MO GRACE DOE: WF, 21-31, found in remote area by abandoned farm house in McDonald County, MO - 2 Dec 1990 *SHAWNA BETH GARBER*

784UFMO - Unidentified Female
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Artistic renderings of the victim; Victim's shoes and jacket; Bounding material; Sketch of clothing.

Date of Discovery: December 02, 1990
Location of Discovery: Mcdonald County, Missouri
Estimated Date of Death: Possibly October 31, 1990
State of Remains: Skeletal
Cause of Death: Homicide

Physical Description
Estimated Age: 21-31 years old
Race: White, possibly mixed with Native American
Sex: Female
Height: 5'1" to 5'4"
Weight: 120 lbs.
Hair Color: Dark brown with a natural red highlight in the sun, wavy and collar-length.
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Slender build.

Identifiers
Dentals: Available. Dental x-rays and dental models and/or photographs available. Well-cared orthodontic patient; excellent occlusion tooth. Fillings present.
Fingerprints: Not Available
DNA: Available

Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: A stone-washed Levi denim jacket (larger size), white T-shirt with a left pocket (larger size), Lee blue jeans with the cuffs rolled to the tops of her shoes, socks, and white Fitness hi-top tennis shoes (size 7 1/2).
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown

Circumstances of Discovery
The victim's decomposed bound remains were found in some weeds in a remote area by an abandoned farm house on Oscar Talley Road, midway between Lanagan and Pineville, Missouri. She was hogtied with six different types of material: nylon rope, lead rope, coaxial cable, telephone cable, parachute cord and clothesline. The parachute cord is believed to have been military issued because it was not commerically available in 1990. Because of the way she was bound - both hands behind the back and tied to one leg with a shoelace - it is believed that she was also raped. A single blond hair not belonging to the victim was found on the body. Investigators believe the victim may have been murdered at or near the location her body was found based on a witness statement that she heard a woman scream in that proximity on Halloween night — about the same time the victim is believed to have died. She has been dubbed "Grace Doe."

Investigating Agency(s)
Agency Name: McDonald County Coroner's Office
Agency Contact Person: Clara Land
Agency Phone Number: 417-845-1234
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 90-21

Agency Name: McDonald County Sheriff's Office
Agency Contact Person: Detective Lorie Howard
Agency Phone Number: 417-223-7429 or 7430
Agency E-Mail: l.howard(at)mcdonaldcountysheriff.com
Agency Case Number: 90-21

NCIC Case Number: U468964622
NamUs Case Number: 5321
Former Hot Case Number: 1938

Information Source(s)
Namus
Forensic Artist Victoria Lywood - Cold Case Files
McDonald County Sheriff's Office
Neosho Daily News Archive

*Click the Report button if you'd like this case moved to the general discussion area to be opened for commenting.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Grace Doe from 1990 has been identified as Shawna Beth Garber.

"In Jan 2021 the Sheriff’s Office received information from Othram Inc. that there were candidate relatives identified for Grace Doe. These candidates were identified through genealogy research performed by Othram's in-house research team. Othram asked the Sheriff’s Office to contact candidate relatives and investigators made contact with Danielle Pixler who was on the genealogical tree developed by Othram. During the conversation, Ms. Pixler stated that she had a half-sister, Shawna Garber, that had been in foster care in Garnett, Kansas and then went back into state care. Danielle did not know what happened with Shawna after she left foster care. After Shawna left foster care, Danielle stated that she had been looking for Shawna for over 28 years. Danielle agreed to contribute a DNA sample and the Topeka Kansas Police Department agreed to take the swab and send it to Lt. Hall. The DNA sample was then forwarded to Othram for testing using a rapid familial test called KinSNP™. Grace has been identified as Shawna Beth Garber."

After 30 years, Grace Doe is Identified

'Grace Doe' In Old Murder Case Identified

 
This is not a road that somebody would just typically stumble upon and that leads me to believe that the person that put her there was familiar with that area. It could be that they are from there or like my family and know it from float trips/fishing, etc. Very rural area. I do believe at that time the newer part of the highway wasn't there and it was a bit more accessible from what now is called "business 71" that went through the edge of Anderson, MO. for those that are looking at current maps. Where she was found on that road wasn't just right off the highway, but quite a bit further down the road.
 
This is not a road that somebody would just typically stumble upon and that leads me to believe that the person that put her there was familiar with that area. It could be that they are from there or like my family and know it from float trips/fishing, etc. Very rural area. I do believe at that time the newer part of the highway wasn't there and it was a bit more accessible from what now is called "business 71" that went through the edge of Anderson, MO. for those that are looking at current maps. Where she was found on that road wasn't just right off the highway, but quite a bit further down the road.
Was it much different 30 years ago?
 
Even before the highway was redone, you still had to travel down an outer road for quite a bit before you got to that road. That is IF they entered from that direction. IF they came from the other direction, it's a waaay convoluted route.
So It sounds like it was definitely someone that knew the area.
 
Their mother!!!! 😡😠This poor woman never had a peaceful day in her life. How awful. To be abused that severely and then murdered. People really need to shut up about privacy on this. If you have nothing to hide then...Stop thinking about yourself and think about the people it's helping and the crimes it's solving. Idiots.
 

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