CA CA - Sherry Roach, 17, San Mateo County, 8 June 1976

[Lavender Moon]

Can someone post the photos of McSwain and the unidentified man side by side? ( I don't know how to do this).
Does anyone know how old McSwain was when he died?

 

[Bit of hope]

The mysterious man in the picture. Could he be a younger Horace V. Vaultz, an in 2019 captured serial killer from CA, who committed 2 killings at least in the 80's. He is in his sixties now. Mystery Photos Found at Accused Serial Killer’s Home

 

[SisterGrimm]

Can someone post the photos of McSwain and the unidentified man side by side? ( I don't know how to do this).
Does anyone know how old McSwain was when he died?

I use the Layout from Instagram collage app to do side by sides.

 

[SisterGrimm]

The mysterious man in the picture. Could he be a younger Horace V. Vaultz, an in 2019 captured serial killer from CA, who committed 2 killings at least in the 80's. He is in his sixties now. Mystery Photos Found at Accused Serial Killer’s Home

Do we know if Vaultz grew up in California? I found a high school picture that is uncanny to Vaultz and they spelled his name with two R's. He was also in Karate club in a segregated school in 1972-1973 (some activity in the yearbook lists 1973 as well) at Crenshaw High in Los Angeles. Regardless he would have been 20-21 years old.

 

[SisterGrimm]

Can someone post the photos of McSwain and the unidentified man side by side? ( I don't know how to do this).
Does anyone know how old McSwain was when he died?

Donald McSwain with the unidentified man with Sherry.

 

[Lavender Moon]

Thank you for doing this, SisterGrimm!
Of course the lighting and angles differ but I for one see some similarity. The noses both seem rounded. The choice of hat is similar.

 

[Bit of hope]

Do we know if Vaultz grew up in California? I found a high school picture that is uncanny to Vaultz and they spelled his name with two R's. He was also in Karate club in a segregated school in 1972-1973 (some activity in the yearbook lists 1973 as well) at Crenshaw High in Los Angeles. Regardless he would have been 20-21 years old.

Great find SisterGrimm!

 

[Bit of hope]

Info:

Sherry is ruled out for being this Jane Doe. The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
www.websleuths.com/forums/threads/ca-mcfarland-whtfem-18-30-up57064-white-metal-ring-with-clear-stones-july82.623712/page-2

 

[heartanium]

File updated and additional picture of Sherry
Sherry Elizabeth Roach – The Charley Project

Distinguishing Characteristics Biracial (Caucasian/Native American) female. Brown hair, blue eyes. Sherry wears eyeglasses. She has pockmarks, possibly acne scars, on her face.

She is biracial instead of white!

Does someone see what kind of necklace she is wearing? May not be useful but you never know.

I can't load the video on the news article posted above, but from the screengrab I could get it looks like it's a beaded drop necklace.

 

[Bit of hope]

I can't load the video on the news article posted above, but from the screengrab I could get it looks like it's a beaded drop necklace.
View attachment 414525

Thank you! Interesting necklace. Was this a common one in America in those days? Is it Native American? I would have been 13 then and I can't remember seeing them in the Netherlands.

 

[heartanium]

Thank you! Interesting necklace. Was this a common one in America in those days? Is it Native American? I would have been 13 then and I can't remember seeing them in the Netherlands.

From what I've read there Native American/Native American inspired jewelry was very on trend for the 1970's through the mid 1980's in the States. It's hard to tell but it seems to be a double chain seed bead necklaces, which were quite popular. Not sure if Sherry made them herself or if she bought it, but in my limited jewelry making experience it seems like it could be handmade.

 

[Richard]

Sherry Elizabeth Roach, age 17
Missing since 8 June 1976

LINK:

Sherry Elizabeth Roach – The Charley Project

 

[Richard]

Bumping thread up. Sherry has been missing for over 47 years.

 

[Diane Redfern]

I don't think he's smiling, but remini thinks otherwise.
Maybe some of the Pedregal House counselors recognize him.

 

[Bit of hope]

Sherry resided in a Pedregal House in San Mateo.
From the archives of the Madness Network News, November 1972.

Archive Vol.1 No.2

Vol. 1 No.2 1972 This is the second issue of Madness Network News this issue larger and printed in a different way. Each issue will probably look a little different as we test out new ideas for com…

madnessnetworknews.com

Pedregal House is a specialized group treatment residence for adolescents between 16 and 19 years of age. Teenagers with severe behavioral and drug abuse problems are referred by the Juvenile Probation Department, social welfare agencies comma the County mental health programs comma and private psychiatric practitioners.

From

Drug Abuse Treatment Programs, National Directory 1972 ​

By National Institute of Mental Health (US)​

 

[Bit of hope]

I feel so sorry for Sherry and her brother. She was obviously a victim of a dysfunctional family.

Mystery man's photo surfaces in 1976 missing girl cold case

On June 8, 1976, Sherry Roach left the group home in San Mateo where she was staying to...

www.sfgate.com

Jerry Roach, Sherry's younger brother, told CBS 5 that they grew up in Santa Rosa in a violent household, resulting in Sherry being placed in several foster homes and group homes. He said he was very close to his sister.

"Maybe she is still alive, which I’m hoping for," he said. "But I know it’s doubtful, 'cause I think if she was alive, she would have contacted me. Gives me hope to just give us all closure."

I wonder if Jerry was also in foster homes and group homes, because they were born only one year apart from each other.

Sherry Elizabeth Roach – The Charley Project

She left the group home to take the bus to her job in San Francisco, and has never been heard from again. A counselor at Pedregal House reported her missing after she didn't come back from work.

I would like to know if she arrived at her working place that day. If so that would mean she went missing from San Francisco. I vaguely remember I read somewhere LE interviewed her co-workers, but I can't find it now.

I have some difficulties comprehending the fact that the old picture with her and the man only popped up in her mother's house in 2020, so 44 years later, but maybe it's says more about me then her mother.

 

[summergirl1]

Where does the info come from that her mother was the one who found the picture?

 

[Bit of hope]

Sherry has unclaimed property, when listed on the address of the Pedregal house.

Unclaimed Property

ucpi.sco.ca.gov

https://www.mycal.org/myclaimaaaa5.php?name=ROACH%20SHERRY&amt=348.80

Owner Name: ROACH SHERRY
Owner's Address: 236 NO SAN MATEO DR , SAN MATEO, CA, 94401-
Reported By: AMERICAN SAVINGS & LOAN ASSOCIATION
Type of Account: 82 : Savings accts/crdt union shrs

I'm very curious where she worked. I couldn't find any unclaimed property from her working place at the time. Was it an unpaid job, just to get working experience?

 

[Bit of hope]

Where does the info come from that her mother was the one who found the picture?

I just closed all the articles. If I find the time I will look into it.

 

[Bit of hope]

I just closed all the articles. If I find the time I will look into it.

Mystery man's photo surfaces in 1976 missing girl cold case

On June 8, 1976, Sherry Roach left the group home in San Mateo where she was staying to...

www.sfgate.com

San Mateo police released a new photo in the decades-old cold case Thursday. Dated 1975 on the back, it shows a man with his arm around Sherry's shoulder. Her mother, now in her 80s, reportedly found the photo at the family's home.

And also here. New photo emerges in San Mateo missing person case (not sure why Roach is consequently written wrong as Rocha, strange)
Now 44 years later, investigators said a new photo has emerged of Rocha with a mystery man. Rocha’s mother found the photo at the family’s home.

And also I found the remarks about her workplace. Not much of use.
“The officers back in 1976 did a cursory interview with some people that either worked with her or that knew of her and there weren't any substantial leads at that particular time,” said Tom Paulin of the San Mateo Police Department. “She just fell off the map and disappeared.”