruised, broken, and without identification. Investigators spent years chasing dead ends — until a shocking breakthrough revealed the person responsible was someone she had trusted with her life.

A Mystery That Stumped Investigators

In July 1999, a passerby found the battered body of a young woman in a Racine County cornfield. She had suffered prolonged abuse — burns, broken bones, and malnutrition. With no ID and no immediate leads, authorities classified her as "Jane Doe." The case haunted detectives, but despite their best efforts, her identity remained a mystery.

An autopsy later revealed the full extent of her suffering. She had fractures in different stages of healing, indicating long-term abuse. Burns covered a quarter of her body, and she ultimately died from an infection caused by septic pneumonia. These findings pointed to a horrific pattern of neglect and violence, leaving investigators desperate to uncover who she was and who had done this to her.

The Break That Changed Everything

For 20 years, Jane Doe's case remained cold — until 2019, when advancements in DNA testing finally gave her a name: 23-year-old Peggy Lynn Johnson-Schroeder. Investigators learned that before her death, she had been living with a nurse named Linda LaRoche and her family as a live-in nanny and housekeeper in their home in McHenry, Illinois.

That same year in 2019, authorities arrested Linda LaRoche, then 64, in Florida. Police were alerted after receiving a tip that LaRoche had openly admitted to killing someone during her time in Illinois. During questioning, she gave conflicting accounts of her relationship with Johnson-Schroeder, including inconsistent explanations of when and why the young woman had stopped living with her. These discrepancies, combined with new forensic evidence, pointed to LaRoche as the prime suspect — leading to her long-overdue reckoning.

Mug shot of 64-Year-Old Linda LaRoche. Photo courtesy of Racine County Sheriff's Office.

A Chilling Confession From LaRoche's Ex-Husband

One of the most incriminating revelations came from LaRoche's ex-husband, who provided chilling details about the night Johnson-Schroeder died. As reported by PEOPLE, he returned home one night to find her lifeless body on the floor. Instead of calling for help, he took their children out for ice cream while LaRoche disposed of the body. His account about the abuse Johnson-Schroeder endured painted a horrifying picture of the suffering she faced in LaRoches' home.

Johnson-Schroeder, who was cognitively impaired, had been left to fend for herself after her mother's death when she was 18. Desperate for help, she visited a medical clinic, where she met LaRoche, a registered nurse. Instead of offering care, LaRoche exploited Johnson-Schroeder's vulnerability, taking her into her home under the guise of helping her.

For the next five years, Johnson-Schroeder endured relentless abuse at the hand of LaRoche — beatings, burns, and even being forced to sleep in a crawl space. No one ever reported her missing, allowing LaRoche's horrific treatment to continue unchecked.

Justice — At Last

In 2022, Linda LaRoche was found guilty of first-degree homicide and hiding a corpse. The verdict brought some closure to those who had fought for Johnson-Schroeder's justice. After two decades as "Jane Doe," she finally had her name back and her killer held accountable.

A Final Resting Place Near Family

Johnson-Schroeder's remains were ultimately moved to a burial site closer to her family in northern Illinois. The relocation was made possible through generous local donations, and the Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home even provided a headstone at no cost.

Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling acknowledged the significance of the moment, stating to CBS 58, "It does feel like a peaceful end. I think the family has found some closure now that she's been identified and is in her final resting place never to be disturbed again."

In 2024, a judge denied LaRoche's appeal to overturn her conviction.

A Life Cut Short

Peggy Lynn Johnson-Schroeder was just 23 when she was murdered. She had turned to someone she believed would help her, only to face years of torment. While justice has been served, her story remains a chilling reminder of how easily the most vulnerable can be preyed upon.

References: She Was a 'Jane Doe' for 20 Years. Then Police Learned Someone She'd Trusted Did the Unthinkable | Woman found guilty in 1999 killing of Peggy Lynn Johnson, hiding her corpse | 'Peaceful end:' 1999 Jane Doe ID'd as Peggy Lynn Johnson reburied in Illinois next to family