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Clark County Jane Doe, a woman found inside of a mineshaft near Las Vegas, Nevada, remains unidentified
Unidentified decedents are a name given to a person who was found deceased, and law enforcement were unable to identify through conventional means. Many individuals go years or decades before investigators are able to conclusively say who they were during life. There currently exist over 40,000 unidentified decedents in the United States.
A black male aged twenty-five to thirty-five crashed a vehicle into a guardrail on Interstate 80 on July 16, 1980, in Washoe County, Nevada, as he was fleeing from police at high speed after being pursued as a potential bank robbery suspect. The man was pronounced dead as he entered an emergency room. The victim was five feet three inches to five feet four inches tall (160–162cm) and weighed 135 pounds (61kg) and had black hair, brown eyes and a scar on his abdomen that appeared to have been long since healed.[1] The victim also wore a beard and mustache and had been circumcised. Four missing men have been excluded from the case.[2]
Las Vegas John Doe (1981)
Las Vegas John Doe (1981)
On October 12, 1981, the skeletal remains of a young to middle aged white man were found in a vacant lot in Las Vegas, Nevada. The lot was known to have been frequented by homeless persons. He had been deceased for between one and two months. He was estimated to be between 35 and 50 years old and was approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall. He had medium brown straight to slightly curvy hair. Weight and eye color could not be ascertained. He was found wearing a brown shirt, a pair of greenish trousers, a brown belt, a blue sweatshirt and a pair of prescription glasses. Some razor blades with shaving cream were also found.[3]
Las Vegas Jane Doe (1982)
Las Vegas Jane Doe (1982)
On July 10, 1982, a middle aged woman was found deceased in a bathroom stall of a Greyhound bus station in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cause of death was found to be cardiac arrest. The woman was estimated to be between 55 and 60 years old, was 5 feet 4 inches tall, and weighed 138 pounds. She had graying brown hair and hazel eyes. She also had a scar around her navel area. She was found wearing blue pants, a multi-colored blouse with flower printing, a white shirt, a white metal ring with 6 clear stones, a white metal wedding ring, two white metal necklaces and a pair of white metal earrings. A purse was also found hanging on the door handle inside of the stall, but investigators could find no form of ID inside of the purse, and believe it was possibly stolen.[4]
White Pine County John Doe
On January 25, 1984, the decomposing body of a middle aged white man was found inside of a 1968 faded grayish blue/green, two-door Chevrolet BelAir with no license plate in Baker, Nevada. A hose had connected from the exhaust to the inside of the car, and the man had committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. He was between 40 and 46 years old, was approximately 6 feet tall and weighed between 170 and 180 pounds. He had red/auburn or brown hair that was graying on the sides. He had expensive dental work done. He was found wearing a blue hooded jacket, a yellow, button-up sweater, a white long sleeved shirt and green trousers. More clothing items were found in the car, including a black windbreaker, a blue shirt, a beige windbreaker, a blue and red checkered shirt, and a pair of black golf shoes without spikes. All tags were removed from the clothing.
A wallet containing US$201.40 was also found as well as two pairs of glasses. A note signed by "J" also stated that the money was meant to be donated to the Mormon Church. A prayer was also written on the note, "Please forgive then all, dear Lord, for any hurt they cause this humble servant whom they never know -- who got aweful tired on the journey, and could go no further."
An investigation into the man's fingerprints as well as the car's VIN number revealed no results, and it appeared the man had been living inside of the vehicle. Various crude modifications were done to the car's interior, such as the back support and seat missing and an electric box in the glove box.[5]
The mummified body of a woman aged twenty-five to thirty-five was discovered inside a mine shaft near the town of Antelope in Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada, on September 27, 1986. The subject was white, five feet six inches tall (168cm) and weighed between 92 and 112 pounds (42 and 51 kilograms). She appeared to be a transient, as the walls in the shaft were lined with wood and appeared to be a makeshift shelter.[6] She was discovered underneath a blanket, although she was naked. Several articles of clothing, a shirt, bra, a single sock and a pair of jeans, as well as some personal items, were found in or near the entrance, which included toothpaste, lip gloss and a pair of glasses. Examination of the body indicated she was a mother of at least one child and had had some dental work done. All of her adult teeth were intact. The cause of her death could not be determined.[7]
Clark County John Doe (1987)
Clark County John Doe
In his hotel room on February 16, 1987, a man was found dead after a drug overdose, presumed to have been accidental, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was estimated to have been between twenty-five and thirty-five years old and had brown hair and blue eyes. His clothing included a purple shirt, jeans, white socks and a brown belt. He had checked in under the name of "Douglas Baker" with a home address in Orlando, Florida. Investigators later discovered this address did not exist and they could not find a man by this name in that area matching "Bakers" description.[8] He was 174 pounds (79kg) at a height of six feet four inches tall (193cm). He had "unusually long" fingers, which may be a way to identify him in the future.[9]
Clark County Jane Doe (1995)
Clark County Jane Doe (1995)
On January 4, 1995, the skeletal remains of a white female were found by a pair of men on dirt bikes near Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was estimated to have been deceased for between one and two years. She was estimated to be between 35 and 60 years old and was between 5 feet and 5 feet 8 inches tall. She had brown hair. Hair color and eye color could not be determined. She was found wearing a pair of black boots, a black baseball cap with a marijuana leaf logo on front, a pair of black jeans, a men's red and tan shirt, a pair of khaki coveralls, a white bra, a pair of prescription glasses, and a portion of green bikini-style underwear.[10]
Clark County John Doe (1997)
On January 19, 1997, a middle aged white man was found after committing suicide by hanging on from the frame of a billboard in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was between 45 and 60 years old, was 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed 177 pounds. He had medium brown hair and brown eyes. His appendix had also been removed. He was found wearing a beige trench coat, a black suit, a brown belt, a blue sweater, a pair of black shoes, a white shirt and a yellow metal wristwatch. A pair of eyeglasses were found in his coat pocket, as well as a knife, a large plastic comb, a small plastic comb, a black pen and a blue pen. Investigators believe that the man went to lengths to make sure he was not identified. Investigators also believe he may be from Europe.[11]
"Harry"
On June 30, 1997, the decomposed remains of an elderly white male were found in a makeshift camp in Las Vegas, Nevada. The man was estimated to be between 60 and 70 years old, was between 5 feet 8 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall, and weighed 100 pounds. He was mostly bald with a receding gray hair line, and had a matching mustache and beard. He was found wearing black pants, a gray pullover shirt, two pairs of beige socks and a pair of black shoes. He also had had a hip repair with pins and plate, and investigators believe that he had had this replacement sometime during 1993 or afterwards. Many of the decedent's teeth were also missing. The man was a known transient, and many witnesses claimed that he went by the names "Harry" or "Papa Smurf". Witnesses claimed that he consumed alcohol regularly and was known to panhandle in the St. Louis and Boulder Highway area. The last time he was seen alive was in front of a Circle K convenience store, four days before, according to an acquaintance.[12]
On January 31, 1998, the skeletal remains of a white teenage boy or young man were found by hikers a mile and a half northeast of a rural intersection in Clark County, Nevada. He was found at what appeared to be a makeshift campsite with numerous personal items. He was estimated to be between 16 and 20 years old and was approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall. He had red or auburn hair which measured about seven inches in length. Weight and eye color could not be ascertained. He was also noted to have a relatively narrowed, squared chin. He was found wearing the remains of a pair of cut off jeans.
Found in close proximity were a gray 'David Taylor' brand jacket, a blue short-sleeved Umbro brand T-shirt, a WalMart glasses case with two pairs of prescription eyeglasses, a black 'Aqualite' brand wrist watch with a black plastic band, various bottles of aspirin and sleep-aid, and a black 'Skyway' brand canvas bag containing a 'Realistic' brand Walkman tape player with a pair of headphones and a 'M. Hohner Blues Harp' harmonica.[13]
On August 21, 2006, a man checked into the Tod Motor Motel in Las Vegas, Nevada. He failed to check out on September 11, and when the manager went to check the room, he found the man deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The man was between 25 and 40 years old, was 6 feet tall and weighed 197 pounds. He had brown hair and blue eyes, as well as a surgical scar between 4 and 6 inches long on his lower left abdomen and a birthmark above his left knee. He was found wearing a gray Fruit of the Loom T-shirt, and blue undershorts of the same brand. When investigators tried to verify his identity, it was found that he had stolen the identity of a living man in California. A letter was also found with the decedent, written entirely in German. It was addressed to his sister, "Brigit", and contained no last name for the woman nor address, city or country. There were references in the letter to an ex-wife named "Karen" who lived in Perth, Australia, as well as a daughter named "Amy".[14]
On January 23, 2008, police received a letter with coordinates to a location in Henderson, Clark County, Nevada. At the scene, a woman's skull was discovered along with a red patterned skirt. No other remains were found, which resulted in her weight and height being impossible to estimate.[15] The woman had red hair and was between twenty-five and forty years old. She had been deceased for about six months.[16][17][18][19]
Clark County Jane Doe (2011)
Clark County Jane Doe (2011)
On March 29, 2011, a young or middle aged African American woman travelling eastbound as a passenger of a car on Oakey Boulevard in Las Vegas, Nevada, left the road and struck a heavy utility pole, killing both occupants instantly. After the vehicle came to rest it caught fire. The unidentified passenger was estimated to be between 25 and 50 years old, was 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighed 185 pounds. She had black curly hair, but her eye color could not be determined due to the remains catching fire in the car. She was found wearing a 'Great Escape' brand knit shirt, which went down to her knees and appeared to be knotted in the back. It has not been stated whether the driver of the car has been identified.[20]
Carson City Jane Doe (2015)
FBI Reconstruction of Carson City Jane Doe
On March 17, 2015, a person walking down a hiking trail noticed a sneaker sticking out of the ground in Carson City, Nevada. When investigators responded, they found the buried skeleton of a small white female wrapped in a sleeping bag. She was estimated to be between 42 and 71 years old, and was between 4 feet 6 inches tall and 5 feet 3 inches tall. Weight could not be ascertained. She had reddish-blond hair. She was found wearing a long sleeve camo-print shirt, gray sweat pants, dark colored cargo pants, and a pair of white and purple Asics sneakers. Investigators have not stated a cause of death for the woman, and she was estimated to have been buried for about a year before being found. The DNA Doe Project was asked to assist with the case in May, 2019.[21]
Related Research Articles
Sahara Sue is the informal nickname given to a murder victim who was found in Las Vegas, Nevada, on August 14, 1979. Her identity is unknown. She was nicknamed "Sahara Sue" because her body was found near the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas, at the intersection of Sahara and Las Vegas Boulevard. Recent developments indicate she may have used the name "Shawna" or "Shauna" when she was alive.
Perry County Jane Doe, also nicknamed "Girl with the Turquoise Jewelry" is an unidentified woman whose body was found on June 20, 1979, in Watts Township, Perry County, Pennsylvania, near the Juniata River. The cause of her death is not known, but it was considered to be suspicious by the authorities. Her name is still not known, despite efforts to identify her. She is the only unidentified decedent in the county.
The Harris County Does consist of two currently unidentified youths discovered on January 12, 1981, in Houston, Harris County, Texas near Wallisville Road. An extensive investigation has been conducted with few leads.
DNA Doe Project is an American non-profit volunteer organization formed to identify unidentified deceased persons using forensic genealogy. Volunteers identify victims of automobile accidents, homicide, and unusual circumstances, and persons who committed suicide under an alias. The group was founded in 2017 by Colleen Fitzpatrick and Margaret Press.
Othram Incorporated is an American company specializing in forensic genealogy to help solve cold cases using DNA, typically unsolved murders, disappearances, and identification of unidentified decedents or murder victims. The company also offers law enforcement agencies tools and programs to infer kinship among individuals, both closely and distantly related, through a combination of short tandem repeat (STR) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) testing, as well as forensic genome sequencing of DNA.
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