AZ AZ - Phoenix, WhtFem UP1903, 16-18, found in dumpster near 21st Avenue, Jun'84

[GJKJR]

"Tanya Doe" (see bottom of post for explanation)
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Partial remains with soft tissues (head, one or more limbs, and one or both hands not recovered) found in a dumpster near 21st Avenue south of McDowell Road in Pheonix, Maricopa County, AZ on June 10, 1984.

Sex: Female
Race: White/Caucasian
Estimated Age: 16-18 years old
Post-Mortem Interval: Unknown
Height: 5'4" (64 inches)
Weight: Unknown
Hair Description: Brown in color
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinctive Physical Features: None
Clothing: None

* Tanya is most likely not Tanya Doe's real name. The purpose of this moniker is to distinguish her case from the other unidentified persons cases in Phoenix — of which there are many, unfortunately.​

 

[GJKJR]

Another request for those who have a Newspapers.com membership, sorry...

1) 30 Jun 1984, Page 35 - Arizona Daily Star at Newspapers.com
2) 23 Jun 1984, Page 18 - Arizona Daily Star at Newspapers.com

I'm not too confident on these being related to our Tanya Doe, but the little of the articles I could see seemed interesting. If anyone could tell me whether they're related to Tanya Doe, that would be much appreciated, thank you!

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Not super confident in this because of the distance (6 hours of desert between Venice, CA and Phoenix, AZ) but Christina Smith fits all the stats.
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[GJKJR]

Not super confident in this because of the distance (6 hours of desert between Venice, CA and Phoenix, AZ) but Christina Smith fits all the stats.
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

I've been seeing Christina Smith's profile a lot in my searches for potential matches, oddly enough. I think her statistics match well enough, and with the lack of information regarding circumstances, a nearly infinite number of scenarios could have occurred. Phoenix, AZ is a straight shot down I-10 from Venice, CA, so I don't think the difference in locations means too much.

 

[theshadow45]

"Tanya" has been unidentified for 37 years today.

 

[theshadow45]

“Tanya” has been unidentified for 39 years this month.

 

[DS2021]

Another request for those who have a Newspapers.com membership, sorry...

1) 30 Jun 1984, Page 35 - Arizona Daily Star at Newspapers.com
2) 23 Jun 1984, Page 18 - Arizona Daily Star at Newspapers.com

I'm not too confident on these being related to our Tanya Doe, but the little of the articles I could see seemed interesting. If anyone could tell me whether they're related to Tanya Doe, that would be much appreciated, thank you!

I know I'm extremely late, but those articles weren't related

 

[djanga]

The Dna Doe Project are now working on her genealogical profile, she is not in active research, but in testing stage

Del Rey Jane Doe 1984 | DNA Doe Project

dnadoeproject.org

 

[LucyOso]

Following.

 

[theshadow45]

“Tanya” has been unidentified for 40 years today.

 

[victoriarobinson642]

The Dna Doe Project are now working on her genealogical profile, she is not in active research, but in testing stage

Del Rey Jane Doe 1984 | DNA Doe Project

dnadoeproject.org

Now listed as 'research in progress'.

 

[jjcb]

Thank you all for investing your time and research into this case. It was one far beyond anyone's speculation. Our family has already been notified of the DNA match, and I imagine you will see an update soon after she has been released to our family.

While my family wishes to remain anonymous, I would like to share a bit of truth. The disappearance of "Tanya" weighed heavy on our hearts over the past 40 years. "Tanya" was NOT even 16 years old, she was a well developed and heavier set CHILD that had NEVER given birth. Her little sister never stopped looking for her. Her mom died without ever finding what happened to her child — possibly for the better.

The murderer was never found. Cause of death inconclusive. Her head and limbs likely in a landfill. She will never get justice and our family will never know just how she ended up in that dumpster, who did it or why, or where the rest of her lies now. The detectives, forensic anthropologist, and anyone on her case back in the 80s FAILED us.

They failed to report a 13 year old child as missing. They wanted money to put her face on milk cartons or advertise her disappearance. They shrugged our family off their shoulders because we didn't have money. They chose not to investigate further when she never made it home and had not been heard from for weeks. Then, when they found her not too long after her disappearance, they failed to identify her remains. They claimed she was at least 16, but more likely in her 20s. They claimed she had likely given birth. They claimed she was 5'4" but she was so much taller than that.

While I am resentful that the individual(s) who sawed off a 13 year old's head and limbs, and then proceeded to dump her, got away with it, I would like to think no one truly gets away with such a disturbing crime. I am grateful that her remains were exhumed when a new examiner came into office, giving our family at least some sort of answers. Now, if you will lay the speculating to rest... Thank you

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Thank you all for investing your time and research into this case. It was one far beyond anyone's speculation. Our family has already been notified of the DNA match, and I imagine you will see an update soon after she has been released to our family.

While my family wishes to remain anonymous, I would like to share a bit of truth. The disappearance of "Tanya" weighed heavy on our hearts over the past 40 years. "Tanya" was NOT 16 years old, she was a well developed and heavier set CHILD that had NEVER given birth. Her little sister never stopped looking for her. Her mom died without ever finding what happened to her child — possibly for the better.

The murderer was never found. Cause of death inconclusive. Her head and limbs likely in a landfill. She will never get justice and our family will never know just how she ended up in that dumpster, who did it or why, or where the rest of her lies now. The detectives, forensic anthropologist, and anyone on her case back in the 80s FAILED us.

They failed to report a 13 year old child as missing. They wanted money to put her face on milk cartons or advertise her disappearance. They shrugged our family off their shoulders because we didn't have money. They chose not to investigate further when she never made it home and had not been heard from for weeks. Then, when they found her not too long after her disappearance, they failed to identify her remains. They claimed she was at least 16, but more likely in her 20s. They claimed she had likely given birth. They claimed she was 5'4" but she was so much taller than that.

While I am resentful that the individual who sawed off a 13 year old's head and limbs, and then proceeded to dump her, got away with it, I am grateful that her remains were exhumed when a new examiner came into office.

It always breaks my heart to see how badly missing persons reports were handled in that era. So many families could've had answers sooner if LE hadn't just brushed them off as runaways or assumed they chose to fall off the radar.
May her memory be a blessing to those who loved her.

 

[summergirl1]

That's very true. As for the estimates that were off about her height and age, and anything else after her remains were found, those were obviously genuine mistakes or misinterpretations using what expertise was had by those who looked at her remains at the time (the forensic anthropologist, I'd assume, and others). I've read a lot about such mistakes in many Doe cases over many years, as has anyone who is interested in Doe cases. It still happens, I'm sure, and definitely happened in many cold cases, not just this one (and is still hindering identification of some Does to this day, there is no doubt).

 

[djanga]

I’m truly sorry to hear that the police at the time didn’t take a missing person report for a 13-year-old. It’s heartbreaking how the attitude of 'they will come back' led to 40 years without answers. However, it gives me hope to know there are retired detectives like Stuart Somershoe, who led the cold cases and missing persons unit in Phoenix and brought many old Doe cases to the Dna Doe Project for genetic genealogy. He cared deeply about every individual and was visibly emotional in the interviews he gave, showing his unwavering dedication to bringing closure to families

 

[djanga]

I wonder if there are any updates, her Namus is still up.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

I wonder if there are any updates, her Namus is still up.

I've noticed sometimes it's left up, even if identified, if the victim has not been fully recovered. What a heartbreaking case.

 

[iulia]

Her NamUs page is down at the moment.

 

[theshadow45]

“Tanya” was found 41 years ago today.