Identified! AR - El Dorado, Whitehall Motel, WhtFem 18-21, 81UFAR, Jul'91 - #3 - Kelly from VA

[mp_1989]

There is a thread for Christina Carter here at WS. Her case was discussed extensively prior to Sharon Marshall being id'd. I'm sure if ED was Christina Carter there would have been a match long ago. Plus, since Christina Carters parents divorced a few months before she and her mom disappeared the family tree would have led to that conclusion. Both of CC's parents are known, this should be an automatic rule out.

AL - AL - Christina Carter, 3, Hueytown, 17 Sept 1973

Quite right didn't know if there was a possibility that he wasn't her real father though?

 

[maybelline123]

I realize it's likely that I'm more interested in geneaology and DNA heritage testing than a lot of folks.

Therefore it seems SO unlikely to me that nobody related to Mercedes' bio-Mom has ever taken DNA testing! And also unlikely that her exact Dad hasn't been narrowed down by now.

I'm beginning to wonder if (purely speculating here) her parentage has been 100% determined, but her family on both sides are keeping the info to themselves, at least for now, because she was conceived during an affair on one or maybe both parent's sides, but someone living who's an immediate family member objects to disclosing.

I can imagine that perhaps one or more living immediate family members, after being suddenly faced with their own emotional fallout after suddenly learning that such an affair occurred, and that they have a sibling or child or whoever who died under such sad circumstances might be so upset that having it publicly acknowledged would just be too much to bear. Maybe they live in a small town where the gossip mill would run wild & create further emotional trauma? Who knows....not us, that's for sure.

I hope so much that eventually we can all learn "our" gal's story! But I can respect that it might be a long time before we do, if we ever do.

My heart feels like we all deserve and need to know the details because so many care and have wondered for so long especially! She's the first JD case who really captured my heart! But I'm trying to make my brain believe that it really isn't "our business" and that informing us might cause somebody additional pain and sorrow for reasons we can only guess about.

 

[mp_1989]

I realize it's likely that I'm more interested in geneaology and DNA heritage testing than a lot of folks.

Therefore it seems SO unlikely to me that nobody related to Mercedes' bio-Mom has ever taken DNA testing! And also unlikely that her exact Dad hasn't been narrowed down by now.

I'm beginning to wonder if (purely speculating here) her parentage has been 100% determined, but her family on both sides are keeping the info to themselves, at least for now, because she was conceived during an affair on one or maybe both parent's sides, but someone living who's an immediate family member objects to disclosing.

I can imagine that perhaps one or more living immediate family members, after being suddenly faced with their own emotional fallout after suddenly learning that such an affair occurred, and that they have a sibling or child or whoever who died under such sad circumstances might be so upset that having it publicly acknowledged would just be too much to bear. Maybe they live in a small town where the gossip mill would run wild & create further emotional trauma? Who knows....not us, that's for sure.

I hope so much that eventually we can all learn "our" gal's story! But I can respect that it might be a long time before we do, if we ever do.

My heart feels like we all deserve and need to know the details because so many care and have wondered for so long especially! She's the first JD case who really captured my heart! But I'm trying to make my brain believe that it really isn't "our business" and that informing us might cause somebody additional pain and sorrow for reasons we can only guess about.

I think you are right with this - tbh I think it was a family member who called the detective after EDJD was first killed and they have just proper buried it :/ (I don't really understand this as I come from a very open family haha... But there you go!)

 

[ballads1]

I realize it's likely that I'm more interested in geneaology and DNA heritage testing than a lot of folks.

Therefore it seems SO unlikely to me that nobody related to Mercedes' bio-Mom has ever taken DNA testing! And also unlikely that her exact Dad hasn't been narrowed down by now.

I'm beginning to wonder if (purely speculating here) her parentage has been 100% determined, but her family on both sides are keeping the info to themselves, at least for now, because she was conceived during an affair on one or maybe both parent's sides, but someone living who's an immediate family member objects to disclosing.

I can imagine that perhaps one or more living immediate family members, after being suddenly faced with their own emotional fallout after suddenly learning that such an affair occurred, and that they have a sibling or child or whoever who died under such sad circumstances might be so upset that having it publicly acknowledged would just be too much to bear. Maybe they live in a small town where the gossip mill would run wild & create further emotional trauma? Who knows....not us, that's for sure.

I hope so much that eventually we can all learn "our" gal's story! But I can respect that it might be a long time before we do, if we ever do.

My heart feels like we all deserve and need to know the details because so many care and have wondered for so long especially! She's the first JD case who really captured my heart! But I'm trying to make my brain believe that it really isn't "our business" and that informing us might cause somebody additional pain and sorrow for reasons we can only guess about.

Very well said.

 

[theory]

Could Mercedes be the product of incest? Could this be the reason there doesn't seem to be any bio-Mom relatives who have done DNA testing. Could Mom and Dad relatives be the same ?

 

[wmm85]

Could Mercedes be the product of incest? Could this be the reason there doesn't seem to be any bio-Mom relatives who have done DNA testing. Could Mom and Dad relatives be the same ?

I wonder if the investigators have thought about this. It's a very interesting angle and would certainly explain the lack of knowledge behind EDJD's existence, especially if the pregnancy was kept secret and she was given up for adoption.

 

[scruffydog]

Agree, and my post that you quote did not suggest that either of them were.

Agree wholeheartedly.

 

[Darianne]

If her parents had been identified and she was adopted out, then there may still be a question of identity and so they are no closer to knowing who she is because adoption records would be sealed and no way to know what county the adoption took place in. Up until recent decades, unwed mothers or teen mothers were often spirited away outside the county or state to give birth and deal with adoption issues.

As for genealogy—if EDJD was an only child of her mother's, there may not be anyone on her mother's side who took a test and they may not find anyone closer than say a 2nd or 3rd cousin, which makes it still difficult to pinpoint the right woman. Say her mom had 4 sisters and the mom and two sisters are deceased...if the dead sisters didn't have children, then you have 3 females who could be possible and now have to backtrack and found the link one of them may have had to the known father—a link that could be 50-55 years ago. Can anyone remember all the men their sister dated that long ago? And if it was a one night stand, almost impossible.

As for the mother's DNA being black or Native, that could be, but there are still enough of those populations that the DNA would at least show some cousins. Enough of those populations have taken the test to indicate whether someone has black or Native blood, so there wouldn't be a blank slate.

Lastly, if her parents are known, and she's been identified, the family could certainly ask that that information not be shared, but at the same time, EDJD's case would be removed from the missing person's files and we would not see an active missing person's case any longer.

 

[T rex]

If her parents had been identified and she was adopted out, then there may still be a question of identity and so they are no closer to knowing who she is because adoption records would be sealed and no way to know what county the adoption took place in. Up until recent decades, unwed mothers or teen mothers were often spirited away outside the county or state to give birth and deal with adoption issues.

As for genealogy—if EDJD was an only child of her mother's, there may not be anyone on her mother's side who took a test and they may not find anyone closer than say a 2nd or 3rd cousin, which makes it still difficult to pinpoint the right woman. Say her mom had 4 sisters and the mom and two sisters are deceased...if the dead sisters didn't have children, then you have 3 females who could be possible and now have to backtrack and found the link one of them may have had to the known father—a link that could be 50-55 years ago. Can anyone remember all the men their sister dated that long ago? And if it was a one night stand, almost impossible.

As for the mother's DNA being black or Native, that could be, but there are still enough of those populations that the DNA would at least show some cousins. Enough of those populations have taken the test to indicate whether someone has black or Native blood, so there wouldn't be a blank slate.

Lastly, if her parents are known, and she's been identified, the family could certainly ask that that information not be shared, but at the same time, EDJD's case would be removed from the missing person's files and we would not see an active missing person's case any longer.

Im not sure it would make any difference that the family doesn't want the information released. It is not a suicide and I can't think of another case when LE didn't release the name of a murder victim.
Something else to consider is what EDJD said about being involved in other crimes including a murder. Now maybe she was just talking it up to look big but the authorities in Oklahoma took it serious enough to consider her in a case there and you can't blame them. This man's ( Dwayne McCorkendale) family deserves answers too and they deserve to know that no lead has been overlooked.
LE in Oklahoma looked at EDJD when they didn't know her name, you can just about bet their gonna look again when they do know her name.

 

[Vern]

I realize it's likely that I'm more interested in geneaology and DNA heritage testing than a lot of folks.

Therefore it seems SO unlikely to me that nobody related to Mercedes' bio-Mom has ever taken DNA testing! And also unlikely that her exact Dad hasn't been narrowed down by now.

I'm beginning to wonder if (purely speculating here) her parentage has been 100% determined, but her family on both sides are keeping the info to themselves, at least for now, because she was conceived during an affair on one or maybe both parent's sides, but someone living who's an immediate family member objects to disclosing.

I can imagine that perhaps one or more living immediate family members, after being suddenly faced with their own emotional fallout after suddenly learning that such an affair occurred, and that they have a sibling or child or whoever who died under such sad circumstances might be so upset that having it publicly acknowledged would just be too much to bear. Maybe they live in a small town where the gossip mill would run wild & create further emotional trauma? Who knows....not us, that's for sure.

I hope so much that eventually we can all learn "our" gal's story! But I can respect that it might be a long time before we do, if we ever do.

My heart feels like we all deserve and need to know the details because so many care and have wondered for so long especially! She's the first JD case who really captured my heart! But I'm trying to make my brain believe that it really isn't "our business" and that informing us might cause somebody additional pain and sorrow for reasons we can only guess about.

I tend to agree that I think at least one of her parentage may determined by now, but I'm not sure on the keeping it secret aspect.

Wouldn't they take her profile down if she were identified and just not release the name? I can see them not releasing her name, once identified, because she was a murder victim but the perp is known and was convicted.

But, I would think the profile would come down as it did for Lyle Stevik.

 

[sunnynz]

I tend to agree that I think at least one of her parentage may determined by now, but I'm not sure on the keeping it secret aspect.

Wouldn't they take her profile down if she were identified and just not release the name? I can see them not releasing her name, once identified, because she was a murder victim but the perp is known and was convicted.

But, I would think the profile would come down as it did for Lyle Stevik.

It took a long time for Lori Kennedy’s profiles to come down after she was identified. There were plenty of us still sleuthing away for some months.

 

[sunnynz]

Could Mercedes be the product of incest? Could this be the reason there doesn't seem to be any bio-Mom relatives who have done DNA testing. Could Mom and Dad relatives be the same ?

Absolutely this is a possibility. A friend is a genetic genealogist and she’s already come across two cases where incest was involved in just one the past year since she opened herself up to taking paid clients.

 

[Vern]

It took a long time for Lori Kennedy’s profiles to come down after she was identified. There were plenty of us still sleuthing away for some months.

I see. I was thinking that Lori had been tentatively identified and then her page came down when DNA testing of living relative finally came back and confirmed their tentative ID.

This has all caused me to go back to thinking about a possible Christina Carter linkage after all. I need to go back and review some details on that case though.

 

[mp_1989]

I always wonder what the deal with this photo is .... Like is it supposed to be provocative (the way her fingers are placed) or is she maybe pregnant? I understand this seems like an odd question.. but the pose is weird

 

[carbuff]

View attachment 230415
I always wonder what the deal with this photo is .... Like is it supposed to be provocative (the way her fingers are placed) or is she maybe pregnant? I understand this seems like an odd question.. but the pose is weird

She looks pregnant to me. Maybe 5 months or thereabouts, and her hands cradling her bump.

 

[LeenC]

View attachment 230415
I always wonder what the deal with this photo is .... Like is it supposed to be provocative (the way her fingers are placed) or is she maybe pregnant? I understand this seems like an odd question.. but the pose is weird

I can totally see why you wonder if she was pregnant. But I think it’s just the cut and fabric of the jacket she’s wearing, combined with her slightly leaning back and her hand pushing the jacket forward that makes it “stick out” a bit, making it look like she’s pregnant. I’m not saying for sure that she wasn’t pregnant, it’s just my interpretation of the picture.

 

[Darianne]

I agree it seems to be her jacket and hand placement that gives the illusion

 

[maybelline123]

I wonder if the investigators have thought about this. It's a very interesting angle and would certainly explain the lack of knowledge behind EDJD's existence, especially if the pregnancy was kept secret and she was given up for adoption.

Whoa.... Mind blown !

 

[maybelline123]

View attachment 230415
I always wonder what the deal with this photo is .... Like is it supposed to be provocative (the way her fingers are placed) or is she maybe pregnant? I understand this seems like an odd question.. but the pose is weird

I totally get what youre saying too, so not weird question at all! My 80's fashion memories and yes I confess I wore em too: Oversized blazer with shoulder pads And some high waisted front pleated trousers! It wasn't easy to look svelte in such an outfit (I certainly never did haha)! As far as pose and hand placement combined with the bared deep v of the blazer neckline... it feels to me like this photo was intended to project an "office-worker/good-girl gone naughty" kinda vibe, maybe? Mercedes, high class, well dressed etc.... I'm just throwing ideas out This also looks to me like it was taken in a motel//hotel room.

I also think that the other well dressed in white photo, where she's sitting in the chair smiling (so pretty!) was taken in a motel/hotel room also, maybe? Were they promo's for escort business?
Edit to reword: I wish she could know how many people care about her now!

 

[maybelline123]

I tend to agree that I think at least one of her parentage may determined by now, but I'm not sure on the keeping it secret aspect.

Wouldn't they take her profile down if she were identified and just not release the name? I can see them not releasing her name, once identified, because she was a murder victim but the perp is known and was convicted.

But, I would think the profile would come down as it did for Lyle Stevik.

Excellent point! Thank you!