I remembered this case, It's been awhile. With the sketch, But I never saw the bust. And I remember the really strange fact of her foot in a bread bag. Deceased for almost 50 yrs and no one was apparently looking for her. IMO this was perpetuated by someone close to her that was a caregiver. I think it's reasonable to assume she was a shut in for the most part due to her pain and health issues. If she can be identified, I believe they can identify her killer. If she lived her full life, Say she was 60 at the time. It was 48 years ago. 108 yrs old. So the perpetrator may not he alive. But at least LE could identify the killer to close the case and give her back her name.
402UFPA - Unidentified Female
Reconstruction of Victim by Lewis Trowbridge; Plaster Bust of Victim
Date of Discovery: February 9, 1974
Location of Discovery: Lower Providence Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Estimated Date of Death: 3 months prior
State of Remains: Not recognizable - Near complete or complete skeleton
Cause of Death: Strangulation
Physical Description
Estimated Age: 60-75 years old
Race: Uncertain
Gender: Female
Height: 5'2", estimated
Weight: 170 lbs., estimated
Hair Color: Unknown
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Arthritis of back and knees; obesity; acute fractures to left lower arm
Identifiers
Dentals: Unavailable; maxilla was edentulous, mandible not recovered
Fingerprints: Unavailable
DNA: Unknown
Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: Corset, bra, girdle, orange smock/housecoat with light flower designs, stockings, light colored knit dress, hand crocheted purple slippers inside plastics bag labeled "Marvel Enriched Bread"
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Safety pin in pocket of smock
Circumstances of Discovery
On February 9, 1974, police recovered the skeletal remains of the decedent, clad in badly rotted clothing, from the Skippack Creek bed near Old Baptist Road and Fern Avenue near Collegeville.
According to the original report from a forensic anthropologist, the decedent had arthritis so advanced she had to be in a humpback position when attempting to walk upright. She would have been unable to raise her arms above the level of her face without extreme pain. Her right arm was broken in two or three places as the result of a blow from a heavy object, and several neck bones were broken, indicating strangulation. Her left foot had been skillfully cut off and found inside a plastic bag labeled "Marvel Enriched Bread"; the right foot was not found.
The decedent was originally believed to have been the victim of a hit and run. This was based on her broken arm and location discovered in relation to Old Baptist Road, but that theory was abandoned when investigators received the forensic anthropologist's report.
Investigating Agency(s)
Agency Name: Pennsylvania State Police
Agency Contact Person: Trooper Brad Furlong
Agency Phone Number: 717-671-7500
Agency E-Mail: Unknown
Agency Case Number: K3-36980
Agency Name: Montgomery County Coroners Office
Agency Contact Person: Alexander Balacki, Medicolegal Death Investigator
Agency Phone Number: 610-278-3057
Agency E-Mail: Unknown
Agency Case Number: Unknown
NCIC Case Number: U-581176774
NamUs Case Number: 12587
Information Source(s)
NamUs
The Mercury (Pottstown, PA) - Feb. 11 & Mar. 20, 1974
Admin Notes
Added: 2005; Last Updated: 02/24/2022
Wow. That was some good bread.
I love old signs like that.
If she was skeletal, How did they determine she was obese?. Her clothing?.
Very likely the clothing. But there are some skeletal changes that can occur when you are overweight/obese. Particularly in the femur / thigh bone. Bone density and certain minerals can also be different.
It’s possible that they made some assumptions early on and DNA testing later revealed she was not white. It wouldn’t be the first time.
We have a case here where the body wasn't identified for many years simply because they said she was white when she was not.
This could be happening here. This could be a NAMUS error.
www.montcopa.org
Revisiting this. Another source says between 5'5-5-10. Alot of given information that is all over the place. IMO. If they didn't get a hit on the DNA. They never will. This is so sad. I stay with what I stated before. Thst it was someone they knew. Strangulation, Extreme anger. Cutting off a foot, then placing it in a bread bag. IDK WTH That is. But it seems that means something. But, No one remembers her?. The person around her?. Then all of a sudden neither, Or one not seen?. I'll never understand that. Yes, It looks like a very isolated area. But, In that case, They know who lives where. I am really baffled by this.