Identified! CT - Stonington (Ledyard), WhtFem UP8909, 18-30, JNHS 1917 Class Ring, Lady Clairol hair roller set, May'74 - Linda Sue Childers

[Skigirl]

i have an account too (my husband got me one for my birthday and i have never felt more seen in my life lol)... i also went there immediately to see what i could find on her, if there were any local theories, etc and came up empty.

the hair color is wrong, but she could have dyed it. idk... is it worth submitting? i feel like Janis is a stretch, but after 50 years, everything will likely feel like a stretch.

Definitely submit it... they can always opt not to follow up if they think she's definitely not the right person.

 

[Skigirl]

i have an account too (my husband got me one for my birthday and i have never felt more seen in my life lol)... i also went there immediately to see what i could find on her, if there were any local theories, etc and came up empty.

the hair color is wrong, but she could have dyed it. idk... is it worth submitting? i feel like Janis is a stretch, but after 50 years, everything will likely feel like a stretch.

Hah hah "I have never felt so seen" - that made me chuckle.

 

[Skigirl]

I searched one of the addresses listed as connected with Janis Taylor, 126 N. State Street in Concord and found that at a *276* N. State Street, there's a business called "Taylor True Value Rental" - seems like a stretch that they are part of the same family, or if they are, if thatis any kind of lead, but I'm grasping at straws. Despite the name of the business, the family that owns it has a different last name.

Its amazing to me how people can disappear and leave not trace online at all, even if they had disappeared a really long time ago.

The bio mentions that the current building they are in was home to a printing company, but not the same one in her missing person's entry, which was located on elsewhere in Concord. About Taylor True Value Rental in Concord, NH | History of Taylor True Value Rental serving all of New Hampshire

 

[fred&edna]

I just started doing some searches on ancestry for Janis. I found a Janis L Taylor born 9/7/52 in Ohio and I found a high school photo from 1972 (and The Charlie Project lists the missing Janis' DOB as 9/27/52) so I don't think this is same person. I'm still digging around.

ETA: There is also some info regarding a JLT who (age 19) married in California 1971.

 

[Jerri Blank]

What about Niki Diane Britten?

"Niki ran away from her home in Albany, Oregon on July 16, 1969. She was living with her grandparents at the time of her disappearance. They legally adopted her after her parents divorced; this was supposedly to ensure that Niki's father, who was allegedly abusive, wouldn't get custody of her.

Her mother, Nancy Mahaffey, remarried and moved to Pennsylvania, leaving Niki behind in Oregon; Niki began running away after that. For a time in 1966 and 1967, she stayed at Hillcrest, a juvenile correction facility.

Niki called family friends in September 1969, trying to get in touch with her grandparents. She said she was in New York, had a job and was all right. This was the last time her family heard from her. Her grandparents kept the same phone number for the rest of their lives and never changed the locks at their Albany home, in case she should come home or try to contact them."​

Jane Doe had a phone bill with calls to several parts of PA and NY/NJ. Maybe contacting her mother or trying to track her down?

She'd be a bit on the young side, though, as JD's estimated 18-30, and on 12/31/70 Niki would have been 16 and a half.

 

[fred&edna]

What about Niki Diane Britten?

"Niki ran away from her home in Albany, Oregon on July 16, 1969. She was living with her grandparents at the time of her disappearance. They legally adopted her after her parents divorced; this was supposedly to ensure that Niki's father, who was allegedly abusive, wouldn't get custody of her.

Her mother, Nancy Mahaffey, remarried and moved to Pennsylvania, leaving Niki behind in Oregon; Niki began running away after that. For a time in 1966 and 1967, she stayed at Hillcrest, a juvenile correction facility.

Niki called family friends in September 1969, trying to get in touch with her grandparents. She said she was in New York, had a job and was all right. This was the last time her family heard from her. Her grandparents kept the same phone number for the rest of their lives and never changed the locks at their Albany home, in case she should come home or try to contact them."​

Jane Doe had a phone bill with calls to several parts of PA and NY/NJ. Maybe contacting her mother or trying to track her down?

She'd be a bit on the young side, though, as JD's estimated 18-30, and on 12/31/70 Niki would have been 16 and a half.

She's been mentioned as a possibility here on the threads.

 

[fred&edna]

I wonder if there's enough concern (and funds) to attempt to obtain DNA from the UID's remains? I would like to think so but I have serious doubts.

 

[Jerri Blank]

I wonder if there's enough concern (and funds) to attempt to obtain DNA from the UID's remains? I would like to think so but I have serious doubts.

you're right! I totally spaced. I used to be very committed to this case and stepped away for a while because life got crazy (three small kids doesnt leave a lot of time for sleuthing!). But lately something has been telling me that she CAN be given her name back if we just keep at it. I should probably go back and read the whole thread over again to brush up.

that being said, i still think Niki is worth adding to the list of maybes!

 

[Jerri Blank]

I wonder if there's enough concern (and funds) to attempt to obtain DNA from the UID's remains? I would like to think so but I have serious doubts.

I think it's possible. wonder how much that would even cost? if we had real numbers to work with, it'd be easier to gauge interest.

 

[John/Jane Doe]

I have known about this case for a long time and I really want "Lorraine Stahl" to have her Name again.

 

[fred&edna]

I think it's possible. wonder how much that would even cost? if we had real numbers to work with, it'd be easier to gauge interest.

I don't know how much it would cost but CT received a DOJ grant earlier in 2021. I don't know if this case could benefit from the funds, and I'm also concerned about the location and condition of the UID remains.

"... a three-year, $470,000 grant from the Justice Department, to be split between Hartford police, the state forensic lab and the Cold Case Unit and the Chief State’s Attorney’s Cold Case Unit, the New Haven Register reported."

DOJ Grant Brings in Forensic Genealogists to Help Solve 2005 Connecticut Homicide

 

[Punkramona]

I just started doing some searches on ancestry for Janis. I found a Janis L Taylor born 9/7/52 in Ohio and I found a high school photo from 1972 (and The Charlie Project lists the missing Janis' DOB as 9/27/52) so I don't think this is same person. I'm still digging around.

ETA: There is also some info regarding a JLT who (age 19) married in California 1971.

I was recently reading up on this case, when the killers confessed they said the jane doe and her partner were killed on new years eve 1970, so anyone missing after that is likely not a match unless they were reported missing years after they actually disappeared.

 

[Punkramona]

She's been mentioned as a possibility here on the threads.

this is definitely a possible match, her remains were buried for almost 4 years, so depending on the condition of the remains she likely could have been given an inaccurate estimate

 

[Punkramona]

Disappearance of Joanne Elaine Coughlin - Wikipedia
This girl looks so right! she was even an actress!

sadly the killers saidjane doe and her partner were killed in december 1970, so unfortunately i do not think this is a match. they confessed in '74

 

[fred&edna]

I was recently reading up on this case, when the killers confessed they said the jane doe and her partner were killed on new years eve 1970, so anyone missing after that is likely not a match unless they were reported missing years after they actually disappeared.

Thanks for your input and welcome to Websleuths!

 

[Punkramona]

I know a lot of people have been wanting to get possible matches DNA and compare it to this jane doe. Sadly some people are saying that she was cremated decades ago, as well as having no maxilla due to the gunshot she received at the time of death. Although it may be harder to match her to someone, i see no reason we cannot keep fighting for her to get her name back. this thread is full of great information

 

[Braggmitchell]

Not sure it’s useful, but there seems to be questions as to what kind of ring this really is - I found a very similar style ring , same shape , initials and year placed similarly- and it’s advertised as a vintage “class ring”.

 

[Skigirl]

I wonder if by a miracle LE still has the hair curlers in evidence. Perhaps there's a hair available.

 

[Braggmitchell]

Is this the same style ring??

Vintage Estate 1917 "MJC" Ornate Deco Crest High School Class Ring 10K sz 5.25 | eBay

You caught this before I did but I just
Posted this same picture and it’s advertised as a “class ring” - I feel certain the Doe ring is a HS class ring, rather than a signet ring, etc

 

[fred&edna]

I wonder if by a miracle LE still has the hair curlers in evidence. Perhaps there's a hair available.

Great thought! Sadly, I just have little confidence that anything related to this UID was preserved. But, it wouldn't hurt to try to find out.