Identified! DE - Bear, WhtFem 16-25, UP7097, pregnant, in laundry bag, Mar'67 - NamUs removed

[macrauchenia]

How sad. Her NamUs report refers to an "attempted abortion" -- she died before it could be completed? If so, it sounds like it was a very sudden occurrence; could she have had a preexisting condition that contributed to her death? I wonder why her underpants were put back on.

A common method of illegal abortions (in the first trimester) is inserting a thin tube into the cervix, then leaving it there as an irritant until the contractions cause a miscarriage. Deaths from this could not really occur "on the table": most occurred from the resulting infection days after the woman had gone home.

If this Jane Doe was farther along in her pregnancy, the "doctor" probably did a D&C, where the most common way to botch it is stabbing through the uterine wall causing fatal hemorrhaging.

 

[macrauchenia]

I have a general question about UIDs.

Can a skeleton reveal if a person was over weight or not?

No, I would say. From all I have read, weight estimation on skeletal remains is done based on clothing found with the body. Otherwise they guess based on height/sex averages. I think.

 

[Roselvr]

It may be rare, but people's privacy should still should be respected. If the biological parents/mother had good reason for giving the child up (rape or incest, for example) they may want the past to stay in the past. Besides, if the child was given up without the rest of the family knowing, they won't know who the adoptee is, anyway. It may show a biological relationship, but that's it, like it did for Miss X.

Sorry I wasn't saying privacy shouldn't be respected. I should have bolded what I was replying to. You said we don't know how close the relationship was and that the mother may have passed or chose not to speak up; I was saying it's possible the doe's mother was the one that was adopted, which goes along with what you were saying that the person that put her for adoption is probably not here to speak up.

I was then saying that from my experience, it's rare people do not want contact, but yes, it is possible that they did not and did not speak up because of the shame they felt being unmarried. It's very possible that the relatives that were asked did not even know about the birth.

We recently did our DNA with Ancestry, I shared my daughters with her aunt who has a different father then my daughters father. They're showing as predicted 1st cousins when they're not. Until I started doing my own family tree/ DNA I had no clue how involved it could be. I just wish we knew how close the family link was.

I never saw any updates to the ancestral DNA matches. From what I could tell, investigators never revealed the type or closeness of the relationships, and when they contacted they families, they didn't know who she was. It's possible Miss X was given up for adoption, unknown to the families contacted, and the bio-mother had since passed on or chose not to "out" herself.
That's the one thing about using ancestral DNA to identify UIDs that concerns me-it may affect the privacy of someone who gave a child up for adoption, who may not want to be contacted because they never told their family or because they don't want to relive the past.

It's possible that Doe's mother was the one that was adopted.
My brother was put for adoption in the late 50's, I also give help for anyone looking; it's rare that family doesn't want contact

 

[Bluerae63]

Following. Any new info? This case is close to my heart bc I was 6 yrs old when it happened, not far from my home. Most people in the area now aren't even aware it happened. Only a few of us left that stayed local & know the history, tidbits of info, & how the area was, VS now changed. She needs to be id'd now b4 all that knowledge is lost!

 

[Sweetluv]

I am a Delaware native. Im only about 15 min away from where the body was located. This part of DE borders maryland....under ten min away. I wonder if the laundry bag was used in case the transport vehicle was pulled over. It would look like a bag full of clothes. This part of delaware in the 60s was considered remote. I would think the person responsible would have been a little familiar with the area.

 

[Bluerae63]

There seems to be some confusion with info on Jane's body placement in the laundry bag. In an early article is was stated that her legs were in the bag. It was clearly worded, so we should dismiss the idea her whole body was covered. Also, yes this area was remote, & I believe her body was left where she would be found quickly. If she was meant to be hidden, they needed only to drive a little further away from rt896, maybe 1\2 mile to where the ditches were large/deep enough for a car to drop into. Why leave her on top of construction material trash pile when they also could have walked further into the woods?

 

[Bluerae63]

I believe her body was found within hours of her death. IMO someone cared enough about her to have her found quickly as possible. New home construction was just beginning in the area at that time. It's my belief someone local to the area, or familiar with it, perhaps working in one of those trades, chose the location carefully. She was not hidden from sight or completely covered.

 

[Sweetluv]

Maybe she was attempting this abortion on her own...inserting soap and other agents hoping to miscarry. Could it have not worked properly causing harm to her bloodsteam resulting in death? Maybe she went to a motel to do this. Whoever found her body panicked and disposed of her. Hotel/motel would explain the laundry bag.

 

[Sweetluv]

Still dont know why 911 would not have been called unless babys father was there as well and he thought he could get into trouble?

 

[carbuff]

911 didn't exist in 1967.

 

[Alleykins]

Women were arrested for having abortions, and the doctors and abortionists who performed them were, too. That's why so many women were forced to seek alternatives and back alley procedures, they weren't done in a safe medical environment. Many women died due to complications from them-they were too afraid to seek medical help. When the complications got too bad and they finally sought medical help, it was too late. So, however this went down, most likely everyone was scared of the repercussions.

 

[Bluerae63]

Good points Sweetluv & Alleykins. Wherever Jane was originally from, Rts 13 & 40 were dotted with many small motels, & nearby interstate roads that lead out of state to PA & NJ. I believe Trenton NJ is where the laundry service bag was from, which could have been a delivery service route, possibly traveling all the way down Rt 40 into Elkton, MD where there were more motels. She could have stayed at any one of those, from Wilmington, Bear, Glasgow, Newark, Elkton or even Northeast, MD, which were a short distance off the main route to Porter Rd where she was later found. Still sounds to me that it was someone local & familiar with the area who left her to be found in a not so hidden place, as she would have been seen from the road by anyone passing by. Don't forget nearby Univ. of DE college students who could easily get info or assistance for abortion practices. Does anyone have access or know if student records were checked to see if someone enrolled did not return to classes?

 

[Alleykins]

I can't remember, but have they done isotopes on her?
On a side note, she looks a lot like Sen. Susan Collins

 

[Bluerae63]

I have seen 2 different composites and 2 morgue photos. I suppose the composites must show her basic facial features but in my opinion do not look like the photos, which are difficult to locate online.

 

[Bit of hope]

 

[DaisyChains]

I think this young woman was probably from a southern state. Many young women opted to travel to the northeast to have safer procedures as it was impossible to find especially in areas like the Bible Belt.

I'm wondering about states like Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina, Georgia. There was a young woman out of Louisiana I believe I sent in as a possible match. Alice Reeves. Sorry if she has been mentioned here already.

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/r/reeves_alice.html


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bluerae63]

I agree, possibly from southern state, visiting relatives in DE for whatever reason. A few years ago DNA results showed a maternal link to persons in NC & VA. Those persons denied having any knowledge of her. Perhaps she or her mother were illegitimate. So many secrets back in that era, never to be told. Imo, her family knew of her situation. She passed away b4 abortion was complete, dumped in a secluded but not hidden area, to be found fairly soon afterward. All involved avoided not only shame of situation but also legal charges. Jane Doe was found quickly, & eventually buried in a paupers grave further north in the Wilmington area, so she was laid to rest but unnamed. Her family could still know her final resting place. I wonder why her 3 month old fetus did not give any additional parental info. Also, articles state they are not trying to prosecute anyone, just trying to Id her. Hopefully someone who knows will please come forward to solve this mystery. Some of us are still haunted by this trajedy. It has been 50 years on the 18th of March. I wonder if anyone cares to visit or place flowers on her grave. Perhaps a younger sister, cousin, old boyfriend, anyone who needs to make things right in telling the truth of their loved one who never got the chance of a full life like they did. We can only hope. Since I was 6 & lived nearby then, I've always felt saddened of her demise at such a young age. She was probably the age of my older brother, & maybe friends of people I knew. This was my first experience at 6 in hearing how truly cold the world could be, so close to home & my innocent world. This area has always been my home. So Jane Doe has always been a memory, like a distant relative, down the street that was never heard of again. Missing, but never forgotten. Until those of us who can still remember are gone from this earth too.

 

[Sweetluv]

I live in Delaware. Under twenty minutes from where the body was found and Potters Field. Great idea Bluerae...i plan to visit her burial spot around Easter on behalf of us! Delaware Memorial Bridge leads out of NJ and into DE. It is a straight drive down route 40 into Bear. Several motels along that stretch too. Im wondering if she is from NJ..would explain laundry bag.

 

[Bluerae63]

A few years ago there was some investigation into the Trenton NJ laundry & an article in a NJ Newspaper trying to generate interest. I will try to find it again & attach the link.

 

[Bluerae63]

FYI - For those interested but not aware, at some point in time JANE DOE 1967 was also referred to as MISS X (not to be confused with Little Miss X). There are additional articles & bits of info under this 2nd name.