Identified! TX - Huntsville, 'Walker County Jane Doe', WhtFem 14-16, 91UFTX, Nov'80 #5 - Sherri Ann Jarvis

[Saywhatyoumean]

She ran away from the courthouse!


First, she went to Wisconsin. She was with some friends for a few days and then left by herself, presumably for Colorado.




She was probably resourceful and had some connections.

(Sorry I may not have all the facts correct. I'm going off my memory) They were looking for her and she was reported missing.
When she turned 18, law enforcement discontinued their investigation into her disappearance. However, I don't think it was a very serious investigation. LE did not go out of their way to locate runaways back then. Obviously, she was in Colorado in August and LE probably could have located her then, but I'm sure they didn't make an effort.

After Minnesota girl identified as 1980 Texas homicide victim, hunt goes on for killer

Witnesses reported seeing Sherri Ann Jarvis in two separate locations on the night she died.

www.twincities.com

She was 14 when she died wasn’t she

 

[Friday Fan]

She was 14 when she died wasn’t she

Yes, but back then cases were dropped when a missing runaway turned 18.

 

[Beekarina]

It's really crazy to me, to imagine a 14 year-old successfully traveling around on her own, for this length of time, in an era of pay phones, no internet, in places with very limited public transportation the distances she traveled and the amount of time she was alive without her being connected/involved with some adult(s) who know what happened.

I hope someday there will be justice for her. Poor kid.

 

[Vital Forces]

It's really crazy to me, to imagine a 14 year-old successfully traveling around on her own, for this length of time, in an era of pay phones, no internet, in places with very limited public transportation the distances she traveled and the amount of time she was alive without her being connected/involved with some adult(s) who know what happened.

I hope someday there will be justice for her. Poor kid.

Hitchhiking seems to have still been fairly common during that time period, which explains how she travelled so far.

 

[Friday Fan]

It's really crazy to me, to imagine a 14 year-old successfully traveling around on her own, for this length of time, in an era of pay phones, no internet, in places with very limited public transportation the distances she traveled and the amount of time she was alive without her being connected/involved with some adult(s) who know what happened.

I hope someday there will be justice for her. Poor kid.

Not hard at all. Happened with Tammy Alexander and numerous Does on WS. Hitchhike and make connections.

 

[Diavola]

Perhaps she traveled with a group of fellow hitchhikers, so they made it safe across the country, but the group fell apart.

 

[Alleykins]

Not hard at all. Happened with Tammy Alexander and numerous Does on WS. Hitchhike and make connections.

I agree. At 15, Anita Drake ran away from her abusive home and was able, at that young age, to create a whole new identity for herself and live the rest of her life with that assumed identity. Teens, especially ones who came from dysfunctional families, were more mature, independent, resilient and resourceful, and were already assuming a lot of adult responsibilities at a young age, back then. I truly believe a good portion of historical missing teen cases were voluntary runaways who found themselves in similar situations as Anita and simply left to escape it. Not all, but a good amount. And it makes me wonder how many of them went on to live out their lives, and are still living their lives, and didn't meet with foul play or meet a tragic end. If it hadn't been for Anita's daughter going through her things after she died and noticing something wasn't right, she'd never have been found out. And I believe she hitchhiked out of her hometown, iirc.

 

[CuriousCricket]

I agree. At 15, Anita Drake ran away from her abusive home and was able, at that young age, to create a whole new identity for herself and live the rest of her life with that assumed identity. Teens, especially ones who came from dysfunctional families, were more mature, independent, resilient and resourceful, and were already assuming a lot of adult responsibilities at a young age, back then. I truly believe a good portion of historical missing teen cases were voluntary runaways who found themselves in similar situations as Anita and simply left to escape it. Not all, but a good amount. And it makes me wonder how many of them went on to live out their lives, and are still living their lives, and didn't meet with foul play or meet a tragic end. If it hadn't been for Anita's daughter going through her things after she died and noticing something wasn't right, she'd never have been found out. And I believe she hitchhiked out of her hometown, iirc.

Agreed. It was a different world back then. We know only about those who did run into trouble and not the ones who managed to create new lives. To me, the world feels a lot more dangerous now than then when hitchhiking was a common way for people to get around. So many young service men hitchhiked home and back to base.

 

[jennytrevor]

Agreed. It was a different world back then. We know only about those who did run into trouble and not the ones who managed to create new lives. To me, the world feels a lot more dangerous now than then when hitchhiking was a common way for people to get around. So many young service men hitchhiked home and back to base.

The good news is that despite how the 24 hour news cycle may have us feeling, the US is actually a much safer place now than it was in 1980. In fact, in 1980 when Sherri was killed, the murder rate was at its all time high. It gives me solace in particular that young women and girls are much safer in their daily lives compared to then. I always feel so sad when I see the long list of missing teens who have been excluded as identities for Does. I do hope at least some of them made new lives.

 

[Beekarina]

I understand hitchhiking and resourcefulness. I was alive then. What I was getting at is I personally believe adults were involved here. To what extent and degree, I do not know. They may have been only a few years older, but I don't think she was hanging out with other 14 year-olds.

I would suggest the same for Anita Drake, or anyone else who stayed alive for any length of time and left at a very young age. JMO.