Identified! NY - Cattaraugus Co., Female skeletal UP6015, Sep'09 - Traci Douglass

[tatertot]

After doing a lot of searches, it appears the "Hotcakes" line of shoes and boots may be exclusive to the Shoe Dept. chain. I cannot find them on any other shoe store's website -- anyone else?

I emailed Shoe Dept. corporate offices inquiring about the availability and exclusivity of these boots and have heard nothing back.

 

[carbuff]

After doing a lot of searches, it appears the "Hotcakes" line of shoes and boots may be exclusive to the Shoe Dept. chain. I cannot find them on any other shoe store's website -- anyone else?

I emailed Shoe Dept. corporate offices inquiring about the availability and exclusivity of these boots and have heard nothing back.

If you read back through the rest of this thread, you'll find that somebody (sorry, was it you, chaddy?) already investigated this line and found some interesting information about Hotcakes and where they were sold.

Edited to add: Found it. It was Mtrooper. Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community - View Single Post - NY NY-Remains found Allegheny Reservoir upstate 09/26/09 and following.

 

[chaddylex]

If you read back through the rest of this thread, you'll find that somebody (sorry, was it you, chaddy?) already investigated this line and found some interesting information about Hotcakes and where they were sold.

It wasn't me carbuff... who in the heck is this girl.. I am still wondering if this is Lutricia Steele.http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/s/steele_lutricia.html

I am taking it he hasn't contacted her family for DNA, since she hasn't been named on the rule out list. Maybe I will ask him..

 

[tatertot]

Thanks for pointing that out, I somehow missed mtrooper's research. Now that I've read the entire thread...maggieo mentioned that New York residents will cross the border to Pennsylvania to avoid paying sales tax on clothing and shoes. Very true! When I lived near Erie the city's two Value City stores were popular among out-of-staters and Canadians. Value City, which folded in 2008, was a chain that bought closeouts from other companies. I cannot find anything online that indicated they ever bought closeouts that didn't sell at Shoe Dept., but they did sell a lot of name-brand clothing and shoes that they'd bought from other chains. Erie and its suburb, Millcreek, are the first big shopping areas once you cross the border from New York state. So there's a tiny chance the shoes were purchased from a closeout store, unless Shoe Dept. can confirm they never farmed out their closeouts to other chains like VC and Gabriel Brothers.

 

[maggieo]

Hi Chaddy -- This area is about 7 hours from CT, and 5 from Schenectady. This doesn't rule out those JDs, of course. But OH and PA are a lot closer, so I think it makes sense to look at those states, too.

My gut feeling is she's from the Olean or Jamestown area, or else Warren or Bradford PA. I think she was in the area to gamble at the nearby casino (which is on the reservation like 10 minutes away) or maybe turn tricks and got into trouble, and was never reported missing.

Just a guess, of course, but that's what it feels like, knowing the area. It's pretty isolated and poor. You probably wouldn't dump her there unless you know the area, and you wouldn't know the area unless you were from there. It's that kind of place.

 

[chaddylex]

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/d/demono_lauren.htmlI thought about this girl before but did not submit her. She was only 19 when she went missing in Dec 2006 but she went missing in the winter months and the height fits.


Mtrooper, do you know what year The Shoe Dept had those boots in their stores?

maggieo, Do you know how far is Port Jervis NY from where they found the UID? I believe I googled the distance a few months back but figured I would ask a local since Mapquest sometimes isn't right.

 

[carbuff]

I know that lake is on the PA/NY border -- which direction does the river flow? I'm thinking she might have gone in upstream from where she was found.

Is the lake or river used for boating or fishing?

 

[little726]

I remember a woman's body being found in the Allegheny river, close to Allegany NY. She was from Ohio.

This was a number of years ago.

 

[little726]

Here is information on the Allegheny river:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegheny_River

 

[carbuff]

thanks, little726.

 

[Cubby]

http://www.sheriff.cattco.org/

Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office Seeks Assistance Identifying Skeletal Remains

​

The Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office is seeking information to assist in the identification of skeletal remains discovered on the shore line of the Allegheny

Reservoir in the Town of South Valley in Cattaraugus County on September 26th 2009.
A forensic examination revealed that the remains are of a female between the ages of 25 to 45. (likely 30-40). Stature of 5'1"-5'8", A person of a smaller build estimated to be have weighed 105-125 pounds. It has also been suggested that the remains have been in the water for a period of one to five years. Additionally an examination revealed that a single rib shows evidence of a healed fracture. Also a fractured left tibia has been noted. Found with the remains was one left winter type boot. Made of tan suede, is mid calf in length and is size 6. The boot is fleeced lined and made in China under the brand name of Hotcakes. The front of the boot is embroidered with red, white and blue flowers and a green leaf. Dental record of the deceased are on file with the Erie Co. Medical Examiners Office for comparison and DNA is currently being obtained for database entry.

Anyone who believes to have any information in regards to the identity of this person, please contact Det. William Welling at the Sheriff's Office (716) 938-9191 extension 2276.

Photos of boot similar to that found with deceased:​

 

[tatertot]

**WARNING: POST-MORTEM PHOTO OF 1983 Chautauqua Co. Jane Doe AT LINK BELOW**

http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/southern_tier/Are-s-tier-deaths-work-of-same-killer

This Oct. 29, 2010 news article explores a possible link between this Jane Doe and a UID woman found murdered in Chautauqua County in 1983.

 

[maggieo]

Interesting, Tatertot. I wonder if there is a connection. I know the first one has long been assumed to be left by a serial killer passing through... would the same serial killer do it again over 20 years later?

Or is it a local guy, and these are just two women who were unlucky enough not to be identified?

I've long believed there's a serial killer in Jamestown. There are just too many unsolved murders of women... I think 8. I live in a much more populated area now and there are only one or two.

 

[carbuff]

I've also wondered if Caledonia Jane Doe was connected. The same sort of shooting.

 

[allaster]

New York State has a lot of missing women. I often wonder if there is a serial killer on the loose. The Adirondack Park is a desolate area not well traveled in the off months, and most homes are seasonal camps.

 

[Kat]

http://www.wellsvilledaily.com/newsnow/x1725639467/Investigation-continues-in-Catt-County-cold-case

Investigation continues in Catt. County cold case

By Brian Quinn
Daily Reporter
Posted Jun 08, 2011 @ 11:28 AM

 

[tatertot]

There's not much to go on, but this missing woman would have been within the UID's height range and she disappeared in November, when wearing boots would have made sense. Her case was added to the Charley Project today:

http://charleyproject.org/cases/w/wines_alayssa.html

 

[Torsade]

Remains identified. I don't remember this woman going missing. Will look for more details.
http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/southern_tier/remains-from-2009-that-of-missing-woman
Rest in peace, Traci.

 

[little726]

Remains identified. I don't remember this woman going missing. Will look for more details.
http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/southern_tier/remains-from-2009-that-of-missing-woman
Rest in peace, Traci.

According to other news reports, her family didn't even know she was missing!

 

[karen in New York]

According to other news reports, her family didn't even know she was missing!

There is a News Conference scheduled for Tuesday (tomorrow) by the Sheriff's Dept. The local news isn't covering it yet.