AZ AZ - Phoenix, Female UP984, 19-30, in roadside ditch, retainer on teeth, Aug'83

Maricopa County, AZ

Case Number
83-1480
Found on
08/15/83
Age Range
early 20's
Jurisdiction

Gender
Female
Circumstances
This female was found in the desert south of Ahwatukee.
Description
Her race is not indicated. She is approximately 5' 5" tall and weighed 140-160 pounds. She had dark brown hair that was short and naturally curly. She had brown eyes. She had worn braces in the past and she was still wearing a retainer and had fillings as well.
Scientific Information
Dental x-rays available, DNA will be entered into CODIS.
 
Last edited:
Maricopa County, AZ

Case Number
83-1480
Found on
08/15/83
Age Range
early 20's
Jurisdiction

Gender
Female
Circumstances
This female was found in the desert south of Ahwatukee.
Description
Her race is not indicated. She is approximately 5' 5" tall and weighed 140-160 pounds. She had dark brown hair that was short and naturally curly. She had brown eyes. She had worn braces in the past and she was still wearing a retainer and had fillings as well.
Scientific Information
Dental x-rays available, DNA will be entered into CODIS.

Yes, this Jane Doe is most likely Lori. Very sad they can't find her biological parents so DNA can be obtained and tested.
 
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

MP53532 Peggy Elgo 01/01/1983 Gila AZ
MP1353 Theresa Geaves 08/11/1983 Davis UT
MP14016 Linda Jackson 05/03/1983 King WA
MP19340 Leslie Marty 07/30/1983 Wood WV
MP8358 Pamela Neal 03/31/1983 Arapahoe CO
MP6466 Mary Opitz 01/16/1981 Lee FL
MP9037 Kristina Perkins 09/10/1975 Maricopa AZ
MP4575 Amy Yachimec 11/06/1981 Maricopa AZ

@Caring1 Hey could you post the current list of NamUs exclusions for this Jane Doe? I would greatly appreciate it.

Still the same 8 exclusions previously posted. The Namus case hasn't been updated since 2019.
 
March 3 2023 rbbm
1679490344897.png
''It's a mystery near four decades long.
August 15th, 1983 Phoenix Police Officers located a woman's body near a canal access road around 43rd Street and Williams Road, in an Ahwatukee neighborhood. For years, detectives worked to identify the woman with no luck. For the past 37 years, she has been known only as “Medical Examiner Case Number 83-1480", and Ahwatukee Jane Doe. Her true identity has remained a mystery.''

Fast forward to 2018. Detectives with the Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit used a new technique called Forensic Genealogy. If that term sounds familiar, it is because Phoenix Police and other agencies have had recent success with this new technology. Results from this testing located some very distant relatives and determined that Ahwatukee Jane was likely a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe. This information was shared with local media, and family members from a missing woman named Peggy Elgo came forward.
Newsroom_Peggy_Son.jpg

'While one book closed, the other remans open. Ahwatukee Jane Doe's identity is still a mystery. Phoenix detectives hope another family member will see this story and come forward, like Peggy Elgo's family did, and provide information on who Ahwatukee Jane is.

Ahwatukee Jane is described as a Native American female, 25-30 years old in 1983, 5'05", 142 pounds, with shoulder length black hair with loose curls, and brown eyes. She had a metal retainer on the tongue side of her lower teeth. During her life, she had orthodontic dental work that was characterized as “excellent". Forensic Genealogy has shown that she is likely a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe.


If anyone has any information on the Ahwatukee Jane case, please contact the Phoenix Police Department's Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit at 602-534-2121, or after hours contact 602-262-6141. Tips can also be called into Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS, 480-TESTIGO for Spanish.
 
Cases submitted to NamUs for comparison.

On August 30, 1979, it is believed that Carlota Maria Sanchez, and her cousin, Elsie Luscier may have ran away. It is suspected that they may have traveled to Seattle, Washington or to Arizona. Approximately 4 years later, and unidentified female was found deceased in Phoenix, Arizona matching Carlota's physical description. However, Carlota would have been 16.5 years old at the time, and the minimum estimated age of the unidentified is 19 years old. Nevertheless, the two look very similar.

carlota-sanchez.jpg


Carlota Maria Sanchez (NamUs #MP7001, Agency Case Number 04-431912)
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
WA - WA - Carlota Sanchez, 12, & Elsie Luscier, 13, Taholah, 30 Aug 1979

Phoenix, AZ Unidentified (NamUs #UP984, Agency Case Number 83-1480)
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
 
OMG!!!!! In Carlota Maria Sanchez photo, it appears she has a retainer on her teeth which we already know the unidentified has! Charlota's case file does not mention a retainer on her teeth but she has one!

I passed the tip onto to the FBI as well.
 
Last edited:
Cases submitted to NamUs for comparison.

On August 30, 1979, it is believed that Carlota Maria Sanchez, and her cousin, Elsie Luscier may have ran away. It is suspected that they may have traveled to Seattle, Washington or to Arizona. Approximately 4 years later, and unidentified female was found deceased in Phoenix, Arizona matching Carlota's physical description. However, Carlota would have been 16.5 years old at the time, and the minimum estimated age of the unidentified is 19 years old. Nevertheless, the two look very similar.

View attachment 497877


Carlota Maria Sanchez (NamUs #MP7001, Agency Case Number 04-431912)
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
WA - WA - Carlota Sanchez, 12, & Elsie Luscier, 13, Taholah, 30 Aug 1979

Phoenix, AZ Unidentified (NamUs #UP984, Agency Case Number 83-1480)
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Not a match. Both cases are in CODIS. However, there is great news. The Maricopa Office of the Medical Examiner found a name for this unidentified decedent, and they're just waiting on final confirmation. Good for them, and the missing's family.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
 

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