FL FL - GERARD SCHAEFER -- How Many Victims?

[Still_Seek_Answers]

One more before I go to bed. :
https://identifyus.org/en/cases/4702

I misread the namus information on the first one you gave me. It did not list any dental work, my eyes just read it the wrong way. (Sorry)

The second one they say probable year of death was 1982, my sister vanished in 1972, but as we all know that can be off.
It lists bra size as 32, Debbies was 36......but since they are basing that on a bra found there, then that too could be wrong.

Debbie is listed in namus, and it took us awhile to get them to stop losing it....but her DNA profile is in the system.

Please feel free to submit any skeletal remains.....sometimes all it takes is a lucky shot to bring a missing child home.

Thank you for your help!! We all appreciate it so very much.

 

[poppyfrock]

OK, I have never submitted a match before. I'm supposed to do this through email, right? I have emailed the above two possible matches. I felt weird linking 3 different pages in the email. I don't know why, I guess I'm awkward and felt like I was doing it all wrong. But, they have been submitted. I know it's not likely, but we can add them to our list of rule outs.

 

[Still_Seek_Answers]

OK, I have never submitted a match before. I'm supposed to do this through email, right? I have emailed the above two possible matches. I felt weird linking 3 different pages in the email. I don't know why, I guess I'm awkward and felt like I was doing it all wrong. But, they have been submitted. I know it's not likely, but we can add them to our list of rule outs.

Thank you!!! Do not worry about the number of possibles you send in on a missing this long. Some nights I have sent in as many as 15. I think they would be so tired of hearing from my family that they would just give us what we want....lol. Your help is greatly appreciated hun!!!! Never doubt that for even a second.

 

[poppyfrock]

Thank you!!! Do not worry about the number of possibles you send in on a missing this long. Some nights I have sent in as many as 15. I think they would be so tired of hearing from my family that they would just give us what we want....lol. Your help is greatly appreciated hun!!!! Never doubt that for even a second.

:hug:

I started with GA, because I figured you guys have already submitted all the unidentified that could be Deborah from FL. But, it kind of irritates me that you guys have submitted so many possible matches and we only have one rule out. What the heck? I wish they would at least get back to you and say, "This is NOT Deborah." At least then you and your family and us sleuthers would know and we could concentrate on other areas. It must be BEYOND frustrating for those who love Deborah. My thoughts are with you all.

 

[Still_Seek_Answers]

:hug:

I started with GA, because I figured you guys have already submitted all the unidentified that could be Deborah from FL. But, it kind of irritates me that you guys have submitted so many possible matches and we only have one rule out. What the heck? I wish they would at least get back to you and say, "This is NOT Deborah." At least then you and your family and us sleuthers would know and we could concentrate on other areas. It must be BEYOND frustrating for those who love Deborah. My thoughts are with you all.

Few things amaze us any longer. I'd love to see a list of rule outs under her name. It would say that at least they are still searching. In all fairness to them I must admit the Gerard Schaefer was very good at hiding the remains of his victims. As the state grow developers have unearth a few of them, but many of them, including girls taken before my sister are still out there somewhere.
What angers us the most is the constant denial that there have been any remains unearthed that could be her. We are so scared that they have her down there in a Jane Doe grave.....found before they started taking samples for DNA......with no list of the info on these people....we have no way of knowing.
But still we search on...........
Thank you for your help, it is greatly appreciated.

 

[Still_Seek_Answers]

I need some help......on my sisters namus profile it says under DNA, sample submitted, tests complete......does this mean her DNA is still not in Codis???????????

 

[Roselvr]

I need some help......on my sisters namus profile it says under DNA, sample submitted, tests complete......does this mean her DNA is still not in Codis???????????

Complete tests mean they're done & are usually checking against their system & CODIS. Depending on who did it; they may not change it to what type of DNA & who's; but it's processed which is good ~Hugs

 

[Donamena]

I know there are times I do not respond to posts as quickly as I would like, please accept my apology for that. I try to get here to check on this thread at least daily, however I have ESRD (End Stage Renal Disease) and there are times my health prevents me from being here. Please never think I am losing interest or that our search has stopped. we appreciate everything that everybody here does to help us.

I'm praying for you sweetie. Keep that light in the window forever.

 

[Donamena]

Is there a range for this Schaefer anywhere, I.e., places he traveled to, lived, visited? Along with Amber law & Masha law & all of the other laws to help victims of predators, there needs to be some sort of grass-roots movement to get those agencies to work together. This all seems ludicrous that in a time when we have more technical resources available than ever, we can't get anything moving. I wish I knew more about how it's run, but I'm sure there's no federal or state funding for cold cases, nor for integration of identifications in a more reasonable time, nor personnel with caring or motivation.

 

[Still_Seek_Answers]

Were you able to FB friend Todd? While I do not doubt it's protocol for them to run through all the databases; he would be the person to ask. NamUs has been on a roll collecting DNA; trying to solve as many cases as they can. IMO; I think they're trying to "prove" themselves for government funding.
.

I have sent Todd a friend request as well as a message explaining who I am, to date he has not responded. I am a patient person and I would imagine he is probably very busy. As soon as I hear back from him I will let you know. Thank you again for sharing his info with me.

 

[Still_Seek_Answers]

Is there a range for this Schaefer anywhere, I.e., places he traveled to, lived, visited? Along with Amber law & Masha law & all of the other laws to help victims of predators, there needs to be some sort of grass-roots movement to get those agencies to work together. This all seems ludicrous that in a time when we have more technical resources available than ever, we can't get anything moving. I wish I knew more about how it's run, but I'm sure there's no federal or state funding for cold cases, nor for integration of identifications in a more reasonable time, nor personnel with caring or motivation.

To the best of everyone's knowledge, Gerard Schaefer both hunted and disposed of his victims in Florida. There are a couple newspaper articles that show a possible link to him and two female bodies located in WV. However no evidence was located to link him to those two murders. It is believed, and I as well believe that all of his victims were abducted and tortured in Florida. This is based on the fact that he was a Wiltons Manor and a Martin County .....I hesitate to even say the word policeman.....but that was how he abducted many of the victims. His victims however could have been from anywhere. He often picked up women under the pretense that hitch hiking was illegal, which it was not.
In an attempt to be fair, I will say that at the time my sister vanished, child abduction cases were rare. The laws at that time hindered the investigation and she was quickly classified as a run away. Serial killers were not so common and I do not think anybody was prepared for the rude awakening Gerard Schaefer, upon his capture......was going to bring to light. Nobody linked the victims and he truly was a opportunistic brutal heartless killer. He had no specific type or age range. He also picked a state that does not easily give up it's dead. Some of his victims remains have been located over the years, but he did not even stick to a particular dumping area.
I agree that we need stronger laws to help get unidentified remains identified in a more timely manner. We need to give these people their names back, and we need to bring some peace to the families.

 

[Backwoods]

Still_Seek_Answers --
It has taken me a little while but I have now read through this whole thread.

I had "bumped up" against Gerard Schaefer's name in reading, etc., but I never dug very deep because, that guy -- he was just SO bad. I will pay more attention, from now on, and if I ever run across anything I think might help your search, I will post about it.

In fact, I'll help however I can, if I see things elsewhere I think might be useful to you. Like so many others, I am moved by the devotion of you and your siblings to finding your sister. She was a beautiful girl, and she must have been a beautiful person to have inspired that devotion. God bless your family.

I was thinking about your story and your search and the following song popped into my head -- had to look it up on YouTube and post it here for you, your family, and, of course, Deborah Sue -- especially that last verse:

"...But someday I'll go back to West Virginia,
To the green rolling hills I love so well.
Yes, someday I'll go home and I know I'll right the wrong.
These troubled times will follow me no more.

Yes, someday I'll go home and I know I'll right the wrong.
These troubled times will follow me no more."

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vl5N4ndHv0"]Emmylou Harris - The Green Rolling Hills of West Virginia - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Still_Seek_Answers]

Backwoods,
Your beautiful song made me cry. As an adult, I understand my parents moved us to Florida in an attempt to give us a better life. As children, none of us wanted to go....we were poor as church mice.....and all to often we went to bed hungry.....but none of us really much thought about it being any other way. To us, that was simply the natural way things were, we thought.....for everybody. My mother had very little education, and my father was an over the road trucker. But we always had each other, us 6 kids.....always we knew we had each other. My mother used to say she went to Florida with 6 kids and came home with 5. Debbie is such a presence in all of us, we look around us everyday and know we will never be complete until we bring her home......without her there is a part of us missing......a huge part.....and peace will escape us until we can bring her back to where she belongs.
Gerard Schaefer was pure evil. Not only in his methods but in his aftermath. There are families of earlier victims of his still waiting on their loved ones to come home also.
Thank you for your kind words and your lovely song. It truly is Debbies song......she is out there somewhere......wondering what is taking us so long......waiting for us to find her.....and bring her back to the hills she so loved, and roamed as a happy child.....back to home.....to finally be able to rest in peace.

 

[Backwoods]

SSA, have you seen this WS thread:

[ame="http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?p=9818402#post9818402"]FL FL - Jonathan Dickinson State Park - Human Bones, June 2010 - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community[/ame]


(I don't know if the skeletal remains referenced were ever identified, if they are now in a database, etc. -- I posted in the thread asking if anyone knows.)

 

[poppyfrock]

Hello Still_Seek_Answers! And everyone else! Just wanted to peek in and say I hope you're feeling well. Also, I am still waiting on a reply about the remains in Ga. Oh, I don't really think it is her, due to the differences SSA pointed out, but what else are we supposed to do in the meantime?

 

[Still_Seek_Answers]

When it comes to my sisters case......waiting is something we have learned to do allot of!! We very much appreciate your help, in case I did not mention that earlier. I always tell myself there are to many differences, that way I do not ride the emotional rollercoaster of getting my hopes up to just have them dashed. Half of me firmly believes she is buried in a Jane Doe grave and until they have obtained DNA from those children, there will be no way to get them home. The other half of me says no, there are to many known Schaefer victims whose remains have not been located.....some of the cases even older than my sisters.......Florida does not give up it's dead easily......so then my hope returns and once again I start going through the databases. Maybe today is what we tell ourselves everyday......maybe today will be the day we finally get to bring her home. Every night I look up at the stars and say to her...... don't worry sis, we won't give up......the time will come when we get you home.........you are always loved, and never forgotten......
Debs birthday is Sept. 19..........

 

[Still_Seek_Answers]

SSA good luck with getting the needed info.

Did Schaefer use an attorney for the civil action?

Did Schaefer have a next of kin? Do they know anything about his crimes? Good friend other than your Dad? Anyone who may have known something or who may have gotten his papers and other belongings after his death?

I am not sure Schaefer used an attorney for civil actions. Many of his civil cases were filed by him. I know he has/had a mother and that he is the oldest of three children. I am not sure if his father was still living at the time of his capture. He lived with his mother and many of his "trophies" were found in her home, as well as many of his writings. I am not sure if he had any close friends. As in my fathers case they were simply drinking buddies who had a beer now and then. As of the last time I researched his family, which has been many years ago......his family were convinced of his innocence and were refusing to talk to the families of any of his victims. I will do some research and see if I can update that information.

 

[Backwoods]

SSA, the WS "Unidentified" thread linked below is from 2010, consists of only one post, AND the link to the newspaper article is not working, BUT in the post itself there is the name of an organization I thought might be of interest/help to you. You may have seen this already:

FL FL - Unidentified bodies in South Florida to be exhumed for DNA testing - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community

 

[Roselvr]

We agree. That is why my brother pushed so hard to have her listed as a Schaefer victim.Add to that the scrapbook my mother kept, parts of it are shown in the video. My sister has similar features to ALOT of the girls he choose. We have spoken to several lawyers, and all tel us the same thing....we are looking at several years of litigation and the expenses will be huge. I have End Stage Renal Disease and do dialysis daily. Brother James is also disabled.My little sister works everyday....but none of us have the kind of money a lawyer would cost.We are better educated than our parents were, plus we have things they did not...for example the internet. Which is why we do all the research, that way when the time comes we will have all our ducks in a row...so to speak. We suspect that the evidence has been "misplaced" or even worse destroyed....either one of those would be negligence especially since they have known all along that many of the victims he had trophies from have neither been located nor identified. We can't seem to make them understand, it is not money we seek...How can you even place a dollar value on the life of a child/sister/daughter? If that was our goal, we would have filed a lawsuit long ago. All we want is to see the items and see if anything they have belonged to our sister. We truly believe we will find her ring among his trophies. My brother did obtain a court order to have her school records released. There was nothing in them to indicate any reason why they would feel so strongly that she was a runaway. We are also in a battle of that wording...we know sometimes children do runaway, however that does not make them a throw away.In our sisters case however...there is nothing....no type of proof....or nothing to even indicate that she ran away. The last words she spoke were...I will see ya later....

Wonder how we find out what happened to evidence?

 

[Still_Seek_Answers]

Sorry I have not replied here in awhile. Backwoods, the organization that was in the article is run by a very good friend of ours who has helped us every chance she gets. The biggest problem we have with finding if she is buried down there somewhere in a paupers grave, is that Florida claims to have no girls in her age range.

Today marks another year. Another year of hitting our heads against brick walls. Another year of searching all the unidentified and not finding anyone who even comes close enough to her for a comparison. Another year of pain, anger and frustration.