PA LUZERNE COUNTY JANE DOE: WF, 34-47, found in Sugarloaf Township, PA - 20 December 1994 *MARGARET WININGER*

The skeletal remains of Luzerne County Jane Doe were found near a remote Sugarloaf Township mine. Her cause of death was never determined but is presumed to have been homicide. Her remains had been left on the surface of the ground, and were estimated to have been at the location for up to two years. She was between 34 and 47 years old. A yellow shirt, reading "kiss my ass, I'm on vacation," women's underwear, sweatpants and boy's shoes were found. She had borne at least one child, and likely suffered from back pain and may have walked with a limp when alive. She had a significant number of missing teeth, and a fragment of metal unrelated to dental work was found in her jaw.

 

[Akoya]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

Local Contact (ME/C or Other)
Agency Luzerne Cnty Coroners Ofc
Phone 570-825-1664
Case Manager
Name Thomas McAndrew
Phone 570-459-3890

Exclusions
The following people have been ruled out as being this decedent:
First Name Last Name Year of Birth State LKA
Katherine Heckel 1951 Pennsylvania
Patricia Kelley Tennessee
Anne Manchester 1954 Delaware
Barbara Miller 1959 Pennsylvania
Patricia Schmidt 1964 Virginia
Patricia Schmidt 1964 Virginia
Betty Smith 1942 New Jersey
Billie Willard 1941 North Carolina

 

[Akoya]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

NamUs UP # 8919

ME/C Case Number: N01-0379761
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
34 to 47 year old White Female

Case Report - NamUs UP # 8919
Case Information
Status Unidentified
Case number N01-0379761
Date found December 20, 1994 14:00
Date created July 12, 2011 08:57
Date last modified July 15, 2011 03:34
Investigating agency
date QA reviewed July 13, 2011 04:17

Local Contact (ME/C or Other)
Agency Luzerne Cnty Coroners Ofc
Phone 570-825-1664
Case Manager
Name Thomas McAndrew
Phone 570-459-3890

Demographics
Estimated age Adult - Pre 50
Minimum age 34 years
Maximum age 47 years
Race White
Ethnicity
Sex Female
Weight (pounds) , Cannot Estimate
Height (inches) 63, Estimated
Body Parts Inventory (Check all that apply)
Body conditions
Not recognizable - Near complete or complete skeleton

Probable year of death 1992 to 1994

Circumstances
Location Found
GPS coordinates 40.96719 -76.08118
Address 1 .72 miles north of Village of Tomhicken
Address 2
City Sugarloaf Township
State Pennsylvania
Zip code
County Luzerne
Circumstances
Skeletal remains found in a remote area

Physical
Hair color Brown

Other distinctive
physical characteristics
Issue with left knee - possibly caused a limp and/or physical distress including back pain

Foreign objects
Small metallic fragment in lower jaw

Fingerprints
Status: Fingerprint information is currently not available

Clothing with body
Sweatpants and a T-shirt with the words "Kiss my Ass I'm on Vacation" printed on front. Also, a pair of women's underwear.
Footwear
Two "British Knights" sneakers, white in color, size 6, found near body

Dental
Status: Dental information / charting is available and entered

DNA
Status: Sample submitted - Tests complete

 

[Akoya]

http://pennsylvaniamissing.com/unidentified/uids1990to1999.html

Luzerne County - December 20, 1994

Sugarloaf Jane Doe

Victim's Vital Statistics:
White Female
Est. Age: 37 - 47 yrs old
Est. Height: 5'1" - 5'4"
Est. Weight: unknown
Brown hair
Eye color: n/a
Skeletal Remains

Location: Sugarloaf Township,
Luzerne County
Contact: PA State Police
Cpl Tom McAndrew
Phone # : 570-459-3890

photo of t-shirt worn by the victim courtesy of Cpl Tom McAndrew, PA State Police. Used with permission
Click on the photo for a larger view

 

[Akoya]

http://unidentified.wikia.com/wiki/Luzerne_County_Jane_Doe_(1994)

Luzerne County Jane Doe (1994)

Luzerne County Jane Doe was a woman found dead near a mine in 1994. Her cause of death was never determined but is presumed to have been homicide.

Luzerne County Jane Doe

Sex Female
Race White
Location Sugarloaf Township, Pennsylvania
Found December 20, 1994
Unidentified for 21 years
Postmortem interval 6 months - 2 years
Body condition Skeletal
Age approximation 34 - 47
Height approximation 5'1 - 5'4
Weight approximation N/A
Cause of death Presumed homicide

 

[Akoya]

https://www.crimewatchpa.com/crimes...jane-doe-sugarloaf-township-luzerne-county-pa

PENNSYLVANIA CRIME STOPPERS
1-800-4-PA-TIPS
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110
(800) 472-8477

MEDIA RELEASE #1955, UNIDENTIFIED JANE DOE, SUGARLOAF TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY, PA

Case Status:
Cold
Case Region:
Northeastern
Source:
Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers
DATE FOUND: December 20, 1994

LOCATION: Wooded embankment off of Tomhicken Road in Sugarloaf Township, Luzerne County.

CIRCUMSTANCES: On December 20, 1994, workers doing a mine reclamation project discovered a human skull in a wooded area in Sugarloaf Township, Luzerne County. The PA State Police responded to the scene and found additional skeletonized remains. The victim had been at this location no longer than two years, most likely 12 to 18 months.

VICTIM INFORMATION: The victim is believed to be a white female between 34-47 years of age. She was small in stature and estimated to be 5’3” in height. She also had osteoarthritis of her left knee and lower back. Found near the remains were a pair of “Macgregor” brand sweatpants, black socks, a yellow t-shirt, and a white British Knight sneaker (size 6).

FORENSIC ANALYSIS: Chemical isotope data suggests this woman was likely not from this area and may have been living in the Southern USA such as Texas, Florida or the American Southeast during the years before her death.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: If you have information on this crime, any serious crime, or wanted person, call Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers Toll Free at 1-800-4PA-TIPS. All callers remain anonymous and could be eligible for a CASH REWARD.
All information is accurate as of Release Date.

 

[Akoya]

http://www.missinginamerica.us/apps/blog/categories/show/1561822-pa

Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Jane Doe

ME/C Case Number: P04-0744558

Luzerne County, Pennsylvania

20 to 55 year old White Female

Skull and 1st cervical vertebra recovered.

Skull and 1st cervical vertebra was the only body parts recovered.

Dental radiographs, postmortem dental chart, photographs and NCIC dental record / worksheet are available in Images section. Mandible not recovered.

DNA

Guidelines for Collection of DNA

Sample is currently not available (Explain in comments box below)

Sample available - Not yet submitted

Samples submitted - Tests not complete

Complete - Insufficient DNA for profiling

Complete and entered below

Type mtDNA nucDNA Y-STR

Location
Describe location

Reference #

Lab ORI

Comments Skull & C1-vertebra will be submitted to UNT.

Reports
Case Report
Contacts
Local Contact
Agency Luzerne Cnty Coroners Ofc
Phone 570-825-1664
Case Manager
First Name Christopher
Last Name King
Phone 570-697-2000
Regional Administrator
First Name Emily
Last Name Craig
Email Emily.Craig@unthsc.edu
Phone 817-666-5425
Changes to Case
There are no changes for this case.
Compare to Duplicates
There are no cases to compare.


Exclusions

The following people have been ruled out as being this decedent: First Name Last Name Year of Birth State LKA
Danielle Imbo 1970 Pennsylvania

 

[Akoya]

http://canyouidentifyme.org/LuzernePennsylvaniaJaneDoeDecember1994

Luzerne Pennsylvania Jane Doe December 1994

Date Found :
Tuesday, December 20, 1994
Location Found:
North of Tomhicken, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
County Found:
Luzerne County
State Found:
Pennsylvania
Est Date of Death:
Up to two years prior to discovery.
Sex:
Female
Race:
Caucasian
Age Minimum :
34
Age Maximum:
47
Height Minimum:
5'3
Hair Color:
Brown
Medical :
A distinctive notable issue with knee that most likely caused a limp and/or lower back pain. Additionally, a foreign metallic fragment was found in her lower jaw.
Dental:
Available
Clothing :
Underwear, sweatpants, a t-shirt that read "Kiss my Ass I"m on Vacation," and white "British Knight" size 6 sneakers.
DNA Available:
Yes
Fingerprints Available:
N/A
Contact Information:
Luzerne County Coroner, 20 N. Pennsylvania Ave. #201, Wilkes Barre, PA 18701, 570-825-1664, 570-820-6319 fax, N01-0379761

 

[Akoya]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_...ctims_in_Pennsylvania#Luzerne_County_Jane_Doe

A female skeleton was found at the edge of a strip mine on December 20, 1994, near Sugarloaf, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The remains had been left on the surface of the ground, and were estimated to have been at the location for up to two years. Despite the cause of death not being apparent upon examination, the case is being investigated as a homicide. The woman was between 34 and 47 years old at the time of death, and between at 5 feet 1 to 5 feet 4 inches in height. With the body, a yellow shirt, reading "kiss my ass, I'm on vacation," women's underwear, sweatpants and boy's shoes were found. She had borne at least one child, and likely suffered from back pain and may have walked with a limp when alive. She also had a significant number of missing teeth, and a fragment of metal unrelated to dental work was found in her jaw.

 

[Akoya]

Map of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania

 

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Sugarloaf Township

 

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Sugarloaf Township

 

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Tomhicken Road

 

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Sugarloaf Township Farm

 

[Akoya]

On December 20, 1994, workers doing a mine reclamation project discovered a human skull in a wooded area in Sugarloaf Township, Luzerne County.

This is an abandoned anthracite coal mine in Luzerne County. Some of these old mines are still burning underground.

 

[Akoya]

Someone knew where those old deserted mine shaft entrances were.

 

[Akoya]

Jane Doe's body was found at the edge of an old strip mine by workers who were doing mining reclamation work in the area. This reclamation work is being down to repair damage previously done to the area from the former mines. Many of these mines still have fires burning underground and there are explosions and sinkholes. The damage to this area is an environmental nightmare. Someone passing through wouldn't know the location of the old strip mines. Whoever left Jane Doe next to the strip mine knew that she wouldn't be found for a very long time. The coroner estimated that she had been there for at least two years.


Underground fires

Sinkholes

 

[Akoya]

This is the open Avondale Pit mine, 400 foot deep hole, in Plymouth, Luzerne County.

This is an abandoned water-filled anthracite strip mining pit in Nanticoke, Luzerne County.

An old mine entrance, probably similar to the one where Jane Doe was found.

Coal Region of Pennsylvania, known for anthracite mining

 

[Akoya]

 

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This is the condition of Sugarloaf Creek, near where Jane Doe was found.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugarloaf_Creek

Sugarloaf Creek is considered to be impaired for aquatic life by acid mine drainage/pH in its upper reaches.[2] All of the acid mine drainage comes from the Oneida Number One Tunnel. The creek is one of the sources of acid mine drainage that flows into Tomhicken Creek.[4]

Sugarloaf Creek is highly acidic due to its impairment by acid mine drainage. It has a pH of 5.0 and the concentration of alkalinity in the creek is 0 milligrams per liter. The concentration of water hardness in the creek is greater than 150 milligrams per liter.[5]

Sugarloaf Creek experiences pollution.