Miss X (decedent)

Miss X
Born 1942–1951
Status Unidentified for 51 years, 6 months and 29 days
Died March 17 or March 18, 1967 (aged 16–25)
Cause of death Septicemia
Body discovered March 18, 1967
Bear, New Castle County, Delaware
Resting place Potter's Field, Delaware
Known for Unidentified decedent
Height 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m)
Weight 110–115 lb (50–52 kg)

Miss X is an unidentified deceased woman whose body was found March 18, 1967, near the towns of Bear, Wilmington, and Glasgow, Delaware. Originally, investigators thought she died during (or as the result of) an illegal abortion. A more detailed examination, however, proved she and her unborn child died of septicemia.[1]

Circumstances

Laundry bag that partially covered the body

Miss X's body was found on the side of Porter Road on March 18, 1967.[2] The only item of clothing she wore was a pair of blue bikini-like underwear. The manufacturer's label had been removed. A red ribbon tied her hair back from her face.[2] The victim's legs were encased in a whitish-colored canvas laundry bag, which had "Bag O - Storage. American Laundry. Dry Cleaning. EX4 5277." printed on it. It's not clear if the victim was associated with such an establishment.[1][3]

It is believed Miss X died in a different location to where her body was found.[2]

The victim was three months pregnant at the time of her death.[3] Originally, investigators thought she'd died from an illegal abortion; a substance resembling an abortion chemical was found in her vaginal cavity.[4] However, the true cause of death was an untreated infection of unknown origin.[1]

Physical Characteristics

Miss X was five feet two inches (157 cm) tall, and weighed roughly 110 to 115 pounds (50 to 52 kilograms). She had a large bra size, estimated at 34DD.[3] She had dark curly hair and brown eyes, leading some to speculate she was of European origin, perhaps from Greece or Italy.[1] Some have also said she appeared to be of "Jewish descent".[2] The young woman had no identifying marks on her body except for a vaccination scar on the top of her left upper leg. Her blood type was "O." [5] Her ears were pierced but it did not appear she'd worn earrings recently.[2] She'd cared for her teeth very well; there was some evidence of tooth repair and she likely saw a dentist approximately six months before her death. Her age was originally estimated between eighteen and twenty-one years old, but the age range has been widened to sixteen to twenty-five years.[2][6]

Investigation

Miss X's incomplete death certificate

Detectives have focused primarily on identifying Miss X instead of finding the individuals who disposed of her body or may have been involved in her death. Because of the significant amount of time that has passed, investigators say the suspects would either be "dead or elderly".[1]

The laundry bag found at the scene was traced to a company known as American Laundry, which operated in Trenton, New Jersey.[2][3] When asked about the victim, members of the owner's family said that they remembered a young woman, matching Miss X's description, who either lived nearby or was a customer.[1] The potential lead went nowhere.

An anonymous caller told police he brought a woman's body from the state of Washington to Delaware, but little information about this tip has been published.[3] This lead is somewhat questionable, as Miss X was deceased for less than twenty-four hours and it would have taken a considerable amount of time to transport the body from such a distance.[3]

The case was re-examined in 2011, when a vial of the victim's blood and her hair ribbon were found in an evidence container. The DNA extracted from the blood linked the victim maternally to individuals in Virginia and North Carolina. The persons who were contacted told investigators they did not know who Miss X is.[3][1]

Early in the investigation, a sketch of Miss X was released to the public. In 2013, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reconstructed her face with a much more precise and detailed method.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Zdan, Alex (10 April 2013). "Delaware officials look to Trenton in attempt to solve 1967 cold case". New Jersey Times. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Jane Doe 1967". missingkids.org. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Case File: 743UFDE". doenetwork.org. The Doe Network. 12 September 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  4. ↑ "Who Is She? Police Ask". Wilmongton Morning News. 23 March 1967. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  5. ↑ NamUs UP # 7097. identifyus.org. National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  6. ↑ "Who Knows Her?". Newark Weekly. 1967. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
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