AL OPELIKA JANE DOE: BF, 3-7, found at trailer park in Opelika, AL - 28 Jan 2012 *AMORE WIGGINS*

Skeletal remains of a little girl were found on January 28, 2012 at a trailer park on Hurst Street in Opelika, Alabama which falls in Lee County. It’s estimated the child had been deceased between 8 months and 2 years placing date of death between 2010 – 2012. She is estimated to be 3-7 years old and had medium length black hair styled in small tight curls. Her height, weight, and eye color cannot be determined. An anthropological assessment of her bones suggest she had likely been abused and malnourished in life. A long-sleeve pink shirt with heart buttons and small ruffles near the neckline was recovered near the skeletal remains but it is unknown if it belonged to the child. Chemical isotope testing on her bones suggest she was born and raised in Alabama or one of the surrounding southern states. The images above are a facial reconstruction completed by a NCMEC Forensic Artist and depict what the child may have looked like in life.

NCMEC -

Have you seen this child? JANE DOE2012

Missing From: OPELIKA, AL. Missing Date: 01/28/2012. Skeletal remains of a little girl were found on January 28, 2012 at a trailer park on Hurst Street in Opelika, Alabama which falls in Lee County. It’s estimated the child had been deceased between 8 months and 2 years placing date of death...

api.missingkids.org

Skull found by resident of trailer park. Other remains found within 50 feet of skull. Lower jaw, multiple bones, some hair located in heavy wooded area within 50-75 feet of residences. Isotope analysis indicates she was born in Alabama or a surrounding southern state.

Clothing: long-sleeve pink shirt with heart buttons and small ruffles near the neckline located near remains - On the Body

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

#IDENTIFIED in 2023! Skeletal remains of a little girl were found on January 28, 2012 at a trailer park on Hurst Street in Opelika, Alabama

It’s estimated the child had been deceased between 8 months and 2 years placing date of death between 2010 – 2012. She is estimated to be 3-7 years old and had medium length black hair styled in small tight curls. Her height, weight, and eye...

www.crimewatchers.net

 

[Romulus]

Identified as Amore Joveh Wiggins!

Opelika Jane Doe identified after 11 years: Father and his wife arrested

Amore Joveh Wiggins would be 17. Lamar Vickerstaff Jr. is charged with murder. His wife is charged with failure to report a missing child.

www.al.com

Opelika Jane Doe identified after 11 years: Father and his wife arrested​

• Updated: Jan. 19, 2023, 11:03 a.m.|
• Published: Jan. 19, 2023, 10:03 a.m.

Opelika Jane Doe's remains were found in a trailer park in 2012, and authorities have been trying to identify her for more than a decade. (Contributed)

After more than a decade of searching for the identity of a young girl whose skeletal remains were found in an Opelika trailer park, authorities now know who she is and have arrested her father and his wife.

Opelika Jane Doe, also known as Baby Jane, who investigators long suspected was abused, neglected and likely the victim of homicide, has been identified as Amore Joveh Wiggins. If still alive, Amore would be 17 years old.


Her father Lamar Vickerstaff Jr., a career serviceman in the U.S. Navy, is now charged with felony murder. His wife Ruth Vickerstaff, who is not Amore’s mother, is charged with failure to report a missing child.


A press conference is underway in Opelika. Opelika Police Chief Shane Healey was visibly emotional in announcing the break in the case.


“The level of dedication to this case I’ve never seen in my entire career,’' Healey said. “It felt really good to say her name out loud.”


Investigators were able to put the pieces together with the help of Othram Inc., a Texas-based company that uses highly-specialized DNA sequencing and genomics to advance biometrics and human identification, and renowned genealogist Barbara Rae-Venter, who helped police identify the Golden State Killer.


Othram specializes in forensic testing and works on the cutting edge of DNA and scientific techniques to help identify victims, locate missing persons and uncover perpetrators of crime.


“Amore suffered unspeakable abuse before she was murdered and it was heartbreaking to listen at the press conference as Sergeant (Alfred) White and Captain (John) Clifton recounted the decade-long effort to uncover her identity and bring the responsible parties to justice,” said David Mittelman, Othram CEO. “I am grateful that we were able to provide our DNA technology to assist in this case.”

They learned Amore was born in January 2006 and that her mother – 37-year-old Sherry Wiggins - lost custody of her in 2009. Amore went to live with his father and his girlfriend, and the mother lost all contact with her.



In January 2012, Opelika police responded to Brookhaven Trailer Park, located at 1775 Hurst Street in Opelika on a report of skeletal remains being found.

The skeletal remains of a young girl were found in Opelika in 2012. She has still not been identified. (FBI)


A skull was located in the yard of a residence while the majority of the bones were located only a few feet into the wood line behind a trailer and the adjacent lot.



During the search of the area, a pink child’s shirt and a small bundle of curly hair were also recovered.



The remains were sent to the FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Va., where a medical examination was performed.



The report stated that the remains were of a Black female likely between 4 to 7 years old who became affectionately known to the community as Baby Jane Doe.



An autopsy was performed and showed fractures to her skull, arms, legs, shoulders, and ribs; totaling more than 15 individual fractures that were attributed to blunt force trauma, authorities said.



These injuries all had evidence of healing and occurred sometime prior to her death.



Additionally, the medical examiner suggested that Jane Doe may have been malnourished and blind in her left eye due to a fracture in her eye socket. Jane Doe’s death was determined to be a homicide and believed to have occurred between the summer of 2010 to 2011.



Since the discovery of Jane Doe’s remains, detectives have reviewed over 15,000 case files from the Alabama Department of Public Health and investigated thousands of tips.



In 2016, investigators received a tip that Opelika Jane Doe may have attended Vacation Bible School at Greater Peace Church in 2011, three miles from where her remains were found.



Photos from the Bible School were released, and investigators believed the child in the photographs was the unidentified child. Healey said Thursday they still aren’t sure if those are photos of Amore.

In 2016, investigators received a tip that Opelika Jane Doe may have attended Vacation Bible School at Greater Peace Church in 2011, three miles from where her remains were found. (Contributed)


The Opelika Police Department had previously attempted to develop a DNA profile for Jane Doe however, they were unsuccessful due to the condition of the remains.



In January 2022, Opelika Jane Doe’s remains were sent to Othram’s laboratory in the The Woodlands, Texas.



Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the remains and built a comprehensive genealogical profile.



Finally, Othram uploaded the profile to a genealogical database to enable a search for genetic relatives.



For the genetic genealogy research, police retained Rae-Venter, who is a genealogist, biologist, and retired patent attorney. Her team, Firebird Forensics Group, produced investigative leads which were returned to Opelika Police Department.



In October 2022, Jane Doe’s father was identified as the 50-year-old Vickerstaff, who was born and raised in Opelika before he enlisted in the U.S. Navy.



During his lengthy Navy career, Vickerstaff lived in Norfolk, Va., Honolulu, Hawaii and Jacksonville, Fla.



In December of 2022, Opelika detectives traveled to the Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, where Vickerstaff is currently stationed, to notify him of his daughter’s death.



During the meeting, Vickerstaff did not provide investigators with any information on the identity of Jane Doe.



Detectives then met with Vickerstaff’s wife, who has been married to him since May of 2006. She told investigators she did not know his daughter or who may be the mother of Jane Doe.



Rae-Venter was able to determine several possible matches for Jane Doe’s mother and detectives were able to narrow the results down to a woman in Maryland.



In December of 2022, detectives met with Wiggins who confirmed she was the biological mother of Jane Doe.



A native of Norfolk, Wiggins said she gave birth Amore in 2006.



She provided documentation showing that Lamar and Ruth Vickerstaff obtained legal and physical custody of her daughter in 2009, at which time her visitation with Amore was suspended.



Wiggins also provided documents indicating that she has continuously paid child support to Lamar Vickerstaff since 2009.



Follow up DNA testing at Othram, using KinSNP familial relationship testing, supported the parent-child relationship of both Sherry Wiggins and Lamar Vickerstaff to the DNA profile that Othram developed from the remains of the little girl.



Detectives reached out to the school boards and pediatric clinics in several states where Lamar and Ruth Vickerstaff lived and determined that Amore was never enrolled in school nor was, she reported as a missing person.



Opelika detectives then met with the Lee County District Attorney’s Office to seek criminal charges.



On Jan. 17, 2023, Lamar and Ruth Vickerstaff, 53, were arrested in Jacksonville, Florida.



They are currently being held at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office pending extradition to Lee County. Healey said they’ve waived extradition, and authorities are making preparations to return them to Alabama.



Lamar Vickerstaff attended Opelika High School and had relatives living in the area where Amore’s remains were found.



“We’ve continued to work this investigation It does remain open,’' Healey said. “In fact just yesterday we executed a search warrant at a trailer near where her remains were found in conjunction with he FBI’s Evidence Response Team.”



“Our hearts go out to Sherry Wiggins,’' the chief said, “who was a tremendous help in solving the case and helping bring justice to her baby girl.”



Healey also mentioned former Lee County Coroner Bill Harris, who until his death in June continuously worked toward identifying “Baby Jane.”



“I have no doubt he is celebrating with Amore today,” Healey said.



The chief lauded the numerous investigators who worked on the case, especially Sgt. White.



“Many of us said that we did not want to leave our time at this police department until we had her name, and now we do. Amore Wiggins,’' he said.



Capt. Clifton said the case has been personal to the police department.



“It’s very personal to us,’' Clifton said. “She was part of our family but now her mother has justice and she knows what happened to her daughter.”



Investigators want to speak with anyone who knows the Vickerstaffs and had interaction with them over, and possibly Amore, over the years.



“Amore suffered a tremendous, horrible death,’' Clifton said. “She had a tragic end to her life.”

 

[Summer_Breeze]

2012 Opelika Jane Doe identified; father, step-mother arrested

The Opelika Police Department is holding a press conference Thursday, January 19, in relation to a 2012 Jane Doe murder case.

www.wtvm.com

By Jessie Gibson
Published: Jan. 19, 2023 at 10:51 AM EST|Updated: 13 minutes ago

OPELIKA, Ala. (WTVM) - New details have been released in an over-decade long investigation on an unidentified Jane Doe in Opelika.

In an emotional press conference by the Opelika Police Department on January 19, 2023, the identity of the child, as well as her family, have been released. Officials say Jane Doe has been identified as Amore Jovaeh Wiggins.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Press conference available at link. ~Summer

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Yessss! I knew it was only a matter of time after Othram got involved!!!
Justice for Amore!
I haven't been able to read through all the articles yet. Is there any indication that she WAS the bible study girl?

 

[Summer_Breeze]

Yessss! I knew it was only a matter of time after Othram got involved!!!
Justice for Amore!
I haven't been able to read through all the articles yet. Is there any indication that she WAS the bible study girl?

View attachment 18679

From the article Romulus posted earlier:

Opelika Jane Doe identified after 11 years: Father and his wife arrested

Amore Joveh Wiggins would be 17. Lamar Vickerstaff Jr. is charged with murder. His wife is charged with failure to report a missing child.

www.al.com

<snip>

In 2016, investigators received a tip that Opelika Jane Doe may have attended Vacation Bible School at Greater Peace Church in 2011, three miles from where her remains were found.

Photos from the Bible School were released, and investigators believed the child in the photographs was the unidentified child. Healey said Thursday they still aren’t sure if those are photos of Amore.

 

[Guess Who]

Identified as Amore Joveh Wiggins!

Opelika Jane Doe identified after 11 years: Father and his wife arrested

Amore Joveh Wiggins would be 17. Lamar Vickerstaff Jr. is charged with murder. His wife is charged with failure to report a missing child.

www.al.com

Opelika Jane Doe identified after 11 years: Father and his wife arrested​

• Updated: Jan. 19, 2023, 11:03 a.m.|
• Published: Jan. 19, 2023, 10:03 a.m.

Opelika Jane Doe's remains were found in a trailer park in 2012, and authorities have been trying to identify her for more than a decade. (Contributed)

After more than a decade of searching for the identity of a young girl whose skeletal remains were found in an Opelika trailer park, authorities now know who she is and have arrested her father and his wife.

Opelika Jane Doe, also known as Baby Jane, who investigators long suspected was abused, neglected and likely the victim of homicide, has been identified as Amore Joveh Wiggins. If still alive, Amore would be 17 years old.


Her father Lamar Vickerstaff Jr., a career serviceman in the U.S. Navy, is now charged with felony murder. His wife Ruth Vickerstaff, who is not Amore’s mother, is charged with failure to report a missing child.


A press conference is underway in Opelika. Opelika Police Chief Shane Healey was visibly emotional in announcing the break in the case.


“The level of dedication to this case I’ve never seen in my entire career,’' Healey said. “It felt really good to say her name out loud.”


Investigators were able to put the pieces together with the help of Othram Inc., a Texas-based company that uses highly-specialized DNA sequencing and genomics to advance biometrics and human identification, and renowned genealogist Barbara Rae-Venter, who helped police identify the Golden State Killer.


Othram specializes in forensic testing and works on the cutting edge of DNA and scientific techniques to help identify victims, locate missing persons and uncover perpetrators of crime.


“Amore suffered unspeakable abuse before she was murdered and it was heartbreaking to listen at the press conference as Sergeant (Alfred) White and Captain (John) Clifton recounted the decade-long effort to uncover her identity and bring the responsible parties to justice,” said David Mittelman, Othram CEO. “I am grateful that we were able to provide our DNA technology to assist in this case.”

They learned Amore was born in January 2006 and that her mother – 37-year-old Sherry Wiggins - lost custody of her in 2009. Amore went to live with his father and his girlfriend, and the mother lost all contact with her.



In January 2012, Opelika police responded to Brookhaven Trailer Park, located at 1775 Hurst Street in Opelika on a report of skeletal remains being found.

The skeletal remains of a young girl were found in Opelika in 2012. She has still not been identified. (FBI)


A skull was located in the yard of a residence while the majority of the bones were located only a few feet into the wood line behind a trailer and the adjacent lot.



During the search of the area, a pink child’s shirt and a small bundle of curly hair were also recovered.



The remains were sent to the FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Va., where a medical examination was performed.



The report stated that the remains were of a Black female likely between 4 to 7 years old who became affectionately known to the community as Baby Jane Doe.



An autopsy was performed and showed fractures to her skull, arms, legs, shoulders, and ribs; totaling more than 15 individual fractures that were attributed to blunt force trauma, authorities said.



These injuries all had evidence of healing and occurred sometime prior to her death.



Additionally, the medical examiner suggested that Jane Doe may have been malnourished and blind in her left eye due to a fracture in her eye socket. Jane Doe’s death was determined to be a homicide and believed to have occurred between the summer of 2010 to 2011.



Since the discovery of Jane Doe’s remains, detectives have reviewed over 15,000 case files from the Alabama Department of Public Health and investigated thousands of tips.



In 2016, investigators received a tip that Opelika Jane Doe may have attended Vacation Bible School at Greater Peace Church in 2011, three miles from where her remains were found.



Photos from the Bible School were released, and investigators believed the child in the photographs was the unidentified child. Healey said Thursday they still aren’t sure if those are photos of Amore.

In 2016, investigators received a tip that Opelika Jane Doe may have attended Vacation Bible School at Greater Peace Church in 2011, three miles from where her remains were found. (Contributed)


The Opelika Police Department had previously attempted to develop a DNA profile for Jane Doe however, they were unsuccessful due to the condition of the remains.



In January 2022, Opelika Jane Doe’s remains were sent to Othram’s laboratory in the The Woodlands, Texas.



Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the remains and built a comprehensive genealogical profile.



Finally, Othram uploaded the profile to a genealogical database to enable a search for genetic relatives.



For the genetic genealogy research, police retained Rae-Venter, who is a genealogist, biologist, and retired patent attorney. Her team, Firebird Forensics Group, produced investigative leads which were returned to Opelika Police Department.



In October 2022, Jane Doe’s father was identified as the 50-year-old Vickerstaff, who was born and raised in Opelika before he enlisted in the U.S. Navy.



During his lengthy Navy career, Vickerstaff lived in Norfolk, Va., Honolulu, Hawaii and Jacksonville, Fla.



In December of 2022, Opelika detectives traveled to the Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, where Vickerstaff is currently stationed, to notify him of his daughter’s death.



During the meeting, Vickerstaff did not provide investigators with any information on the identity of Jane Doe.



Detectives then met with Vickerstaff’s wife, who has been married to him since May of 2006. She told investigators she did not know his daughter or who may be the mother of Jane Doe.



Rae-Venter was able to determine several possible matches for Jane Doe’s mother and detectives were able to narrow the results down to a woman in Maryland.



In December of 2022, detectives met with Wiggins who confirmed she was the biological mother of Jane Doe.



A native of Norfolk, Wiggins said she gave birth Amore in 2006.



She provided documentation showing that Lamar and Ruth Vickerstaff obtained legal and physical custody of her daughter in 2009, at which time her visitation with Amore was suspended.



Wiggins also provided documents indicating that she has continuously paid child support to Lamar Vickerstaff since 2009.



Follow up DNA testing at Othram, using KinSNP familial relationship testing, supported the parent-child relationship of both Sherry Wiggins and Lamar Vickerstaff to the DNA profile that Othram developed from the remains of the little girl.



Detectives reached out to the school boards and pediatric clinics in several states where Lamar and Ruth Vickerstaff lived and determined that Amore was never enrolled in school nor was, she reported as a missing person.



Opelika detectives then met with the Lee County District Attorney’s Office to seek criminal charges.



On Jan. 17, 2023, Lamar and Ruth Vickerstaff, 53, were arrested in Jacksonville, Florida.



They are currently being held at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office pending extradition to Lee County. Healey said they’ve waived extradition, and authorities are making preparations to return them to Alabama.



Lamar Vickerstaff attended Opelika High School and had relatives living in the area where Amore’s remains were found.



“We’ve continued to work this investigation It does remain open,’' Healey said. “In fact just yesterday we executed a search warrant at a trailer near where her remains were found in conjunction with he FBI’s Evidence Response Team.”



“Our hearts go out to Sherry Wiggins,’' the chief said, “who was a tremendous help in solving the case and helping bring justice to her baby girl.”



Healey also mentioned former Lee County Coroner Bill Harris, who until his death in June continuously worked toward identifying “Baby Jane.”



“I have no doubt he is celebrating with Amore today,” Healey said.



The chief lauded the numerous investigators who worked on the case, especially Sgt. White.



“Many of us said that we did not want to leave our time at this police department until we had her name, and now we do. Amore Wiggins,’' he said.



Capt. Clifton said the case has been personal to the police department.



“It’s very personal to us,’' Clifton said. “She was part of our family but now her mother has justice and she knows what happened to her daughter.”



Investigators want to speak with anyone who knows the Vickerstaffs and had interaction with them over, and possibly Amore, over the years.



“Amore suffered a tremendous, horrible death,’' Clifton said. “She had a tragic end to her life.”

The stepmonster claims that she didn't know the identity of the child or his daughter yet didn't question why her husband was receiving child support payments...yeah, right.

 

[Guess Who]

2012 Opelika Jane Doe identified; father, step-mother arrested

The Opelika Police Department is holding a press conference Thursday, January 19, in relation to a 2012 Jane Doe murder case.

www.wtvm.com

By Jessie Gibson
Published: Jan. 19, 2023 at 10:51 AM EST|Updated: 13 minutes ago

OPELIKA, Ala. (WTVM) - New details have been released in an over-decade long investigation on an unidentified Jane Doe in Opelika.

In an emotional press conference by the Opelika Police Department on January 19, 2023, the identity of the child, as well as her family, have been released. Officials say Jane Doe has been identified as Amore Jovaeh Wiggins.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Press conference available at link. ~Summer

Wow, they both look mean.

 

[Kimster]

And they kept raking in the child support! Well, why should I be surprised since they had no problem murdering her! So glad Amore will get justice now.

 

[Summer_Breeze]

Vickerstaffs, arrested in connection to the death of Amore Wiggins, extradited to Opelika

Lamar and Ruth Vickerstaff, who were both arrested in connection to the death of previously unidentified Opelika Jane Doe, have been extradited to Opelika.

oanow.com

• LAUREN JOHNSON
• Jan 26, 2023 Updated 10 hrs ago

Lamar and Ruth Vickerstaff, who were both arrested in connection to the death of previously unidentified Opelika Jane Doe, have been extradited to Opelika.

With the assistance of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Aviation unit, the Vickerstaffs landed in Opelika Thursday afternoon to be transported to the Lee County Justice Center.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Opelika Jane Doe’s father denied bond; stepmother’s bond set

The Vickerstaffs arrived in Opelika on Jan. 26 to be processed before being taken to the Lee County Detention Center.

www.wtvm.com

Opelika Jane Doe’s father denied bond; stepmother’s bond set​

The father and stepmother of Opelika Jane Doe, known as Amore Wiggins, were extradited from Florida on Thursday, January 26.

Amore’s father, Lamar Vickerstaff Jr., is facing a felony murder charge, while her stepmom, Ruth Vickerstaff, is facing a failure to report a missing child charge.

In a courtroom today, Lamar Vickerstaff was denied bond by a Lee Co. judge. Ruth Vickerstaff’s bond was set for $10,000.

 

[Mel70]

I'm so happy they identified her. I figured it was a parent. AGAIN! Abuse, Neglect, No missing report. She was not enrolled in school. Big surprise. The mother paid child support up to last year. He wouldn't let her see Amore. "She's fine over here with us". That's a very sickening untruth.

Norfolk mother of Amore mourns loss of daughter

Amore Wiggins’ body was found more than 10 years ago in Opelika, Alabama, but until last week, she had been known by a different name as investigators worked to find out her identity, what ha…

www.wavy.com

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

“Amore Means Love” benefit at local Opelika shop in honor of Amore ‘Baby Jane Doe’ Wiggins

“Amore Wiggins, this is a picture of her,” says Jenkins. Owner of 10th Street Nutrition, Mallorie Jenkins is explaining to her customers the story of Amore Wiggins. “You’ll have to look up her story, very traumatic,” says Jenkins.

www.wtvm.com

“Amore Means Love” benefit at local Opelika shop in honor of Amore ‘Baby Jane Doe’ Wiggins​

“With Valentine’s Day coming up, and you know amore meaning love, we wanted to honor her this month,” says Jenkins. The shop decked out with heart shaped balloons, and symbols of love. We showed Amore’s mother Sherry Wiggins how the shop is supporting the memory of her daughter.

“It’s beautiful, I’m just amazed of how many people, the whole entire community and how they come together and love my baby, they show her so much love, and I greatly appreciate it,” says Wiggins.

And the community is supporting the benefit. “It creates more awareness, that parents can watch for their kids better, and to make sure we know what happens in the community when something does go wrong and that we as a community can take care of it,” says customer Rod Todd. Which Sherry Wiggins says gives her comfort knowing amore is supported by a community.

“I feel beyond blessed, amore was definitely loved, and blessed as well, it brings me comfort,” says Wiggins.

 

[Summer_Breeze]

Father of Amore Wiggins’ defense attorney requests motion to set bond

Lamar Vickerstaff is charged with the murder of Amore Wiggins, previously known as Opelika’s Baby Jane Doe.

www.wtvm.com

By Jatavia O'Neal
Published: Feb. 21, 2023 at 4:47 PM EST

OPELIKA, Ala. (WTVM) - Lamar Vickerstaff’s legal team is requesting a motion to set bond.

Vickerstaff is charged with the murder of Amore Wiggins, previously known as Opelika’s Baby Jane Doe.

At his arrangement, Vickerstaff was initially denied bond and has remained in custody at Lee County Jail. His defense attorney plans to argue Vickerstaff’s character and his service in the US Navy, among other things, to make him a good candidate for bond.

His wife, Ruth Vickerstaff, has been out on bond since her arrangement. She is charged with failing to report a missing person.

 

[Summer_Breeze]

Little girl laid to rest in Norfolk ten years after skeletal remains found in Alabama

It took police a decade to identify Amore Wiggins’ remains. Her family held a funeral for her in Norfolk.

www.13newsnow.com

Author: Dana Smith
Published: 6:59 PM EST February 25, 2023
Updated: 12:43 AM EST February 26, 2023

NORFOLK, Va. — A little girl discovered dead in an Alabama mobile home park more than 10 years ago will finally be laid to rest.

ABC affiliate WTVM reported in January, police arrested the father of Amore Wiggins this year, more than 10 years after investigators found the child’s skeletal remains.

At Amore’s funeral in Norfolk Saturday, it was an emotional day for the family.

“Amore - if I could do it all over again, I would hold you so tight. Never in a million years did I think you wouldn’t be loved right,” Amore’s mother Sherry Wiggins said.

 

[Summer_Breeze]

Opelika Police: Amore Wiggins’ father confessed to killing daughter in Baby Jane case

OPELIKA, Ala. (WRBL) –During a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, the man who stands accused of murdering his biological daughter, Amore Wiggins, in the decade-old Opelika Baby Jane Doe case, report…

www.wrbl.com

by: Elizabeth White
Posted: Mar 22, 2023 / 03:20 PM EDT
Updated: Mar 22, 2023 / 03:20 PM EDT

OPELIKA, Ala. (WRBL) –During a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, the man who stands accused of murdering his biological daughter, Amore Wiggins, in the decade-old Opelika Baby Jane Doe case, reportedly made a shocking confession. He allegedly admitted to the killing during a videotaped police interview after waiving his Miranda Rights.

Lamar Vickerstaff faces felony murder charges, while his wife Ruth Vickerstaff, who is not Amore’s biological mother, is charged with failing to report a missing child. The preliminary hearings for both defendants happened Wednesday, a judge did determine there is sufficient probable cause to proceed to a Grand Jury.

<snip>
Lamar Vickerstaff is currently being held at the Lee County Detention Facility without bail. Ruth Vickerstaff was released on a $10,000 and can now travel to Jacksonville, Florida with an ankle monitor per the judge’s order on Wednesday. Lee County prosecutors had asked the judge not to allow Ruth to leave Alabama, claiming they received an anonymous phone call saying Ruth had already been traveling back to Florida even though the judge had ordered her to stay in Alabama.

Meanwhile, According to court documents, a witness statement puts Lamar Vickerstaff in Opelika during the estimated time of Amore Wiggin’s death between 2010 and 2011. Additionally, we learned Vickerstaff has ties to the exact area where her remains were recovered and how he went AWOL from the Navy before a scheduled meeting with Opelika police in Florida. Vickerstaff’s AWOL from the Navy is one reason why the judge decided to deny Lamar Vickerstaff’s defense attorney’s request for bond under Aniah’s Law.

 

[Summer_Breeze]

Opelika Police Department hosts candlelight vigil for Amore Wiggins

Opelika’s Baby Jane Doe now identified as Amore Wiggins brought many together Sunday evening in her honor. A place where her life was short lived. The community paying their respects to Amore.

www.wtvm.com

By Reagan Ranzer
Published: Apr. 3, 2023 at 12:28 PM EDT
Updated: 1 hour ago

AUBURN, Ala. (WTVM) - Opelika’s Baby Jane Doe now identified as Amore Wiggins brought many together Sunday evening in her honor. A place where her life was short lived. The community paying their respects to Amore.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Video of candelight vigil at link. ~Summer

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

'No more silence': Sherry Wiggins to speak out against domestic violence at community event

Sherry Wiggins, the mother of Amore Wiggins (Opelika Baby Jane Doe), will be returning to Opelika for Samford Community Outreach Group’s 8th annual Take a Stand Against Violence event.

oanow.com

'No more silence': Sherry Wiggins to speak out against domestic violence at community event​

Sherry Wiggins, the mother of domestic violence victim Amore Wiggins, will return to Opelika on Aug. 5 for the Take a Stand Against Violence event at Christian Care Ministries.

Wiggins and several others who have been personally impacted by violence will use their voices to spread awareness and share their stories in the hopes of preventing violence in the future. During the 11 a.m. event, everyone will take a moment to remember people in the community who fell victim to violence.

“I believe that it’s really important for me to share my story with domestic violence and all of what my daughter went through, because a lot of this goes silent. A lot of this went silent,” Wiggins said. “People are experiencing this every day, whether it’s in the house, in the community or at work. Domestic violence is truly real and a lot of women, men and children hide if for many reasons.”

Wiggins said no child should ever go through what her daughter went through.

Wiggins is also hoping that by speaking up and sharing her story that it will encourage people to consider making changes to the laws surrounding custody battles and visitation rights for parents. She said if the laws had been a little different, her daughter might still be alive.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

City of Opelika to build memorial for Amore Wiggins

The baby once affectionally known as Baby Jane Doe in Opelika will have a memorial put up in her honor, but the Opelika Police Department needs help getting thousands of dollars to have it built.

www.wtvm.com

City of Opelika to build memorial for Amore Wiggins​

The baby once affectionally known as Baby Jane Doe in Opelika will have a memorial put up in her honor, but the Opelika Police Department needs help getting thousands of dollars to have it built.

Little Amore Wiggins’ remains were discovered over ten years ago in a mobile home park in Opelika. Now that she has been properly identified, the department wants to memorialize her with a statue and needs your help and that of local businesses.

She has become like family to Opelika police officers, and now, they want to honor her memory with a statue.

“She was unidentified for ten years, so she became part of our family for here in Opelika until we could find her family,” said Community Relations Administrator Allison Duke.

They did find her family thanks to sophisticated technology and DNA.

“Can y’all just say it one time? Life her name up. Amore Jo’Veah Wiggins.”

Her mother, Sherry Wiggins, spoke at the podium back in April for a memorial, which is when the donation idea came about for the statue.

“We’re hoping to raise about $15,000. That’s kind of just the rough estimate for the statue and the bench to be commissioned.”

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Details on the death of Amore Wiggins, an Opelika girl who allegedly suffered from abuse

About ten years after the skeletal remains of a young girl were found in Opelika, investigators identified her as Amore Wiggins. Lamar Vickerstaff Jr., her father, was charged with murder.

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Details on the death of Amore Wiggins, an Opelika girl who allegedly suffered from abuse​

As the jury trial for Lamar Vickerstaff Jr. approaches, revisit the details Opelika police have shared so far regarding the death of his young daughter.

Amore Wiggins went unidentified for over 10 years after her skeletal remains were found in the woods behind the Brookhaven Trailer Park on Hurst Street in January 2012. Investigators believed she was malnourished and abused before dying at the age of 4 or 5.

Vickerstaff has been arrested and charged with murdering his child. Ruth Vickerstaff, the victim's stepmother and murder suspect's wife, has been charged with failure to report a missing child.

Here's a timeline with more details from the case:

AT LINK

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Opelika honors Amore Wiggins on 18th birthday, defendant seeks ankle monitor removal

OPELIKA, Ala. (WRBL) – The Opelika Police Department is remembering the life of Amore Wiggins on her 18th birthday as the woman charged in connection with her disappearance is aski…

www.wrbl.com

Opelika honors Amore Wiggins on 18th birthday, defendant seeks ankle monitor removal​

January 1st, 2024, should have been Amore Wiggins 18th Birthday.

“Sadly, her precious life was cut short more than 12 years ago. To celebrate the day of her birth, we have secured funding needed to have a custom bronze statue made of her. Thank to all of the generous donors, you helped us make it possible to memorialize this beautiful child,” said Opelika Police Chief Shane Healey.


Tuesday in court Amore Wiggins’ step-mother, Ruth Vickerstaff and her defense attorney Zachary Alsobrook asked Judge Jeff Tickal to remove her ankle monitor. Ruth is out on a $10,000 bond awaiting her trial on allegations she failed to report Amore was missing. Judge Tickal denied Ruth’s request to remove her ankle monitor, but she can travel for work if she provides proof of employment. Ruth can also travel to see relatives if she gets prior approval from the court.

Ruth’s husband, 50-year-old Lamar Vickerstaff is accused in the decade-old Opelika Baby Jane Doe case, allegedly confessed to killing his biological daughter, Amore Wiggins. He is being held without bond. Investigators testified during a previous hearing that Lamar Vickerstaff repeatedly admitted to the crime during a taped police interview, expressing a desire for immunity for his wife. Despite Opelika detectives finding some of Lamar Vickerstaff’s statements credible, doubts linger. Vickerstaff claimed to have transported Amore from Virginia to Alabama, where he eventually placed her, offering no details on the method but insisting on attempting resuscitation. During previous testimony, we learned Virginia Child Protective Services investigated an anonymous report of abuse and injuries to Amore when under Ruth’s care. Ruth initially denied knowledge of Amore, later admitting awareness and attributing her disappearance to Lamar taking her to relatives in Alabama.

No trial date has been set.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Father charged with murdering Amore Wiggins denied request for bond

An Opelika native accused of killing his daughter before she reached the age of 8 appeared at the Lee County Justice Center on Tuesday for his bond hearing.

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Father charged with murdering Amore Wiggins denied request for bond​

An Opelika native accused of killing his daughter before she reached the age of 8 appeared at the Lee County Justice Center on Tuesday for his bond hearing.

Lamar Vickerstaff Jr., 51, has been incarcerated since he was arrested in January 2023 and charged with the murder of Amore Wiggins. His request for bond was denied in the midst of preparations for the trial.

Vickerstaff joins co-defendant Ruth Vickerstaff, who was charged with failure to report a missing child. She’s Wiggins stepmother, according to Auburn police.


Lamar Vickerstaff Jr. was being held without bond before he appeared before Judge Jeffrey G. Tickal on Tuesday.

Attorneys David Dawson and Todd Crutchfield, who represented the defendant, argued that Lamar Vickerstaff Jr. was not a flight risk.

They went on to say he has ties to the community and needs to be released from jail as they work their defense. Dawson said they cannot do what is needed to prepare while the defense is in jail due to “logistical and publicity reasons.”

Lee County District Attorney Jessica Ventiere said that the only thing that would alleviate the state’s concerns would be if Lamar Vickerstaff Jr. remained in jail. She said Lamar Vickerstaff Jr. being released to investigate his own case was a “terrible idea.”


Tickal denied the bond request, but said that if Lamar Vickerstaff Jr.’s representation wanted to explain something to him ex parte, he would take it under consideration.

Following the bond denial, Tickal mentioned looking to set a trial date for the case, specifically in the fall. Ventiere called the timeline ambitious.

She stated that while it is not a capital case, it is similar to one and there is a lot of work going into preparing and gathering information. Ventiere also mentioned that the DA’s Office does have a capital case coming up with Zhuobin Wang.

Ventiere said that if the trial date was set in the fall, they would be ready.