CA CA - Riverside Co, WhtFem, 40-70, skull and bones on mountain side in Pinyon Crest, Nov’81

[Romulus]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Found skull and bones in a shallow grave on mountain side. Thought to be elderly female with arthritic changes to spine and joints. The Pathologist suggested she may have had some epileptic history or mental retardation based on the unusual skull shape. No property was found with her.

 

[MadMcGoo]

Female, White / Caucasian
Date Body Found: November 28, 1981
Location Found: Pinyon Crest, California
Estimated Age Group: Adult - Pre 70
Estimated Age Range (Years): 40-70
Estimated Year of Death: 1981
Estimated PMI: 3 Months
Estimated Height: 5' 4"(64 inches)
Hair Color: Gray or Partially Gray
Head Hair Description: Gray blond hair found near the skull, about 6 inches long

 

[madamx]

Bump

 

[Beccalicious]

Bumping

 

[Romulus]

Unidentified Person/NamUs #UP7276
Female, White/Caucasian
Date Body Found: November 28, 1981
Location Found: Pinyon Crest, California
Estimated Age Range: 40-70 Years

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

Circumstances of Recovery: Found skull and bones in a shallow grave on mountain side. Thought to be elderly female with arthritic changes to spine and joints. The Pathologist suggested she may have had some epileptic history or mental retardation based on the unusual skull shape. No property was found with her.

 

[JSolt1210]

What about Bettye Lee Whitaker?

Bettye walked away from Novato Community Hospital in 1981 in poor condition.
UP7276 apparently suffered from various ailments that may have required medical attention.

Bettye was 64 years old, 5'2", 160 lbs, and had gray or partially gray hair.
All of this fits the age, height, and weight estimates and hair info given for UP7276.

The only thing that stands out to me is the distance between Novato and Pinyon Crest—over 500 miles away, almost a 9-hour drive. But maybe Bettye hitchhiked? She was clearly well enough to walk out of the hospital on her own.

The distance could also account for the gap in time. Bettye was last seen on March 4, 1981, and UP7276 is estimated to have died around the end of August 1981. She could've spent those five months hitchhiking and living off the streets.

 

[Beccalicious]

Bumping

 

[Beccalicious]

Bumping again