Artistic renderings of the victim. To view post mortem photographs of the victim, please click photo 1 and photo 2 (Please note, the second image was taken after the body was embalmed).
Date of Discovery: July 18, 1980
Location of Discovery: Weslake, Ventura County, California
Estimated Date of Death: 12 hours prior.
State of Remains: Recognizable face.
Cause of Death: Homicide by stabbing; victim was also strangled.
Physical Description
Estimated Age: 18-30 years old
Race: White and/or Hispanic or Native American.
Gender: Female
Height: 5'1" to 5'3"
Weight: 110 to 115 pounds lbs.
Hair Color: Black, shoulder-length with bleached tips
Eye Color: Brown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Four-to-five months pregnant with a boy; evidence of prior pregnancies. Scar on right buttock. Mole on right hand. Two vaccination scars were on the left upper arm. Small ovoid scarring was on the left knee. Episotomy scar. Pierced ears. Shaved eyebrows with penciled brows. Some moles/freckles on face.
Identifiers
Dentals: Available. Extensive dental work. Teeth #24 and #25 mesial lingual rotation.
Fingerprints: Available
DNA: Sample submitted - Tests complete
Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: White pullover short sleeve shirt, black bra, underwear, red corduroy pants. Black high-heeled open toe shoes were found near the body.
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown
Circumstances of Discovery
A Westlake High School employee found the body of a pregnant woman in the school parking lot at 100 Lakeview Canyon Road. The woman had been raped, strangled and stabbed to death. Evidence suggests she was killed at another location.
Investigators believe she may have been from Kern County or the San Fernando Valley.
In 2015, DNA results from scrapings of her fingernails and clothing linked the woman and 59UFCA (discovered in Kern County) to Wilson Chouest, a 63-year-old, who was already in prison. He did not apparently know the victims. He was charged with the murders of the adult victims and this victim's unborn son.
Investigating Agency(s)
Agency Name: Ventura County Sheriff's Department
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 805-384-4735
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 80-12246
Agency Name: Ventura County County Medical Examiner's Office
Agency Contact Person: Janelle Payne
Agency Phone Number: 805-641-4400 or 805-641-4400
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 0780-80
NCIC Case Number: Not entered
NamUs Case Number: 11249
Former Hot Case Number: 859
Information Source(s)
NamUs
Thousand Oaks Acorn
KTLA 5 News
NBC Los Angeles
ABC 23 News
Kern Golden Empire
Daily News of Los Angeles News Archive
ABC News Archive
Admin Notes
/
Added: 7/27/13; Last Updated: 8/28/17
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.
www.namus.gov
PM photo in link!
#UP11249
Female, Hispanic / Latino
Date Body Found July 18, 1980
Location Found Westlake, California
Estimated Age Range 10-30 Years
Case Information
Case Numbers
NCMEC Number--
ME/C Case Number 0780-80
Demographics
Sex Female
Race / Ethnicity Hispanic / Latino
Possible First Name --
Possible Middle Name--
Possible Last Name--
Possible Nickname--
Estimated Age Group Adult - Pre 30
Estimated Age Range (Years) 10-30
Estimated Year of Death--
Estimated PMI Hours
Height 5' 2"(62 inches) , Measured
Weight 110 lbs, Estimated
Circumstances
Type Unidentified Deceased
Date Body Found July 18, 1980
NamUs Case Created April 25, 2013
ME/C QA Reviewed--
Location Found Map
Location Westlake, California 91362
County Ventura County
GPS Coordinates (Not Mapped)--
Circumstances of Recovery This unidentified female was found in a high school parking lot.
Details of Recovery
Inventory of Remains All parts recovered
Condition of Remains Recognizable face
Physical Description
Hair Color Black
Head Hair Description Black with lighter dyed ends.
Body Hair Description--
Facial Hair Description--
Left Eye Color Brown
Right Eye Color Brown
Eye Description--
Distinctive Physical Features
Item
Description
Piercing
The ears were pierced.
Scar/mark
Two vaccination scars were on the left upper arm. Small ovoid scarring was on the left knee. An old episiotomy scar was present.
Clothing and Accessories
Item
Description
Accessories
Black heeled sandals were found near the body.
Near the Body
Clothing
White pullover shirt, black bra, underwear, red pants.
On the Body
Ventura Co Jane Doe - DNA Doe Project
Description On July 18, 1980, at 12:40 PM, Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report and found a young woman dead in the parking lot of Westlake High School. Evidence at the scene suggested that the victim may have been killed elsewhere and her body moved to the parking lot. An...
dnadoeproject.org
Ventura Co Jane Doe
Active Cases
Description
On July 18, 1980, at 12:40 PM, Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report and found a young woman dead in the parking lot of Westlake High School. Evidence at the scene suggested that the victim may have been killed elsewhere and her body moved to the parking lot. An autopsy determined the victim died as a result of multiple stab wounds, but she had also been raped and strangled. A forensic anthropologist determined the young female was Hispanic and/or Native American, age 15 – 25 years, 5′ 2, 110 – 115 lbs, brown eyes, and black shoulder length hair with bleached tips. She had extensive dental work and was 4 months pregnant with evidence of prior pregnancy(s). She wore white pullover short sleeve top, black bra, red corduroy pants, and black high heeled open toed shoes. In 2015, DNA results from scrapings of Venture Jane Doe’s fingernails was used to convict serial killer Wilson Chouest of her murder, but not her unborn son.
Agency of Jurisdiction
Ventura County Sheriff’s Office-Major Crimes Investigations
Kevin Bernzott, Detective
805-383-8704
Links to More Information
1020UFCA
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
Cold Case Homicide, Dead Body Located | The Fillmore Gazette
Wilson Chouest - Wikipedia
DDP Status
Research in progress. Samples of Ventura Jane Doe and her fetus have completed DNA extraction and sequencing. We are starting with the mother.
Links to Ventura Jane Doe Articles
Posted on October 14, 2018
#JaneDoe was pregnant when she was found murdered in a high school parking lot in Westlake Village, CA - 18 July 1980
Date of Discovery: July 18, 1980 Location of Discovery: Weslake, Ventura County, California Estimated Date of Death: 12 hours prior. State of Remains: Recognizable face. Cause of Death: Homicide by stabbing; victim was also strangled.
www.crimewatchers.net
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