Walker County Jane Doe

Walker County Jane Doe
Digital image created from study of morgue photographs to depict an estimation of the victim in life
Most recent forensic facial reconstruction of the victim by the NCMEC
Born 1960 - 1966 (approximate)
Status Unidentified for 37 years, 11 months and 23 days
Died November 1, 1980 (aged 14 - 20)
Cause of death Homicide by ligature strangulation
Body discovered November 1, 1980 Huntsville, Texas, United States 30°46′12″N 95°38′24″W / 30.770025°N 95.6401154°W / 30.770025; -95.6401154Coordinates: 30°46′12″N 95°38′24″W / 30.770025°N 95.6401154°W / 30.770025; -95.6401154
Resting place Oakwood Cemetery, Huntsville, Walker County, Texas
Known for Unidentified victim of homicide
Height Between 5 ft 0 in (1.52 m)
and 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Weight Between 105 lb (48 kg)
and 120 lb (54 kg)
Website Walker County Jane Doe on Facebook

Walker County Jane Doe is the name given to an unidentified murder victim whose body was discovered on November 1, 1980, in Huntsville, Texas. Despite initial efforts to discover both her identity and that of her murderer(s), the investigation into the decedent's murder waned, and her rape[1] and murder gradually became a cold case. She was buried in a donated casket in Oakwood Cemetery; the same town in which her body was found.[2]

Despite ongoing efforts to determine the identity of the victim, including numerous forensic facial reconstructions of the decedent,[3][4][5] she remains an unidentified murder victim.[6]

Sightings

Multiple people, all of whom are now deceased, reported seeing a teenage girl, matching the victim's description. These include the manager of the South End Gulf station and two employees at the Hitch 'n' Post truck stop, who described her as wearing jeans, a dirty yellow pullover, and a white knit sweater that had noticeably large pockets that went past her waist, carrying red sandals.[3][7]

The victim arrived at the South End Gulf station at about 6:30 PM on October 31, where she exited a blue 1973 or 1974 Chevrolet Caprice with a lighter-colored top.[8][9] After getting directions, the girl left on foot.[2] The witness said the victim asked for directions to the Ellis Prison Farm, which is located about 14 miles (23 km) from where her body was later found.[2][10][11]

Along interstate 45, the girl was seen at the Hitch 'n' Post truck stop. After arriving, she requested directions to the prison, claiming a "friend" was there and the witness drew a map to the location.[9] The waitress said that she suspected the girl was a possible runaway, and that she said she was from Rockport or Aransas Pass, Texas. The victim claimed to be 19 years old; when the waitress expressed doubts and asked if the victim's parents knew where she was, the girl replied, "Who cares?"[11][12][13]

Discovery

Additional facial reconstruction of Walker County Jane Doe

The body of a girl, estimated to be between the ages of 14 and 20, was found lying face-down and nude by a passing driver on November 1, 1980, in Huntsville, Walker County, Texas on Interstate Highway 45.[4][14][15] The motorist, who was a truck driver, called police at 9:20 AM at the location, where officers later arrived.[3]

The victim had been dead for approximately six hours, thus placing her time of death at approximately 3 a.m.; the cause of death was ligature strangulation inflicted via a pantyhose, fragments of which—along with the decedent's underwear—were found inside the victim's vaginal cavity.[9] The pantyhose and underwear were likely placed inside this body orifice in an attempt to prevent the body from bleeding while being transported to the site of her discovery,[9] as, following her rape, the girl had been sexually assaulted with a large blunt instrument both vaginally and anally prior to her death.[3][5][8][9] It is unknown if the girl had been conventionally raped, as no biological evidence attesting to this form of assault was discovered either at the scene, or by the coroner.[2] Furthermore, the girl had also been the recipient of a severe beating prior to her death, with this beating being extreme, as many bruises were noted across her body, with her lips and right eyelid in particular being extensively swollen. In addition, her body bore a deep, visible bite mark on her right shoulder.[9]

She was between five feet and five feet five inches in height, weighed between about 105 and 115 pounds, and was described by the coroner as being a "well-nourished" individual.[2] Her hair was about ten inches long and light brown, with what was described as a reddish tint; her eyes were described as hazel.[4][15] Distinctive features that may aid in her identification were a scar above her right eyebrow and the fact that her right nipple was inverted.[2][5] No other features, such as birthmarks, were stated to be significant "markers" for identification.[9][16]

She appeared to have been from a middle-class household, because her teeth had been well cared for, with evidence of dental work.[9][17] Her ears were pierced, but contained no earrings when her body was found;[3] her fingernails were bare and her toenails were painted pink.[2]

High-heeled red leather sandals with light brown straps, which the girl seen alive was carrying, were recovered from the scene, but the rest of her clothing was missing.[2] A rectangular brown pendant containing a smoky blue or brown glass stone on a thin gold chain necklace was found around her neck.[10][15] The employees from both locations at which the girl was seen identified the body as the subject asking them for directions.[5]

Investigation

Inmates, along with staff members, at the Ellis Prison Farm were shown photos of the victim, but none could identify her.[2][3] At the time, no missing person reports could be matched to the victim as well.[5] Police later searched through schools for possible identities of the girl but were unsuccessful in finding a suitable match.[10] It is believed that the victim was from the region the subject seen alive had stated, which was the southeast part of the state, despite that nobody in the towns of Aransas Pass or Rockport identified the body.[3] On January 16, 1981, the body was buried at Oakwood Cemetery, located in the town she was found, under a donated tombstone.[2]

There is a possibility that she may have been killed by the same person as another unidentified murder victim, known as "Orange Socks", who was murdered exactly a year before Walker County Jane Doe and whose body was found in Georgetown, Texas. Serial killer Henry Lee Lucas has also been named as a possible suspect in this case.[2][8] However, the bite marks on the girl's shoulder could not be matched to Lucas' dental charts. No prime suspects have been named, although police have considered the possibility that the victim was killed by a serial killer.[4][7] In 2017, it was suggested that this victim, along with three other females murdered in 1980 could have been killed by the same person who disposed of bodies along Interstate 45. Only one victim has been identified out of the four and all had been strangled. All were described as "high risk" victims.[18] One female was located on October 15 in Houston, aged 20-30 was a Black female with possible Asian heritage. She had died months prior.[19] The second female was also Black and found under a bridge in Houston. She was 16-26 years old.[20]

Some have theorized that the girl may have actually been murdered by a female. Journalist Michael Hargraves suggested such a theory, due to the fact that no semen was found and that the sexual assault was performed by forcing an object into the victim's body. He elaborated to say that most men who commit sexual-related crimes are known to bite the victims on sensitive areas instead of on the back, in this case. The common act of male murderers collecting souvenirs was also noted to be inconsistent with the case, as the necklace the girl had worn was still present on the body.[9] However, the fact that most of her clothing was missing disproves this portion of the theory.[2]

An array of unidentified young females murdered between 1979 and 1981 whose facial features have been forensically reconstructed. Walker County Jane Doe is depicted second to the right

Many different forensic facial reconstructions were created to illustrate estimations of how the girl may have looked in life. In recent years, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has released two images, one in 2012 and another after the thirty-fifth anniversary of her death, by studying morgue photographs taken of the victim.[4] Artist Karen T. Taylor created a sketch of the victim in 1990, incorporating an estimation of the girl's necklace and an investigator at the Walker County Sheriff's office also created a rendering.[21] Taylor included the case in her book Forensic Art and Illustration, and wrote about having difficulties with creating her sketch, as the only frontal photograph made available to her at the time was of one taken after the victim had been treated at a funeral home, which had made adjustments to the face in order for it to be suitable to be viewed in an open-casket funeral. She also explained that a scaled photograph of the girl's necklace was not available, and she was forced to guess at its size for her rendering.[22]

The remains of Walker County Jane Doe were exhumed in 1999, in order to obtain more information of the victim's height and age, as well as a DNA sample.[2][23] Further into the investigation, DNA testing, with undisclosed results, was performed on the sandals found with the body. Local police departments have also monitored other missing person reports for potential matches.[4] Investigators have also reached out to the public through various news and television reports in hopes to generate leads, all of which, to date, have been unsuccessful in solving the case.[5] In November 2015, the case was officially reopened by the sheriff's office.[7]

2015 developments

On December 12, 2015, a photograph taken in 1980 surfaced of a 14-year-old white female, 5'4" in height, a possible runaway named "Cathleen" or "Kathleen" from Corpus Cristi, Texas. The photograph of Cathleen came from a collection of a brother and sister who were 12 and 10 at the time and who met her in a motel in Beeville, Texas in summer 1980. They recall she had lived with a couple, and wished to meet a friend from Sugarland Prison in the summer of 1980. They genuinely believe that "Cathleen" or "Kathleen" could be the victim and there is now a photo of her, with appeals to the public to help provide her full name. The Facebook page, "Who Was Walker County Jane Doe?," has the photo, details, and is asking the public for her full name, appealing primarily to anyone who attended elementary or middle school in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1960s and 1970s who recognize the name and photo. "Cathleen"/"Kathleen" most likely was born in 1966.[24]

Exclusions

According to information compiled by the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, the following individuals have been positively excluded as being the Walker County Jane Doe.

NameBirth dateMissing DateAge at time of murder of Walker County Jane DoeLocationCircumstances
Joyce BrewerJanuary 24, 1955September 6, 197025Grand Prairie, TexasLeft home after arguing with her parents. It is believed she had run away from home with a boyfriend.[25]
Mary "Rachel" Trlica (Arnold)November 15, 1957December 23, 197422Fort Worth, TexasApparently abducted with two friends while Christmas shopping. Within days of her disappearance, a letter was mailed to her husband that stated that she and her companions were traveling to Houston, Texas. The letter was written by a right-handed person, where Trlica was left-handed.[26]
Wendy EatonMay 26, 1959May 17, 197521Media, PennsylvaniaA teenager who disappeared while walking into town to purchase a gift for her brother.
Maria "Mia" AnjirasAugust 10, 1961February 12, 197619Norwalk, ConnecticutA girl who ran away from her home in 1976.
Cindy KingJuly 27, 1961July 19, 197719Grants Pass, OregonA girl who went missing in 1977. She had worn a retainer when she went missing and had a scar near one of her temples, like the Jane Doe.[27][28]
Tina KempOctober 20, 1964February 3, 197916Felton, DelawareA teenager who is believed to have been murdered.[29]
Kimberly Rae DossSeptember 11, 1962May 29, 197918Jacksonville, FloridaVanished while visiting a relative. She had similar physical characteristics as the Jane Doe.
Angela "Angie" MeekerJuly 9, 1965July 7, 197915Tacoma, WashingtonVanished two days before her 14th birthday. She was last seen at a party. Her physical appearance is very similar to the Jane Doe.[30]
Karen ZendroskySeptember 2, 1963October 23, 197917Bordentown Township, New JerseyA teenager who disappeared from a now defunct bowling alley. Foul play is strongly suspected in her case.
Deborah "Debbie" McCallMarch 30, 1963November 5, 197917Downers Grove, IllinoisLast seen departing from school. She wore a gold necklace, like the victim and had very similar physical characteristics.[31]
Marie BleeApril 16, 1964November 21, 197916Craig, ColoradoLast seen at a party with a male friend. Foul play is suspected in her case.
Kristy BoothDecember 26, 1960February 2, 198019Midland, TexasA nineteen-year-old waitress who was presumably abducted while she was driving to get vehicle repairs.[32]
Rachael GardenDecember 30, 1964March 22, 198015Newton, New HampshireAbducted while walking to a friend's house. She was last seen talking to three male acquaintances in a dark-colored car.
Laureen RahnApril 3, 1966April 26, 198014Manchester, New HampshireBelieved to have been abducted after leaving her home on the night of her disappearance. She did not take her purse, shoes or additional clothing, indicating she did not intend to travel far.[33]
Roxane Easlandc. 1956June 28, 198023 - 24Anchorage, AlaskaA prostitute who vanished after she was supposed to meet up with an unidentified male. She is believed to have been killed by serial killer Robert Hansen.
Carla CorleyDecember 31, 1965August 12, 198014Birmingham, AlabamaA teenager believed to have been abducted from her home, as evidence of a struggle was present at the scene. Corley is believed to have been murdered.[34]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Walker County Detectives Say They Won't Give Up On 37-year-old Murder Mystery". KBTX-TV. March 4, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Case File: 91UFTX". The Doe Network. 10 May 2000. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Sabawi, Fares (3 November 2015). "East Texas sheriff hoping to identify dead woman". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bellow, Nicole (4 November 2015). "Detectives Hope New Composite of Murder Victim, will help Solve 35 Year Cold Case". KBTX News. ABC. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "DETECTIVES TRY TO IDENTIFY UNKNOWN GIRL FOUND DEAD 35 YEARS AGO". ABC 13 Eyewitness News. Chicago, Illinois. ABC. 3 November 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Walker County Detectives Say They Won't Give Up On 37-year-old Murder Mystery". KBTX-TV. March 4, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 Stark, Cody (6 November 2015). "Sheriff's Office reopens 1980 murder investigation". The Item. Huntsville, Texas. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 "Walker Texas Jane Doe November 1980". canyouidentifyme.org. 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Hargraves, Michael L. (2002). "Whose Child is This?".
  10. 1 2 3 Dier, Arden (4 November 2015). "Texas Sheriff Trying to ID Girl Strangled 35 Years Ago". Newser. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  11. 1 2 "Walker County seeks assistance in finding identity of local Jane Doe". 28 August 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  12. ↑ "Texas DPS Unidentified Person Bulletin". 30 November 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  13. ↑ "Police Seek Identity of 1980 Jane Doe Homicide Victim". Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  14. ↑ Blaser, Aaron (3 November 2015). "35-year-old murder case has possible ties to Rockport and Aransas Pass". KZTV10. CBS. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  15. 1 2 3 "UNIDENTIFIED DECEDENT NOTICE" (PDF). www.harriscountytx.gov. Harris County Police Department. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  16. ↑ "WALKER COUNTY COLD CASE". montgomerycountypolicereporter.com. Montgomery County Police Reporter. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  17. ↑ "Jane Doe 1980". missingkids.org. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  18. ↑ White, Grace (27 February 2017). "Could 4 women's murders on the N. Freeway be connected?". KHOU. Tegna. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  19. ↑ "477UFTX". The Doe Network. 27 January 2006. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  20. ↑ "NamUs UP # 4625". National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. 15 October 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  21. ↑ "Texas DPS Unidentified Person Bulletin". Texas Department of Public Safety. 20 November 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  22. ↑ Taylor, Karen T. Forensic Art and Illustration. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  23. ↑ "NamUs UP # 4630". www.namus.gov. National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  24. ↑ "Walker County Jane Doe; a 36 year mystery". Missing Persons of America. 25 October 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  25. ↑ "Case File 1465DFTX". The Doe Network. 21 February 2007. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  26. ↑ "Case File 57DFTX". doenetwork.org. The Doe Network. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  27. ↑ "Cindy King". missingkids.org. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  28. ↑ "Cindy Irene King". charleyproject.org. The Charley Project. 12 October 2004. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  29. ↑ "Tina Kemp". National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  30. ↑ "Case File 1351DFWA". The Doe Network. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  31. ↑ "Deborah Mccall". missingkids.org. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  32. ↑ "Case File 704DFTX". doenetwork.org. The Doe Network. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  33. ↑ "Laureen Ann Rahn". charleyproject.org. The Charley Project. 12 October 2004. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  34. ↑ "105DFAL - Carla Rebecca Corley". The Doe Network. 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2017.

Cited works and further reading

  • Evans, Colin (1996). The Casebook of Forensic Detection: How Science Solved 100 of the World's Most Baffling Crimes. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 978-0-471-07650-6.
  • Halber, Deborah (2015). The Skeleton Crew: How Amateur Sleuths Are Solving America's Coldest Cases. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1-451-65758-6.
  • Newton, Michael (2004). The Encyclopedia of Unsolved Crimes. New York: Facts on File. ISBN 978-0-816-07818-9.
  • Pettem, Silvia (2013). Cold Case Research: Resources for Unidentified, Missing, and Cold Homicide Cases. Boca Raton: CRC Press. ISBN 1-466-57053-9.
  • Taylor, Karen T. (2000). Forensic Art and Illustration. New York: CRC Press. ISBN 978-0-849-38118-8.
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