CA SONOMA JANE DOE: WF, 16-21, found hog-tied at bottom of canyon in Santa Rosa, CA - 2 Jul 1979 - Red hair, contacts

[Romulus]

NamUs UP17490

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

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Unidentified Body/Remains (White Female)
Found July 2, 1979 in Sonoma County, CA
Body Condition: Not recognizable - Near complete or complete skeleton
Probable year of death: 1976 to 1976
Estimated postmortem interval: 3 years

Vital Statistics
Estimated age: 16-21 (Late Teen/Young Adult)
Approximate Height: 63 estimate
Approximate Weight: cannot estimate
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Unknown
Scars and marks: Broken arm

Clothing & Accessories
Clothing: unknown
Jewerly: unknown
Footwear: nothing
Accessories: found near the victim was a hard contact lens inside a metal candy tin with cherries on it

Identifiers
Fingerprints: Fingerprint information is not available
Dentals: Dental information / charting is available and entered
DNA: Sample is currently not available

Case History: On 07/02/1979, a hiker located the skeletal remains at the bottom of a canyon near a body of water.

#JaneDoe is a victim of the Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murder, which included the deaths of least seven female hitchhikers between 1972 to 1974

Found July 2, 1979 in Sonoma County, CA Body Condition: Not recognizable - Near complete or complete skeleton Probable year of death: 1976 to 1976

www.crimewatchers.net

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[Romulus]

1525UFCA - Unidentified Female​

Sketch of decedent

Date of Discovery: July 2, 1979
Location of Discovery: Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California
Estimated Date of Death: 3-7 years prior
State of Remains: Near complete or complete skeleton
Cause of Death: Homicide

Physical Description​

Estimated Age: 16-21 years old
Race: White
Sex: Female
Height: 5'3", estimated
Weight: Unknown; medium build
Hair: Brown or auburn
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Previously broken rib, healed; broken arm at time of death.

Identifiers​

Dentals: Available
Fingerprints: Unavailable
DNA: Available

Clothing & Personal Items​

Clothing: None
Jewelry: None
Additional Personal Items: Hard contact lens inside a metal candy tin decorated with cherries found near the remains.

Circumstances of Discovery​

Hikers found skeletal remains, nude and hog-tied, in a steep ravine along a creek west of Calistoga Road near Santa Rosa. The decedent had been stuffed in a duffle or laundry-type bag before she was dumped approximately one hundred yards from where the body of Lori Lee Kursa was recovered seven years earlier.

She is a victim of the Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murder, which included the deaths of least seven female hitchhikers between 1972 to 1974. Several suspects, including the Zodiac Killer, Arthur Leigh Allen, and Ted Bundy have been considered, but no one has yet to be convicted.

This woman is the only unidentified victim attributed to this serial killer. She was previously speculated to be Jeannette Kamahele, but dental comparison and DNA ruled her out.

Investigating Agency(s)​

Agency Name: Sonoma County Sheriff-Coroner Unit
Agency Contact Person: Adrian Mancilla
Agency Phone Number: 707-565-5070
Agency E-Mail: Unknown
Agency Case Number: 28163

Agency Name: Sonoma County Sheriff's Office-Violent Crimes Unit
Agency Contact Person: Unknown
Agency Phone Number: 707-565-2185
Agency E-Mail: Unknown
Agency Case Number: 79-0356009

Agency Name: UNT Center for Human Identification
Agency Contact Person: Dustin Driscoll
Agency Phone Number: 817-240-4106 or 855-626-7600
Agency E-Mail: Dustin.Driscoll(at)unthsc.edu
Agency Case Number: Unknown

NCIC Case Number: Unknown
NamUs Case Number: 17490

Information Source(s)​

NamUs
Wikipedia
Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders Website
The Press Democrat July 9 & 25, 1979
Petaluma Argus-Courier July 10 & 11, 1979

1525UFCA