KY KY - Redhead Murders, 70's-90's

Unidentified Victims:

Wetzel County Jane Doe
Found Feb. 13, 1983

56UFWV1.jpg

tumblr_inline_oh7jt5UxUs1u5tphq_1280.jpg


Campbell County Jane Doe:
Found April 3, 1985
1000


Cheatham County Jane Doe

Found March 31, 1985

(Does anyone know why there isn't a reconstruction available for Cheatham County Jane Doe?)

1000


Greene County Jane Doe:
Found April 14, 1985

latest
 
POSSIBLE VICTIMS:

Desoto County Jane Doe

Found Jan. 24, 1985

latest


Pulaski County Jane Doe
Found April 20, 1985

1000


Rising Fawn Jane Doe
Found Dec. 16, 1988

latest


Roane County Jane Doe
Found Aug. 29, 1987

1000



I've also seen the possibility of a Benton County Jane Doe, but I can't find any photos or information on her.
 
TY for the listing dorothyland

Have wondered if Rising Fawn could be a possibility the only drawback for her not making the scope of the Red Head Murders was due to her having been sexually assaulted.

All thou she was found off the side of the interstate indicates it was someone passing through and my personal opinion it was a trucker.

WV Mysteries did a great vid on Wetzel

 
TY for the listing dorothyland

Have wondered if Rising Fawn could be a possibility the only drawback for her not making the scope of the Red Head Murders was due to her having been sexually assaulted.

All thou she was found off the side of the interstate indicates it was someone passing through and my personal opinion it was a trucker.

WV Mysteries did a great vid on Wetzel


Thank you for posting this video! I considered posting Wetzel's postmortem photos but I always hesitate in doing so because I don't feel like I know how to give an appropriate warning of graphic material.

I've been interested in this case for a couple years now but I think something triggered an obsession in it for me, probably Espy being officially identified since I've been really hoping for that to happen. I'm surprised at how the information in this thread hasn't really been organized yet. I'm very interested in these women getting their names back, which will hopefully lead to more information on who killed them.

I'm a visual person so I like things organized in specific ways. I'm going to post some more today because it's been very slow at work and this is a better way to spend my time than playing phone games! My way of organization may end up being mostly for my benefit of understanding, but I hope it helps other sleuthers see things with new eyes as well.
 
The thread absolutely needs a bit of updating and organization I am visual as well and tend to like things to be neat and all the information in a single place. Cases get discussed and the bits and pieces become scattered through out the thread. Was researching a few weeks back but found myself more drawn into and focused with WV cases feel as thou 2 were related but no to the RHSK.

Oh yes ... all these women do not deserve just to be named only as Jane Doe's they had family friends children people whom loved them .. no matter their circumstances.

Todd has an archived episode on Missing Pieces that provides a bit of info as well.
Missing Pieces Episode 50 Archive
 
Has Patricia Mae Lopaka ever been considered Cheatham County Jane Doe, found in 1985?

Hey! I'm trying to find information on Patricia Mae Lopaka and can't seem to find anything. How did you find out about her as a missing person?
 
Alright, I'm posting what I've been working on for the past few days in my free time at work.

I went back through this thread and organized the information on every suggested Jane Doe, Missing Person, Unsolved Murder, etc... I'm going to post additional Jane Does and Missing Persons in an upcoming post. I believe these murders are the work of at least 4 serial murderers and the keys to solving any of these crimes are found in identifying these Jane Does.

I've put as many relevant dates possible with each victim. I've also listed where a person was from vs. where they were found. I wanted to establish how geographic distance in these cases does not provide as many obstacles as in other cases. For example, we could have a missing person's report from anywhere in the country (or beyond) of a woman who may have have traveled through the south and become a victim.

I'm also intending to create a spreadsheet of NamUs comparisons for these Jane Does. If there are multiple Jane Does with the same stats, then it would be sense to me that they should be compared to the same missing persons.
 
IDENTIFIED



Lisa Nichols

Found Sept. 16, 1984

-From WV

-Spent Time in FL

-Found in AR

(Cannot find any MSM links or WS links other than this thread)



Tina Marie McKinney Farmer

Found January 1, 1985

-Last Seen in/from IN

-Found in TN

Identified! - TN - Jellico, WhtFem UP1579, 17-30, pregnant, off I-75, burn scars, Jan'85 - Tina Farmer


'Redhead Murder' victim in Campbell County identified after 33 years




Espy Regina Black-Pilgrim

Found April 1, 1985

-Last seen at truck stop in KY

-Found in KY

Identified! - KY - Gray, WhtFem 192UFKY, 24-35, In Refrigerator, Apr'85 - Epsy Regina Black-Pilgrim


'Redhead Murder' victim in Campbell County identified after 33 years




UNIDENTIFIED


Wetzell County Jane Doe

Found Feb. 13, 1983

-Found in WV

WV - WV - Wetzel Co., WhtFem 56UFWV, 30-45, upper denture, c-section scar, Feb'83


56UFWV


Unidentified Person Case



Campbell County Jane Doe

Found April 3, 1985 (TN)

Unidentified Person Case


482UFTN


TN - TN - Campbell Co., WhtFem 482UFTN, age 10-14, near Big Wheel Gap, Apr'85



Cheatham County Jane Doe

Found March 31, 1985 (TN)

911UFTN


Unidentified Person Case


TN - TN - Cheatham Co., WhtFem UP1578, 31-40, beside I-24, red hair color, Mar'85



Greene County Jane Doe

Found April 14, 1985 (TN)

264UFTN


Unidentified Person Case


TN - TN - Greene Co., WhtFem 264UFTN, 14-20, recent loss of pregnancy, Apr'85
 
POSSIBLE VICTIMS:


Desoto County Jane Doe

Found Jan. 24, 1985 (MS)

369UFMS


Unidentified Person Case


MS - MS - Olive Branch, WhtFem 369UFMS, 30-35, near Coldwater River, Jan'85




Pulaski County Jane Doe

Found April 20, 1985 (AR)

647UFAR


Unidentified Person Case


(Cannot find Websleuth’s article for Jane Doe)




Rising Fawn Jane Doe

Found Dec. 16, 1988 (GA)

26UFGA


Unidentified Person Case


GA - GA - Rising Fawn, WhtFem 26UFGA, 16-25, On East Side of NB I-59, Dec'88




Roane County Jane Doe

Found Aug. 29, 1987 (TN)

912UFTN


Unidentified Person Case


(Cannot find a Wensleuth’s thread for her)




SUGGESTED VICTIMS (UNIDENTIFIED)


Grant County Jane Doe

-Found April 17,1976 (KY)

KY - KY - Crittenden, WhtFem UP6711, 20-30, found nude on Menefee Road, Apr'76


The Doe Network: 930UFKY



Ms. Wiggins aka Stone County Jane Doe

Found Oct. 5, 1980 (MS)

The Doe Network: 1065UFMS


Unidentified Person Case


https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...s-whtfem-up11583-34-46-in-woods-nov80.274024/



Harrison County Jane Doe

Found Nov. 10, 1980 (MS)

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1066ufms.html


https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/11582


(Cannot find WS thread for this Jane Doe)


Cheatham County Jane Doe

Found Oct. 21, 1981 (TN)

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/566uftn.html


https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/1582


https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...tal-566uftn-14-20-in-county-dump-oct81.70159/



Hempstead County Jane Doe

Found Sept. 15, 1982 (AR)

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/939ufar.html


https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/5165


(Cannot find WS thread for Jane Doe)



Warren County Jane Doe

Found July 4, 1984 (KY)

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/526ufky.html


https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/102


https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...26ufky-12-16-off-i-65-red-pants-jul84.113940/



Nash County Jane Doe

Found March 11, 1986 (NC)

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/958ufnc.html


https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/2234


(Cannot find a WS thread for this Jane Doe)


Lake Pontchartrain Jane Doe aka Slidell County Jane Doe

Found June 19, 1986 (LA)

https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...a-20-30-breast-implants-pregnant-jun86.33106/


http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/16ufla.html


https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/852



Lucas County Jane Doe

Found June 16, 1987 (OH)

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/335ufoh.html


https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/4778


https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...-21-burned-5-pearl-studs-per-ear-jun87.54896/



Jackson County Jane Doe

Found Jan. 1, 1988 (MS)

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1252ufms.html


https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/10335


https://www.websleuths.com/forums/threads/ms-–-female-skull-jackson-county-1986-1988.385099/



Owen County Jane Doe

Found May 6, 1988 (KY)

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/793ufky.html


https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/101


https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...-25-35-off-hwy-330-steve-tattoo-may88.199361/



Orange County Jane Doe

Found Sept. 19,1990 (NC)

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/558ufnc.html


https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/2224


https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...-15-25-pink-sweatshirt-w-bunnies-sep90.96431/



Benton County Jane Doe

Found May 7, 1990 (AR)

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/943ufar.html


https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/2847


https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...keletal-up2847-25-35-gsw-burned-may90.301001/


Penny Doe aka Clarion County Jane Doe

Found July 22, 1990 (PA)

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/246ufpa.html


https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/6580


https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...em-246ufpa-20-40-near-rr-trestle-jul90.66401/



Grace Doe

Found Dec. 2, 1990 (MO)

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/784ufmo.html



https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/5321


https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...-doe-fem-skeletal-784ufmo-21-31-dec90.131555/




“Nancy” aka Pulaski County Jane Doe

Found July 2, 1995 (KY)

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/39ufky.html


https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/83


https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...al-joint-pathology-jul95.120967/#post-1352386



Simpson County Jane Doe

Found Oct. 9, 2001 (KY)

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/111ufky.html


https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...up71-25-35-off-i-65-rose-tattoo-oct01.105935/


https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/71
 
SUGGESTED VICTIMS (IDENTIFIED)



Kimberlin Mills

-From MI

-Last Seen June, 1978 (MO)

-Found June 17,1978 (AR)

Identified! - AR - Blytheville, WhtFem 449UFAR, 18-36, 'Kim' tattoo, Jun'78 - Kimberlin Mills


Investigation relaunched; can you help identify 1978 murder victims?


Michelle Garvey

-Missing June 1, 1982 (CT)

-Body Found July, 1982 (TX)

Match! - TX - Houston, WhtFem UP4601, 15-20, Red Hair & Freckles, Jul'82 *Michelle Garvey*


'Jane Doe' found murdered in Texas 31 years ago identified as missing New London, Connecticut teen Michelle Garvey



Nancy Lynn Blankenship

-Missing December 1983 (TN)

-Body Found May 1994 (TN)

Clipping from The Tennessean - Newspapers.com


The Forgotten Redhead Murders: Coincidence or Serial Killer?

(This link looks like a legit news source to me, but please snip if not allowed)


(Suggested by some internet sources as a potential victim)


Priscilla Blevins

-Missing July 7, 1975 (NC)

-Body Found March 29, 1985 (NC)

NC - NC - Priscilla Blevins, 26, Charlotte, 7 July 1975


WFU grad missing for 37 years identified with DNA, dental records




Patrice Corley

-From KY

-Body Found April 19, 1990 (OH)

Identified! - OH - Hebron, WhtFem 561UFOH, 25-40, behind I-70 truck stop, Apr'90 Patrice Corley


Louisville veteran identified as Jane Doe from 27-year-old Ohio cold case, mystery lingers



Ada Elena Torres Smith

-Missing June, 1996 (SC)

-Body Found Jan. 9, 1997 (TN)

Ada Elena Torres Smith – The Charley Project


Body of Texas woman identified 10 years after found


Match! - TN - Campbell Co., HispFem 2097DFSC, 35-45, Jan'97 *Ada Torres Smith*



Sharon Hurley

Murdered Feb. 24, 1981 (MO)

St. Louis Killer Robbed Daughter Of Mother She Never Knew; 34 Years Later, She Searches For Justice [HNGN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW]


MO - MO - Sharon Hurley, 24, St Louis, 24 Feb 1981





SUGGESTED MISSING PERSONS:


Patricia Mae Lopaka

Missing Jan. 1, 1983 (HI)

https://www.namus.gov/MissingPersons/Case#/52084


*Was known to be transient.

**There is a Facebook post from a family member with more personal information about Patricia that is easily searched.



Shannon Rena Green

Missing July 6, 1986 (KY)

https://www.websleuths.com/forums/threads/ky-shannon-green-16-owensboro-6-july-1986.51052/


http://charleyproject.org/case/shannon-rena-green


http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/177dfky.html


*She has reddish looking hair and does not appear to have a NamUs.

**There are also several other missing women listed in the Websleuth’s thread that are similar appearance and timeline.
 
Excellent work, dorothyland! :)

Several of the Redhead Murders' (alleged) victims are featured in a new exhibition hosted by The University of South Florida’s Institute of Forensic Anthropology & Applied Science (IFAAS).

New USF Art Exhibit Aims to Help Solve Cold Case Homicides
Exhibition displays consist of clay busts and drawings, digital compositions, artifacts and information about the crime scenes. Kimmerle, USF graduate students and Sgt. Sergio Soto, a forensic artist with IFAAS, created the reconstructions and exhibit. Their work is part of the ongoing statewide cold case initiative by IFAAS, for which the team conducted a number of forensic methods - such as exhuming Jane and John Doe graves for skeletal analysis, facial and clothing reconstructions, chemical isotope testing of the bones, hair and teeth, as well as DNA testing.
Art of Forensics
 
Third alleged Redhead murder victim has been identified as Elizabeth Lamotte!

Body found in East Tennessee three decades ago identified as missing New Hampshire woman
This week, the UNTCHI confirmed there was a match of the DNA profile with that of a missing New Hampshire woman, 17-year-old Elizabeth Lamotte, who was last seen in November 1984. Investigators said it wasn't until 2017 that detectives with the Manchester (New Hampshire) Police Department located members of Lamotte's family and obtained DNA samples from them.

Elizabeth Lamotte's WS thread: NH - NH - Elizabeth Lamotte, 16, Manchester, 6 April 1984

Greene County Jane Doe's WS thread: TN - TN - Greene Co., WhtFem 264UFTN, 14-20, recent loss of pregnancy, Apr'85
 
Last edited:
I made this comparison after Elizabeth Lamotte was identified.

Tina Farmer was found in La Follotte, Tennesse on January, 1, 1985. She had been missing since Thanksgiving day of 1984 from Indianapolis, Indiana. She was 10-12 weeks pregnant at her time of death.

Elizabeth Lamotte was found in Greeneville, Tennesse on April, 14, 1985. She was missing from Manchester, New Hampshire since November, 22, 1984 (some list April, 6, 1984). She had recently had a miscarriage and had been 6-8 weeks pregnant.

Espy Pilgrim was found on April, 1, 1985 in Gray, Kentucky. She was missing from Spindale, North Carolina. No date was listed.

Each girls estimated date of death interval:
Tina Farmer- 3 days- December, 28, 1984
Elizabeth Lamotte- 3-6 weeks- March, 3-24, 1985
Espy Pilgrim- 1-4 days- March, 28-31, 1985

Distance apart from where each was found:
Tina was found in La Follotte, Tennessee which is 1 hour and 49 minutes from Greeneville, Tennessee where Elizabeth was found roughly two months later.
Espy was found in Gray, Kentucky which is 2 hours and 12 minutes from Greeneville, Tennessee and was shortly after Elizabeth who was placed there at least a week earlier.

As for two victims being pregnant and being found not far or long time apart from one another, I wondered if this was a Ariel Castro type situation where someone kidnapped and held several women captive. In this case a truck driver. However; Tina Farmer was found around 6 weeks after she went missing and was estimated to be about 10-12 weeks pregnant. Before this discovery I wondered if we could do DNA on the child and discover the potential killer.

The close time frame in the killings reminds me of the Green River killer. I believe all the women were victims of hitchhiker abduction. IMO Lamotte or Farmer could have been held for some time.

Of note: this is under the speculation that the redhead murders were from the same person.
 
I made this comparison after Elizabeth Lamotte was identified.

Tina Farmer was found in La Follotte, Tennesse on January, 1, 1985. She had been missing since Thanksgiving day of 1984 from Indianapolis, Indiana. She was 10-12 weeks pregnant at her time of death.

Elizabeth Lamotte was found in Greeneville, Tennesse on April, 14, 1985. She was missing from Manchester, New Hampshire since November, 22, 1984 (some list April, 6, 1984). She had recently had a miscarriage and had been 6-8 weeks pregnant.

Espy Pilgrim was found on April, 1, 1985 in Gray, Kentucky. She was missing from Spindale, North Carolina. No date was listed.

Each girls estimated date of death interval:
Tina Farmer- 3 days- December, 28, 1984
Elizabeth Lamotte- 3-6 weeks- March, 3-24, 1985
Espy Pilgrim- 1-4 days- March, 28-31, 1985

Distance apart from where each was found:
Tina was found in La Follotte, Tennessee which is 1 hour and 49 minutes from Greeneville, Tennessee where Elizabeth was found roughly two months later.
Espy was found in Gray, Kentucky which is 2 hours and 12 minutes from Greeneville, Tennessee and was shortly after Elizabeth who was placed there at least a week earlier.

As for two victims being pregnant and being found not far or long time apart from one another, I wondered if this was a Ariel Castro type situation where someone kidnapped and held several women captive. In this case a truck driver. However; Tina Farmer was found around 6 weeks after she went missing and was estimated to be about 10-12 weeks pregnant. Before this discovery I wondered if we could do DNA on the child and discover the potential killer.

The close time frame in the killings reminds me of the Green River killer. I believe all the women were victims of hitchhiker abduction. IMO Lamotte or Farmer could have been held for some time.

Of note: this is under the speculation that the redhead murders were from the same person.
Having an Ariel Castro situation is terrifying enough. But one where the culprit was a trucker...
 

This is so exciting that another Jane Doe has been identified, especially because she could hold clues to brining justice to all of these women. Thank you so much for sharing this!
 
I made this comparison after Elizabeth Lamotte was identified.

Tina Farmer was found in La Follotte, Tennesse on January, 1, 1985. She had been missing since Thanksgiving day of 1984 from Indianapolis, Indiana. She was 10-12 weeks pregnant at her time of death.

Elizabeth Lamotte was found in Greeneville, Tennesse on April, 14, 1985. She was missing from Manchester, New Hampshire since November, 22, 1984 (some list April, 6, 1984). She had recently had a miscarriage and had been 6-8 weeks pregnant.

Espy Pilgrim was found on April, 1, 1985 in Gray, Kentucky. She was missing from Spindale, North Carolina. No date was listed.

Each girls estimated date of death interval:
Tina Farmer- 3 days- December, 28, 1984
Elizabeth Lamotte- 3-6 weeks- March, 3-24, 1985
Espy Pilgrim- 1-4 days- March, 28-31, 1985

Distance apart from where each was found:
Tina was found in La Follotte, Tennessee which is 1 hour and 49 minutes from Greeneville, Tennessee where Elizabeth was found roughly two months later.
Espy was found in Gray, Kentucky which is 2 hours and 12 minutes from Greeneville, Tennessee and was shortly after Elizabeth who was placed there at least a week earlier.

As for two victims being pregnant and being found not far or long time apart from one another, I wondered if this was a Ariel Castro type situation where someone kidnapped and held several women captive. In this case a truck driver. However; Tina Farmer was found around 6 weeks after she went missing and was estimated to be about 10-12 weeks pregnant. Before this discovery I wondered if we could do DNA on the child and discover the potential killer.

The close time frame in the killings reminds me of the Green River killer. I believe all the women were victims of hitchhiker abduction. IMO Lamotte or Farmer could have been held for some time.

Of note: this is under the speculation that the redhead murders were from the same person.

Excellent work!

It could be possible that, if there are multiple serial killers, one of them may have been in the habit of holding hostages.

However, Espy would not have been held hostage since she was seen a day or so prior asking for rides before her body was discovered.
Murder victim identified in 33-year-old Kentucky cold case
 
I'm still wondering why there's 0 information on Lisa Nichols beyond a little article. I can't find anything about her.

I've thought the same thing! There's hardly any information on Lisa Nichols, which makes it harder for us amateur sleuths to find patterns.
 
I've thought the same thing! There's hardly any information on Lisa Nichols, which makes it harder for us amateur sleuths to find patterns.

And compared to the others that were does for quite a bit, she had a picture and name but nothing about her at all. I read she's gone by different last names in the past but Arkansas seems a bit off from the other victims. I did find this https://webcache.googleusercontent....the-redhead-murders+&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us and under her it gives a bit more info I didn't know before including her having a record in Nashville. Still weird there's really nothing else to go on.
 

Members online

Online statistics

Members online
82
Guests online
1,938
Total visitors
2,020

Forum statistics

Threads
594,458
Messages
18,005,770
Members
229,400
Latest member
roseashley592
Back
Top