The D.A. outlined the steps taken over the last three decades of investigation. He described it as a \u201ctrue team effort,\u201d but cautioned that since the investigation is ongoing, some information would not be shared to protect the integrity of the case. <\/p>\n
\u201cOn July 22, 1990, a woman\u2019s body was discovered in Monroe Township, Clarion County, by four local children,\u201d Welsh recapped. \u201cThree of those local children are here with us today.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wide_shot_of_penny_doe_location.jpg\")
The tunnel underneath the railroad trestleAngie Clinger<\/p>\n
In 2022, Dateline featured Penny Doe\u2019s case<\/a> in its Cold Case Spotlight<\/a> digital series. We spoke with Angie Clinger, one of the children who found Penny Doe\u2019s remains in a tunnel underneath a railroad trestle. \u201cWe freaked out,\u201d she told Dateline in 2022. \u201cI don\u2019t think I ever ran so quick in my life.\u201d The children reported their finding to the authorities, and the investigation began. <\/p>\n The autopsy determined the unknown woman died as a result of \u201cblunt trauma to the right side of her head,\u201d Welsh said. \u201cFrom that point forward, the death has been considered a homicide, and has remained open.\u201d <\/p>\n For the past 36 years, investigators have worked with two goals in mind. \u201cThe first was to identify who Penny Doe was, and the second was to prove what had happened to her and bring those responsible to justice.\u201d<\/p>\n Authorities have used various methods to try to identify her: fingerprint identification, checking her DNA against known missing persons, and testing her remains by analyzing her bones and teeth. \u201cThe Pennsylvania State Police have investigated and ruled out over 100 individuals of being Penny Doe,\u201d Welsh stated. <\/p>\n \u201cThere have been recreations made of her face, and artists renderings of what she might have looked like.\u201d A clay representation, illustrations, and computer-generated images have also been made. And while those brought in leads and tips that were followed up on, they ultimately did not bring investigators any closer to finding her identity. <\/p>\n Welsh said that from 1990 through 2020, when he began reviewing the case files, \u201cthere had been constant work done\u201d by the Pennsylvania State Police. \u201cAfter seeing all the hard work that came before me, I wanted to make sure that we got the case moving forward,\u201d he said. They again looked into testing the DNA as technology continued to evolve. In 2023, police identified a funding source via a federal grant called the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant.<\/p>\n In March 2024, they partnered with Othram Labs for a DNA extraction. A family tree was developed, and a potential sister identified. Police contacted the woman, who submitted her DNA, and the DNA came back as a match. <\/p>\n \u201cLadies and gentlemen, Penny Doe has a name,\u201d Welsh announced on Monday. \u201cPenny Doe is Windy Buchanan.\u201d <\/p>\n She was born in October 1970 in Kentucky. Windy and her siblings did not have an easy upbringing, Welsh shared at the press conference. \u201cThe last time her family saw Windy, was that she and her family and two brothers pulled off on a random off ramp looking for a place to rest and eat,\u201d he said. \u201cWindy\u2019s last words to her family were, \u2018Bye, Dad, I\u2019m leaving.\u2019\u201d They never saw her again. Welsh would not share any additional information about where exactly that highway off ramp was located. It is unclear where the off ramp was in relation to the tunnel where the remains were found.<\/p>\n Welsh said Windy\u2019s family had searched for her over the years but were unsuccessful. Her younger sister, Tania Buchanan Boyd, spoke at the press conference, and shared more about who Windy was as a person. \u201cMy sister was fierce and she was kind, and she was loving,\u201d she said. \u201cShe was the first born of five, and she would often watch over us.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cShe was basically always there for me,\u201d Tania said. \u201cShe was creative and artistic. She loved horses and animals. She was convinced that horseshoes brought good luck.\u201d<\/p>\n They weren\u2019t the only things Windy believed brought good luck. <\/p>\n \u201cShe always thought that finding a penny heads up brought you good luck,\u201d Tania said. \u201cFind a penny, pick it up. And all the day, you have good luck.\u201d<\/p>\n Tania also thanked the investigators who worked the case for more than three decades. \u201cOur family deeply, deeply appreciates each and every one of you for staying with the case,\u201d she said. \u201cFor many years we did search for Windy. We prayed that she would somehow be found, or that she might return to us one day.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cOne of our deepest and longest held prayers has finally been answered,\u201d Tania said. \u201cBut it\u2019s not over. We know where she was at, but we don\u2019t know what happened to her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s important that our first goal has been accomplished,\u201d D.A. Welsh stated. \u201cMy sincerest hope today is that this will start a new beginning to this investigation, where we will be able to answer that second question — that second goal — to find out who did this and bring them to justice.\u201d <\/p>\n Welsh urges anyone who knows anything about what happened to Windy Buchanan to please come forward. \u201cIt was easy for you to stay silent when it was an anonymous Penny Doe. Those days are done,\u201d he said. \u201cNow, you must speak.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s never too late to come forward,\u201d sister Tania said. \u201cWindy deserves the truth, and our family deserves all of the answers.\u201d <\/p>\n If you have any information that could help the investigation please contact the Pennsylvania State Police at 814-226-1710. <\/p>\n![\"Facial](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pennydoe-facial_rendering_1.png\")
Facial rendering of Penny DoeNational Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)<\/p>\n![\"Clay](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/penny-doe-clayreconstruction-1x1-4proxy-971349.gif\")
Clay Reconstruction of Penny DoeNational Center of Missing and Exploited Children<\/p>\n![\"Windy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Windy-Buchanan-1-f954de.jpg\")
Windy BuchananClarion County District Attorney’s Office via Tania Buchanan Boyd<\/p>\n![\"Windy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Windy-Buchanan-3-9b8360.jpg\")
Windy BuchananClarion County District Attorney’s Office via Tania Buchanan Boyd<\/p>\n