CA CA - Los Angeles Co., WhtFem UP4034, 16-26, in shallow grave in Mojave desert, Aug'88

Romulus

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http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/971ufca.html


The Doe Network

No_Image_Available_female.jpg




Unidentified Female

Date of Discovery: August 24, 1988
Location of Discovery: Lancaster, Los Angeles County, California
Estimated Date of Death: 1988
State of Remains: Not recognizable - Near complete or complete skeleton
Cause of Death: Stab wound to the chest
Physical Description

** Listed information is approximate

Estimated Age: 16-24 years old
Race: White
Gender: Female
Height: 5'5" to 5'8"
Weight: Unknown
Hair Color: Reddish brown shoulder length hair, tied in a ponytail.
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown
Dentals: Available. Oral surgeon states victim had recent orthodontial work prior to death. All four pre molars and wisdom teeth removed. Mouth too small for teeth.
Fingerprints: Not available.
DNA: nucDNA available with CA DOJ (#05-000770).
Clothing & Personal Items

Clothing: Blue Jordache jeans (size 9), a black halter top, and a black string bikini.
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown
Case History

The victim was located in a shallow grave in a field in the Mojave Desert near Avenue A and Avenue E. by a person who was collecting old bottles. There was evidence of mutilation of her breasts. Animal activity was present at the grave site.
Investigating Agency(s)

If you have any information about this case please contact;
Agency Name: LASD Homicide Cold Case Unit
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 323-890-5500
Agency Name: Los Angeles County Coroner's Office
Agency Contact Person: Daniel Machian
Agency Phone Number: 323-343-0512
E-Mail

Agency Case Number: LE: 088-15320-1186-011; ME: 8808367
NCIC Case Number: N/A
NamUs Case Number: UP #4034
Former Hot Case Number: 647
Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.
Information Source(s)

NamUs
LASD Homicide Cold Case Unit
 
  • #2
  • #3
  • #4
Looks like they'd mostly all be DNA rule outs.

Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk

I was told by someone on here that just because two people have DNA listed on Namus, that doesn’t mean they’d automatically be compared for ruleouts. Sometimes the two people have two different types of DNA on file (and Namus doesn’t specify which types they have on file), so they can’t be compared. https://www.findthemissing.org/documents/NamUs-DNA_Protocol_for_Collection.pdf
 
  • #5
1) Surely it can't be too common for someone her age to have all four pre-molars removed?

2) Could she be a victim of a serial attacker?

3) Could she be from out of state and maybe moved to California for college or work?

4) Why no facial reconstruction?

5) Was her case publicized at the time her body was found?

6) It says she was wearing a bathing costume/bikini under her outer clothing? So maybe she went missing on her way to swim or to the beach? Was there chlorine or saltwater in her hair to suggest she'd already been swimming?

7) Did they find DNA from another person on the body or clothing?
 
  • #6
1) Surely it can't be too common for someone her age to have all four pre-molars removed?
Think it’s usually something they do as a kid / teen when your mouth is too small to fit all your teeth. They remove wisdom teeth / molars to allow others to grow in normally and avoid crowding. But that is definitely something pretty rare that her parents (if they’re around) would hopefully call out to missing persons investigators...
 
  • #7
  • #8
Any possibility she is Eugenia Cortez? She doesn't have a page but the page for this boy Alex Ferguson says that his mother is also missing. No information on her but in the photo he seems to be held by a woman with reddish brown hair, as this Doe has. The timeline lines up.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
 
  • #9
Bumping
 
  • #10
  • #11

971UFCA - Unidentified Female​

NO IMAGE


Date of Discovery: August 24, 1988
Location of Discovery: Lancaster, Los Angeles County, California
Estimated Date of Death: 1988
State of Remains: Mummified / skeletal
Cause of Death: Stab wound to the chest

Physical Description​

Estimated Age: 16-26 years old
Race: White
Sex: Female
Height: 5'5" to 5'8"
Weight: Unknown
Hair: Reddish-brown, shoulder length and worn in a ponytail.
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown

Identifiers​

Dentals: Available. Oral surgeon states victim had recent orthodontial work prior to death. All four pre molars and wisdom teeth removed. Mouth too small for teeth.
Fingerprints: Not available.
DNA: Available.

Clothing & Personal Items​

Clothing: Blue Jordache jeans (size 9), a black halter top and a black string bikini.
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown

Circumstances of Discovery​

The victim's remains were located in a shallow grave in a field in the Mojave Desert near Avenue A and Avenue E at about 9:00 AM. There was evidence of mutilation of her breasts. Animal activity was present at the gravesite.

Investigating Agency(s)​

Agency Name: Los Angeles County Coroner
Agency Contact Person: Daniel Machian
Agency Phone Number: 323-343-0512 or 323-343-0754
Agency E-Mail: dmachian(at)coroner.lacounty.gov
Agency Case Number: Unknown

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: 088-15320-1186-011



NCIC Case Number: Unknown
NamUs Case Number: 4034
Former Hot Case Number: 647

Information Source(s)​

NamUs
LASD Homicide Cold Case Unit
 
  • #12
Bumping
 

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