Identified! CA - Rancho Cucamonga, WhtFem 633UFCA, 15-30, in vineyard, Jun'79 - *GRAPHIC* - Karen Marie Heverly

[Blurgle]

The parents could have talked to medias to bring attention to their missing daughter, especially because she left under unknown circumstances. No need for an official police report.

Edit : Grammar

The media wouldn’t have lifted a finger.
I don't think most people here understand just how uninterested nearly everyone was back then in the fates of runaway teens. The prevailing feeling wasn't sympathy or even hostility, although the latter was more common than the former; the prevailing feeling was apathy, of the most stubborn, mule-headed type. People didn’t think runaway teens (and especially runaway girls) were a problem worth spending time and money on. Let them die like the dogs they are and let us get on with our lives.
There was simply no compassion for these kids.

 

[lightofmine99]

The 1960s and 1970s, based on what I have read and heard, were certainly a really weird, almost "wild westy" time in North America. Probably why serial killers were so "successful" during that period. MOO.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

The investigation into the death of a 17-year-old Lycoming County girl whose body was found more than 45 years ago in a California vineyard remains active, authorities there say.

DNA evidence preserved from when the body was recovered in 1979 is being looked at, a spokesperson for the San Bernardino sheriff’s office, said Monday.

It was advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy that resulted in authorities last April being able to identify the remains of Karen Marie Heverly who had lived in Jersey Shore.

Investigation into 1979 killing of Pa. girl in California remains active: authorities

The body of the former Jersey Shore teen was found in a vineyard.

www.pennlive.com

 

[othram]

Often identifying the victim is the first step to actually solving the case and finding the person responsible!

 

[victoriarobinson642]

The investigation into the death of a 17-year-old Lycoming County girl whose body was found more than 45 years ago in a California vineyard remains active, authorities there say.

DNA evidence preserved from when the body was recovered in 1979 is being looked at, a spokesperson for the San Bernardino sheriff’s office, said Monday.

It was advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy that resulted in authorities last April being able to identify the remains of Karen Marie Heverly who had lived in Jersey Shore.

Investigation into 1979 killing of Pa. girl in California remains active: authorities

The body of the former Jersey Shore teen was found in a vineyard.

www.pennlive.com

Jersey Shore Area School District records indicated she withdrew from school in 1977 after she finished eighth grade.

 

[I am not Sherlock H.]

Sad story, and glad the victim has now been identified. Is anything known about exactly who withdrew KMH from school circa 1977? (Or did I simply miss that detail?) It was likely an adult at that time perhaps one would think? And trying to reconcile the dates and timeline for events on her having withdrawn, left the area, and then disappeared. To later be found deceased in California. MOO

 

[imstilla.grandma]

It was determined she had left home in Jersey Shore in 1979 at the age of 16 under unknown circumstances, investigators said.

Jersey Shore Area School District records indicated she withdrew from school in 1977 after she finished eighth grade.

Investigation into 1979 killing of Pa. girl in California remains active: authorities

JERSEY SHORE — The investigation into the death of a 17-year-old Lycoming County girl whose body was found more than 45 years ago in a California vineyard remains active, authorities there say. DNA evidence preserved from when the body was recovered in 1979 is being looked at, a spokesperson for...

www.lockhaven.com

 

[snooptroop88]

I was a bit surprised that this is what Karen looked like. Though her 2 front teeth are unmistakable; she seemed to have a small jaw which make her teeth crowded. The photo also looks like it was taken when Karen was younger.

I wonder how she made it from Pennsylvania all the way to California and for what reason? That is impressive and it definitely indicates she was a hitchhiker imo.

Looks like that could be Alcala to me. Agreed with others on here that have speculated on Alcala. Definitely wouldn't rule him out. She looks just extremely young, even for her age, if that photo is current to the date of her disappearance. Agreed with others on here that she was probably hitchhiking, Alcala was known to pick up hitchhikers. She was somehow removed from Jersey Shore PA (?) and body found all the way in Rancho Cucomonga: That's a 37 hour cross-country ride on I-80, the same interstate one would take from NYC en route to CA.

I haven't seen anyone in Alcala's photos that displays an obvious likeness to her. However, we also don't know he retained photos of all of his victims. His last day at Los Angeles Times was May 12, 1979. He next bobs up on timelines with murder of Jill Parenteau (Burbank CA) June 14, 1979. What was he doing between those dates? And where was he? He seemed to sense the end was near for him right around this this time and was in the midst of a killing spree.

RIP Karen. Glad we know who you are.