CA CA - La Cañada, WhtFem UP4300, 25-45, Long Dual Pigtails-Blue Neckerchief, Jul'82

[Romulus]

The Doe Network:
Hot Case 796

Unidentified White Female

• The victim was discovered on July 18, 1982 in La Canada, Los Angeles County, California
• Estimated Date of Death: 5 days - 1 month

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Vital Statistics

• 
  [*]Estimated age: 25 - 45 years old
  [*]Approximate Height and Weight: 5'0"; 100 lbs.
  [*]Distinguishing Characteristics: Long, light brown hair, parted in the middle and held in two long pigtails.
• Clothing: Blue print neckerchief loosely around neck
• Jewelry: A small gold hoop earring in each ear.
• Fingerprints: Available
• Dentals: Available. Extensive dental work, that appeared done in a dental school. The work appeared to be 2-5 years old.

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Case History
The victim was found at the Angeles Crest Highway, La Canada, CA. on July 18, 1982.

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Investigators
If you have any information about this case please contact:
LASD Homicide Cold Case Unit
Detective Richard C. Kennerly
323-890-5500

You may remain anonymous when submitting information.
Agency Case Number:
Jane Doe # 85; 1982-02215-1250-011; Coroners: 82-09029
NCIC Number:
U-763663700
Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.
Source Information:
LASD Homicide Cold Case Unit
Namus

https://identifyus.org/cases/4300

http://www.doenetwork.org/hot/hotcase796.html

 

[Danaya]

I hate when there's no photo or reconstruction on the Doe Network page. Just makes it seem so much harder to solve.

 

[digitective]

Marie Blee now listed as an exclusion.

The braided pigtails, the "extremely long" unshaven leg hair and the mountain trail are making me think we're looking for a "crunchy" hippie hiker type?

 

[digitective]

Marie Blee now listed as an exclusion.

The braided pigtails, the "extremely long" unshaven leg hair and the mountain trail are making me think we're looking for a "crunchy" hippie hiker type?

With this in mind, Irin Meyer stood out to me, because she went missing possibly while camping. Both she and Jane Doe do have dentals in NamUs though, so they probably would have auto-matched if they were a fit.
https://www.findthemissing.org/en/cases/15231/
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/m/meyer_irin.html

 

[Romulus]

Reupdate Doe Link

1447UFCA

 

[YaYa_521]

Bump
Still only one exclusion.
MP5860 Marie Blee 11/21/1979 Routt CO

 

[YaYa_521]

Eta - map link and change driving distance
Shared route From Angeles Crest Highway to Adelanto via CA-18. 1 hr 50 min (86 mi) 1 hr 50 min in current traffic 1. Head west on CA-2 W toward Pacific Crest Trail/PCT 2. Turn right onto Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Rd 3. Turn right onto Angeles Forest Hwy 4. Turn right onto Mt Emma Rd 5. Turn left onto 87th St E 6. Turn right onto CA-138 E 7. Turn left onto CA-18 8. Turn left onto Bellflower St 9. Turn right onto Air Base Rd/Air Expy 10. Turn left onto Jonathan St 11. Turn right onto Lee Ave 12. Arrive at location: Adelanto For the best route in current traffic visit https://maps.app.goo.gl/WchVvVYunRZ8vYeT7

It's only about 2 hours driving distance between the location JD was found and Adelanto, CA where Maureen was last seen. There's uncertainty surrounding her LKA date as well as some of her physical descriptors. Also, I notice her beautiful smile in her photo. I wonder if she had extensive dental work done a few years prior to her disappearance. Scarring on JD isnt mentioned but I wonder if investigators would have withheld info about scars on JD to help with identification?

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Circumstances of Disappearance
Maureen Baca was 32 years old when she was last seen in Adelanto, California around August 21, 1982. She was not reported missing until 1984 (2 years later) and her date of last contact is based on the reporting person's recollection and cannot be verified. Her family reports that she was never heard from again.

Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian female. Original description: 5'4" (family reports she was only 5'1"), 110 pounds, blonde hair (family reports she had reddish-brown hair), brown eyes. Baca has a ten-inch scar on her chest and an eight-inch scar on her right inner arm. She may use the last name Murfee.

 

[Romulus]

Reupdate Doe Link

1447UFCA

1447UFCA - Unidentified Female

Date of Discovery: July 18, 1982
Location of Discovery: La Canada, Los Angeles County, California
Estimated Date of Death: 5 days to a month prior
State of Remains: Decomposed
Cause of Death: Unknown

Physical Description
Estimated Age: 25-45 years old
Race: White
Sex: Female
Height: 5'0"
Weight: 100 lbs.
Hair: Light brown, long and parted in the middle; held in two pigtails.
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Leg hair unshaved; "extremely long."

Identifiers
Dentals: Available. Extensive dental work, that appeared done in a dental school. The work appeared to be 2-5 years old.
Fingerprints: Available.
DNA:Unknown.

Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: Blue print neckerchief loosely around neck.
Jewelry: A small gold hoop earring in each ear.
Additional Personal Items: Unknown

Circumstances of Discovery
The victim's severely decomposed remains were found off of a mountain trail at George's Gap, north of the Angeles Crest Highway in La Cañada, California on July 18, 1982.

Investigating Agency(s)
Agency Name: Los Angeles County Coroner
Agency Contact Person: Betsy Magdaleno
Agency Phone Number: 323-343-0512 or 323-343-0754
Agency E-Mail: IDUnit(at)coroner.lacounty.gov
Agency Case Number: 82-09029

Agency Name: LASD Homicide Cold Case Unit
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 323-890-5500
Agency E-Mail: homicideops(at)lasd.org
Agency Case Number: Jane Doe #85; 1982-02215-1250-011

NCIC Case Number: U763663700
NamUs Case Number: 4300
Former Hot Case Number: 796

Information Source(s)
NamUs
Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office
LASD Homicide Cold Case Unit
1447UFCA

 

[BrownBear]

2 Exclusions
MP32826 Graciela Maldonado 01/01/1982 Sacramento, CA
MP5860 Marie Blee 11/21/1979 Routt, CO

 

[BrownBear]

2 Exclusions
MP32826 Graciela Maldonado 01/01/1982 Sacramento, CA
MP5860 Marie Blee 11/21/1979 Routt, CO

1 New Exclusion
MP4529 Barbara Burhans 03/15/1982 Los Angeles CA

 

[heartanium]

Considering her dental work was done at a dental school, maybe we're looking for someone who wouldn't have alot of cash to spare. Maybe a recently graduated student?

 

[beavt]

Karen Ann Harmon – The Charley Project

 

[beavt]

Karen Ann Harmon – The Charley Project

OHSU School of Dentistry is 40 miles from Timber, OR

 

[Tired Professor]

Bump! Today is the 43 year anniversary of her discovery. Hoping for resolution soon!

 

[Beekarina]

Did you ever learn anything more about Karen Harmon's life or her disappearance? At a glance, she looks like maybe she could have been outdoorsy. It is really difficult to tell from the small amount of info I can see if she was believed to have left on her own, and any motivation for doing so, if something domestic may have happened, or something else?

From her Namus:

"Circumstances of DisappearanceKaren Harmon went missing on May 29, 1982 from the Highway 26 area near the Timber/Vernonia junction, and was reported missing by her husband the next day. The couple and their two young children were living in Timber, OR in an old church at the time."

What does this mean? Did she leave a vehicle? Was she hitchhiking? It sounds rather odd, IMO.

 

[Beekarina]

It seems like this is the trail the UID was found near, and probably/possibly where they were hiking? https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/georges-gap-to-angeles-forest-highway

Edited: If so, it looks pretty simple and I'm a bit confused as to how long the remains were really there? Maybe they were well hidden, or maybe fewer people used this trail then than now? I'm getting the impression from a quick look that people just head out on a daily walk....