Found Deceased DE - Tina Coverdale, 22, Middletown, 15 March 1985

[Romulus]

IMPORTANT NOTE: Pending recovery of the skull and other remains, this case is still being treated as a missing person investigation. Partial remains (three bones) were found in 1986 and presumptively and circumstantially identified as Tina Coverdale (as well as her being declared deceased by Delaware courts). Tina Coverdale was adjudged to be presumed to have died on March 16, 1985 by a Delaware Chancery Court on August 10, 1987. The Delaware OCME issued a death certificate and the three bones were released to a funeral director.

Namus https://www.findthemissing.org/en/cases/7654/6

 

[Archangel85]

DNA: Status:
Initial inquiry underway

I don't understand

 

[theshadow45]

They weren't completely sure whether the bones were hers or not as DNA wasn't a thing in 1986. Now that DNA testing is commonplace they want to be absolutely sure.

 

[Bluerae63]

I remember reading some time ago that her car was found submerged in a creek just off a sharp curve on back road outside of Townsend, DE. When the car was pulled from the water, much of her remains were washed away except for the few bones recovered.

 

[Bluerae63]

CORRECTION to my previous post:
On July 4, 1986, Tina's vehicle was recovered upside down and on the bottom of the Smyrna River in 15-20' of water, 50' from shore, in Kent County Delaware off a location know as “Flemings Landing”. Circumstantial evidence suggests she was driving and lost control of her vehicle, a 1981 Ford Mustang, Delaware Registration 792322. The keys were in the ignition and in the “on” position. The same day, two other vehicles were recovered from approximately the same location in the Smyrna river.

The vehicle was resting on its roof in turbid water with very strong current. Two long bones were found by police divers within the interior of the vehicle on July 4, 1986. During the dragging of the vehicle from it underwater resting position onto land, the windows shattered, spilling contents into the strong currents of the river.

After the vehicle was brought to shore, a segment of long bone was recovered from the mud still contained in the vehicle. The only remains recovered included a right tibia, fibula and proximal end of a femur.

Two more attempts were made by police divers, the latest on August 25, 1986 which resulted in no further recovery of skeletal or other evidence.

 

[CastlesBurning]

Was she found? I see Tina is no longer listed on NamUs, but I see nothing online.

 

[iulia]

This article says her body was recovered in 1986:

Tina Marie Coverdale obituary - Newspapers.com

Clipping found in The Morning News in Wilmington, Delaware on Aug 19, 1987. Tina Marie Coverdale obituary

www.newspapers.com