TN JELLICO JANE DOE: WF, 9-15, found off Big Wheel Gap Road near Jellico, TN - 3 Apr 1985 *TRACY WALKER*

482UFTN - Unidentified Female

Reconstruction by NCMEC, Erin H. Kimmerle, and Joanna J. Hughes; enhanced image of necklace found near remains.

Date of Discovery: April 3, 1985
Location of Discovery: Jellico, Campbell County, Tennessee
Estimated Date of Death: 1-4 years prior
State of Remains: Partial skeletal
Cause of Death: Undetermined

Physical Description
Estimated Age: 9-15 years old
Race: White
Sex: Female
Height: Unknown
Weight: Unknown
Hair Color: Unknown
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown

Identifiers
Dentals: Available. Several silver dental fillings.
Fingerprints: Not available.
DNA: Available.

Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: 2 high-top shoes (outdoor or hiking type-size 5 or 6) with 2 pais of holes, 2 pairs of metal hasps and red-cloth lining inside shoes. Left shoe has shoe string, Right shoe does not.
Jewelry: Necklace, bracelet made of plastic buttons.
Additional Personal Items: Unknown

Circumstances of Discovery
The female was located by a passerby about 200 yards off Big Wheel Gap Road, four miles southwest of Jellico in Campbell County, Tennessee on April 3, 1985.

Only 32 bones were recovered, but her skull was intact enough for a head and face reconstruction.

Investigators suspect a link between this girl and the "Redhead murders" which are believed to have occurred primarily in the Southern United States between the late 1970s and early 1990s. Her death remains undetermined, however.

It is unknown if the boots or jewelry found near the remains belonged to the girl.

Investigating Agency(s)
Agency Name: Forensic Anthropology Center, University of Knoxville
Agency Contact Person: Lee Jantz
Agency Phone Number: 865-974-4408
Agency E-Mail: ljantz(at)utk.edu
Agency Case Number: UT85-6F

Agency Name: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
Agency Contact Person: Brandon Elkins or Amy Emberton
Agency Phone Number: 865-221-1152 or 1-800-TBI-FIND
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: KX5A000163

Agency Name: Campbell County Medical Examiner
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 423-907-1200
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: Unknown

NCIC Case Number: U130022868
NamUs Case Number: 1577
NCMEC Case Number: 1105475

Information Source(s)
NamUs
NCMEC
Wikipedia
Joanna J. Hughes: Forensic Artist

482UFTN

*CLICK THE REPORT BUTTON IF YOU'D LIKE THIS CASE MOVED TO THE GENERAL DISCUSSION AREA TO BE OPENED FOR COMMENTING.

 

[Romulus]

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

After 37 years, Elk Valley Jane Doe is Identified

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Teams with Othram to Identify Elk Valley Jane Doe

dnasolves.com

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Teams with Othram to Identify Elk Valley Jane Doe​

In August 2022, UNTCHI confirmed that "Baby Girl" was Tracy Sue Walker, born June 2, 1963. Tracy went missing from the Lafayette, Indiana, area in 1978. Now, TBI Special Agents hope the public can help provide information that may help determine the circumstances leading to Tracy Sue Walker’s death and how she ended up in Campbell County.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Sheriff's office re-opens Tracy Sue Walker's 1978 missing person report

“So on our end, the case is back open. I don’t know what that’s going to look like moving forward," Sheriff Bob Goldsmith said.

www.jconline.com

Sheriff's office re-opens Tracy Sue Walker's 1978 missing person report​

The Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office 44-year-old missing person case of Tracy Sue Walker — once lost to time — now is a priority case since Tennessee officers identified Walker's skeletal remains in August.

“We are going to be meeting this afternoon with Lafayette (police) detectives," Tippecanoe County Sheriff Bob Goldsmith said Wednesday afternoon — a day after Tennessee agents announced Walker's remains had been identified.

"We’re going to get the information they have," Goldsmith said. "We’ve already been on the phone with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations. We will be assisting them with any follow up that they need.

“So on our end, the case is back open. I don’t know what that’s going to look like moving forward," Goldsmith said.

Walker's skeleton was found in 1985 in the Big Wheel Gap area of Elk Valley in Campbell County, which is north of Knoxville, Tennessee. For decades, the skeletal remains were known by officers as "Baby Girl."

She was last seen at the Tippecanoe Mall in 1978 with a friend, Goldsmith said.

Walker's mother twice reported the teen as running away from their Eisenhower Court home, Goldsmith said.


The missing person case faded from the memories of the sheriff's office as deputies who were working in 1978 retired and moved on.

“It’s a case we were not aware of,” Goldsmith said.

The 1978 reports were before computers, so the paper reports collected dust in some corner of the county records.

 

[Mel70]

LE failed AGAIN! Treated like a runaway because she had twice. Reopening the case. It shouldn't have been closed. No resolution, Should always be open. Missing from 1978 and found in 1985 400 miles away. I doubt with all the time gone by etc. They will ever find the killer. And for the fact I believe it was a stranger. She was last seen at a mall with a friend. She probably unfortunately accepted a ride from someone. Rest in peace Tracy Sue.

 

[Guess Who]

Sheriff's office re-opens Tracy Sue Walker's 1978 missing person report

“So on our end, the case is back open. I don’t know what that’s going to look like moving forward," Sheriff Bob Goldsmith said.

www.jconline.com

Sheriff's office re-opens Tracy Sue Walker's 1978 missing person report​

The Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office 44-year-old missing person case of Tracy Sue Walker — once lost to time — now is a priority case since Tennessee officers identified Walker's skeletal remains in August.

“We are going to be meeting this afternoon with Lafayette (police) detectives," Tippecanoe County Sheriff Bob Goldsmith said Wednesday afternoon — a day after Tennessee agents announced Walker's remains had been identified.

"We’re going to get the information they have," Goldsmith said. "We’ve already been on the phone with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations. We will be assisting them with any follow up that they need.

“So on our end, the case is back open. I don’t know what that’s going to look like moving forward," Goldsmith said.

Walker's skeleton was found in 1985 in the Big Wheel Gap area of Elk Valley in Campbell County, which is north of Knoxville, Tennessee. For decades, the skeletal remains were known by officers as "Baby Girl."

She was last seen at the Tippecanoe Mall in 1978 with a friend, Goldsmith said.

Walker's mother twice reported the teen as running away from their Eisenhower Court home, Goldsmith said.


The missing person case faded from the memories of the sheriff's office as deputies who were working in 1978 retired and moved on.

“It’s a case we were not aware of,” Goldsmith said.

The 1978 reports were before computers, so the paper reports collected dust in some corner of the county records.

So where's this friend she was with last at the mall and what's their story of what happened?

 

[Mel70]

So where's this friend she was with last at the mall and what's their story of what happened?

Uh. The article from Wednesday. That's posted above. Having fun?. Knock it off. I don't find it amusing.

 

[Mel70]

She was last seen at the Tippecanoe Mall in 1978 with a friend, Goldsmith said.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Uh. The article from Wednesday. That's posted above. Having fun?. Knock it off. I don't find it amusing.

Huh? She was asking what story the friend gave police. Pretty significant detail to know, I think, being that Tracy never made it home after being with the friend at the mall. Did the friend say that they split up to visit different stores and she never met at their designated location? Did she go to the bathroom and disappear? Did she get picked up by an unknown man? What's the story?

 

[Guess Who]

Huh? She was asking what story the friend gave police. Pretty significant detail to know, I think, being that Tracy never made it home after being with the friend at the mall. Did the friend say that they split up to visit different stores and she never met at their designated location? Did she go to the bathroom and disappear? Did she get picked up by an unknown man? What's the story?

Exactly