CA CA - Los Angeles Co, WhtFem UP3508, 25-45, burned under a tree in public park, Jul'96

[Romulus]

NamUs UP 3508

https://identifyus.org/en/cases/3508

Unidentified White Female

Found July 1, 1996 in Los Angeles County, CA
Body Condition: Not recognizable - Charred/burned
Probable year of death: 1996 to 1996

Vital Statistics
Estimated age: 25-45
Approximate Height: 65 estimate
Approximate Weight: 115 estimate
Hair Color: Red/Auburn


Eye Color: Hazel
Scars and marks: nothing
Clothing & Accessories

Clothing: BLK SHRT, BLKBRO LTHR PANTS, WHI BRA, GRN SOX, BLU KNIT TRTLENCK SWETR, BLKBLU KNIT CAP

Jewerly: Pink color watch
Footwear: BLK TNNS SHOES SIZE 6
Accessories: nothing

Identifiers
Fingerprints: Fingerprint information is not available
Dentals: Dental information / charting is available and entered
DNA: Sample submitted - Tests complete

Case History: On 7/1/1996 the decedent was observed standing alone under a tree in a public park. As this person was walking past the decedent she observed a bright flash coming from behind her and saw the decedent totally engulfed in flames.

 

[Danaya]

This case is odd. I wonder if the decedent lit herself on fire on purpose?

 

[Romulus]

How is it possible if this woman has been burned by fire that we elements such as hair and eye color? Even then the circumstances are strange!

 

[Wyle_E_Coyote]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spontaneous_human_combustion

Sent from my VS987 using Tapatalk

 

[NL007]

What an awful way to die!

I don't see https://www.findthemissing.org/en/cases/23078/3/ ruled out yet.

 

[WyomingSkyAngel]

Mental illness, is my guess. I've seen people with bipolar disorder & schizo affective disorder have fascinations with bleach, fire or other sorts of things (these fascinations stem from hallucinations.)

 

[digitective]

Ruleouts:

Tina D'Ambrosio
Hazel Klug
Patricia Schmidt
Tiffany Sessions

 

[Romulus]

Bump!

 

[annemc2]

Updated current link and transcribed details so they are easier to read:

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

On 7/1/1996 the decedent was observed standing alone under a tree in a public park. As this person was walking past the decedent she observed a bright flash coming from behind her and saw the decedent totally engulfed in flames.

She had red/auburn hair and hazel eyes. She was wearing a black shirt, black and brown leather pants (!?!), a white bra, green socks, a blue knit turtleneck sweater, and a black and blue knit cap. She also was wearing size 6 black tennis shoes and a pink watch.

That's a lot of warm layers for July in LA! I wish there was more info on brands, etc if they were able to find any. It seems like most suicides via self immolation are associated with political protest. David Buckel - Wikipedia is the one I remember happening relatively recently and in the US. Upon a cursory review of the wikipedia page only one suicide not directly associated with some sort of protest was of a Canadian author. Huguette Gaulin - Wikipedia

This is a very unusual case. It's definitely not a popular way to go out (understandably). Was it an accident or did they maybe find accelerant on her? What was the incendiary device? One would think there would be more straight up mental illness suicides but not according to this: Category:Suicides by self-immolation - Wikipedia

 

[digitective]

How is it possible if this woman has been burned by fire that we elements such as hair and eye color? Even then the circumstances are strange!

It sounds like there was a witness who saw her before she was on fire and also saw her on fire. So maybe they got the details from the witness from before she was on fire? Or maybe the witness called for help and they were able to extinguish the fire before she was too charred?

 

[Romulus]

Bump for this strange case!

 

[iulia]

Her NamUs page has been removed.

 

[kforbes862]

That's wonderful. I wonder if it has been said who she was?