Lake Pontchartrain Jane Doe
Date Found: Thursday June 19, 1986
North Shore Community, St. Tammany Parish Slidell, LA
(LPJD was spotted approximately 7:30pm on the evening of 6/19/86)
Physical Description:
Estimated Age: 20-30 (Mary M indicated mid 30s cannot be ruled out)
Race: White
Gender: Female
Height: 51 55/ 62-66 Petite frame (Initial report height given 57 / 67)
Weight: 120-126 lbs. (Initial reports weight given 100-120 lbs.)
Hair: Shoulder length hair, auburn (Reddish brown / Brown)
Eye: Unknown, Large eyes (Per morgue sketch)
Facial Features: Small slightly upturned nose (Per morgue sketch), freckles
Clothing: None (Found nude)
Jewelry: None (1/2 tan line on left hand ring finger, however no ring was found)
Medical: Approximately 7-12 weeks pregnant, Small old scars; right knee 1.5 cm circular-in-shape (.59), right wrist 1.2 cm (.47), midline on abdomen above navel 2.3 cm, (.90), old major right hip injury (upper thigh/femur bone), Silicone Breast implants; 200cc Cox-Uphoff International of Costa Mesa, CA. implants were encased in a silastic shell (No Serial Numbers). She may have had surgery on her nose, it was hard to totally confirm based on the old morgue photos.
Dental: Dental chart available; All four wisdom teeth had been extracted no other dental work teeth were free of cavities and fillings they were in good condition.
Fingerprintst: One complete finger print was lifted from her decomposed hands.
DNA: Available LSU Faces State Lab
Postmortem Interval: 36 Hours (NAMUS) 2 Days or Less (LSU)
Circumstances/Investigation:
LPJD was spotted by (2) fisherman at approximately 7:30 pm on the evening of 6/19/86 near the community of North Shore. By the time deputies launched a boat to recover the partially submerged body she had drifted approximately 40 yd. (120 ft.) east of the I-10 twin span bridges and 50-60 yd. (150-180 ft.) from shore.
She was nude with a plastic bag over her head secured with duct tape and a 22 lb. red weight (type used on exercise equipment) tied to her neck. Investigators found several superficial wounds on the womans face/head but were unsure what caused them.
Information from weather experts and marine biologist has led detectives to believe the body was put into the lake between Bayou Lacombe and Rigolets Pass.
There were no serial numbers on the breast implants. Investigators consulted New Orleans plastic surgeons for assistance where the size and manufacturer was determined. It was also advised that most plastic surgeons in the New Orleans area use larger implants.
The implant manufacturer Cox-Uphoff spokesman provided the Sherriffs office a list of plastic surgeons around the country who have ordered the 200cc size implant. Cox-Uphoff spokesman said the size is common in the US and estimated 500-700 doctors across the country order the 200cc size every year. Detectives have called or written 175 physicians for help. When you go out of this area it begins to get lost doctors way up in the Northeast of the country may not be as helpful to assist.
The medical pathologist that performed the autopsy determined she died of asphyxiation. However, could not pinpoint whether death was by drowning, suffocation or strangulation. Her blood contained small amounts of caffeine and alcohol. Her body bore evidence of several minor cuts and blows, all superficial and was unsure what caused them. He estimated she died the day before her body was found (Sometime Wednesday June 18th). LPJD bore small old scars, right knee, right wrist and upper abdomen.
St Tammany LE received a report on Wed-6/18 that a caller reported deputies would be told where to find (2) bodies beneath an interstate highway bridge if they met a man at the state tourist information center on I-10 West of Slidell. Deputies found no one at the rest area, a search of bridges on I-10 and I-59 turned up no bodies.
Inspector Harvey Pratt of the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigations examined morgue photos of the womans face and painted over them to produce a likeness of her. She was a young attractive woman w/shoulder length auburn hair swept back from her face.
St Tammany LE investigation produced 200 inquiries from around the country but few strong leads to her identity. A description of LPJD is filed in an FBI computer in Washington. It is presumed LPJD was not local to the area due to the amount of news media publicity surrounding the case.
Investigating Agencies:
St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Office
Dt. Marco Demma; 985.645.2467 (Direct Line) / 985.726.8000 (Main Office Line)
E-Mail Address:
mdemma7213@yahoo.com
*Demma retired from NOPD in 2003 and took to investigating St Tammany Cold Cases.
LSU Faces Lab Case # LSU 03-35 - http://identifyla.lsu.edu/profile.php?id=383
Teresa Wilson, Asst. Research Professor: 225.578.4761
Maria Allaire, Research Associate: 225.578.4775
Dr Ginesse Listi: 225.578.3906 / E-Mail:
glisti1@lsu.edu
General Email:
faces@lsu.edu
NAMUS UP # 852 - https://identifyus.org/cases/852
Michael Nance: 918.527.0080 / E-Mail:
Michael.Nance@unthsc.edu
Crimestoppers Possible reward 504.837.8477 /
info@crimestoppersgno.org
NCMEC Case # NCMC4000074
NCIC Case # U-211402266
Burial/Remains:
LPJDs remains are now held at the LSU Faces lab
9/4/03 Exhumed for DNA/Dental matching to Lisa Marie Sexton
7/2/86 Buried in a wood frame cardboard box w/baby angel printed on top
Greenwood Cemetery, Potters Field Section Slidell, LA (Bayou Patassat)
Information Resources:
The Times Picayune Article 2003 (Archives)
The Times Picayune Article 12/14/86 (Archives)
The Times Picayune Article 07/16/86 (Archives)
The Times Picayune Article 07/03/86 (Archives)
The Times Picayune Article 06/21/86 (Archives)
Doe Network Case:
http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/16ufla.html
AMW Fans:
http://amwfans.com/thread/811/lake-pontchartrain-jane-killer-louisiana
AMW Video:
https://youtu.be/XWqqYSec0DA
