Jane Lasswell Hoff was born in Hollywood, California, and lived most of her childhood in southern California. She attended the University of Hawaii (Manoa) and the University of Oregon. She is an author, a professional forensic anthropologist, and a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. As a forensic anthropologist, she has worked for tribal groups, the U.S. government and in the states of Alabama, Florida, Hawaii, Mississippi, Washington, and Utah. She was married to Charles J. Hoff but is now widowed and lives and works in Hilo, Hawaii.