Identified! FL - Hernando Co, WhtFem, 20-30, Weeki Wachee, UP12579, Apr'81 - Theresa Caroline Fillingim

[Gardener1850]

Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP12579
Female, White / Caucasian
Date Found April 3, 1981
Location Found Weeki Wachee, Florida
Estimated Age Range 20-30 Years


Estimated Year of Death: 1978-1980
Estimated PMI 2 Years
Height 5' 4"(64 inches) , Estimated
Weight Cannot Estimate

Clothing
A red polyester blouse, with elastic surrounding the waist. The diameter of the blouse at the waist was approximately 32 inches. The diameter of the blouse at the chest was approximately 44 inches
On the Body

Clothing
Pants made of 100% cotton denim with a zipper.
On the Body

Clothing
A cream-colored nylon bra. Unknown size.
On the Body

Circumstances
Type Unidentified Deceased
Date Found April 3, 1981
NamUs Case Created June 10, 2014

Location Found Map
Street Address Centerwood Avanue Weeki Wachee, Florida 34606
Hernando County

Circumstances of Recovery
This decedent was one of 4 decedents found in 1981. They were all buried on the same property.
Details of Recovery


Inventory of Remains All parts recovered
Condition of Remains Not recognizable - Near complete or complete skeleton
Circumstance Notes
(#3)


The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[Gardener1850]

I'm surprised I could not find a thread for this case here.
The other Jane Doe's thread is here: FL - FL - Weeki Wachee, WhtFem UP12589, 20-30, SK victim, in shallow grave, Mar'81

 

[coffeeandacig]

Clothing
A red polyester blouse, with elastic surrounding the waist. The diameter of the blouse at the waist was approximately 32 inches. The diameter of the blouse at the chest was approximately 44 inches
On the Body

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Snipped by coffeeandacig

5' 4" with a 32 inch waist (size 12) would put her around 150 lbs. and up weight.
Her 44 inch chest would be really large on top, and giving her an apple shape appearance.

I doubt her face shape was as slim as appears in the first recreation picture. JMO

 

[Gardener1850]

The granddaughter of Bettina Antone (missing since 1980) has been commenting on her thread and thinks UP12579 could be her missing grandmother. Perhaps some members here could join us on her thread and give her some support: CA - CA - Bettina Antone, 44, Redding, 29 Mar 1980

 

[Mrs. Badcrumble]

I'm surprised I could not find a thread for this case here.
The other Jane Doe's thread is here: FL - FL - Weeki Wachee, WhtFem UP12589, 20-30, SK victim, in shallow grave, Mar'81

Two other UID cases from Weeki Wachee has been made public on NamUs just recently. These UIDs were found March 19th and April 3rd 1981 respectively, though.

I made threads for them:

FL - FL - Weeki Wachee, UnkFem UP61218, adult, co-mingled with another homicide victim, Mar'81

FL - FL - Weeki Wachee, UnsUnc UP61264, adult, co-mingled w/another victim, est.YoD 1975-1981, Apr'81

 

[Mrs. Badcrumble]

Two ruleouts as of now:

MP6128
Cynthia Gooding
03/09/1974
Monroe
FL

MP5785
Teresa Alfonso
03/09/1974
Monroe
FL

 

[AkitasAreLovely]

Hernando County Jane Doe (April 1981)
I don't think there was any announcement of this young woman being identified last year, plus her NamUs is still up, so not sure if she's been identified or not.

 

[carbuff]

Snipped by coffeeandacig

5' 4" with a 32 inch waist (size 12) would put her around 150 lbs. and up weight.
Her 44 inch chest would be really large on top, and giving her an apple shape appearance.

I doubt her face shape was as slim as appears in the first recreation picture. JMO

Yes. She'd be about the same size as me. I weight a bit more than that but the same height and measurements.

 

[HmmMysterious]

Confirmed today as Theresa Caroline Fillingim of Tampa, Florida. She was identified last year, but it took until this week for investigators to confirm this.

‘It floored me’: Teen who vanished in 1980 identified as body found in serial killer’s backyard 4 decades ago

 

[carbuff]

I'm glad Theresa has her name back. Condolences to family and friends.

 

[HmmMysterious]

Theresa Fillingim (May 22, 1963 - circa May 1980) was 16 years old (just one week shy of her 17th birthday) when she vanished in May 1980 en route to a job interview. She was reported missing to the Tampa Police Department by her sister soon after.

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Rest in peace, Theresa.

 

[Hochman]

Rest in peace, Theresa. View attachment 355199
View attachment 355198View attachment 355200

The last image is the composite for the still unidentified victim.
This is the correct one.

 

[Mrs. Badcrumble]

Wasn't sure if this was the correct Doe (still not, though), because there are several Doe threads in this case, and some of the recons are mixed up with the other Does.. It does state that Jane Doe #2 (victim #3) was identified last year, so I suppose that's what the "#3" in Circumstances of Recovery section in her NamUs refers to?

Some of the WS threads for the other Weeki Wachee Does can be found in post #5 upthread.

 

[Melt71]

Oh gosh, answers for family after so long. RIP Theresa.

 

[Skully]

Wasn't sure if this was the correct Doe (still not, though), because there are several Doe threads in this case, and some of the recons are mixed up with the other Does.. It does state that Jane Doe #2 (victim #3) was identified last year, so I suppose that's what the "#3" in Circumstances of Recovery section in her NamUs refers to?

Some of the WS threads for the other Weeki Wachee Does can be found in post #5 upthread.

You got the right one, she is victim #3.

 

[Richard]

Theresa Caroline Fillingim, age 16
Murdered in 1980

LINKS:

Theresa Caroline Fillingim (1963-1980) - Find a...

Theresa was a victim of homicide. She went missing in 1980. Her remains were found by Hernando County Sheriff's detectives in October 2020.

www.findagrave.com

Remains of Missing Florida Girl Found 40 Years Later, at Home of Serial Killer Up for Parole This Year: Reports

The remains of a Florida teen who disappeared over 40 years have been positively identified as Theresa Caroline Fillingim, officials said. According to NBC 2, Margaret Johns said that the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the death of her sister, Theresa, who disappeared from her...

www.crimeonline.com

 

[Richard]

Theresa Caroline Fillingim (May 22, 1963- c. May 1980) was one of four victims of serial killer William Mansfield, Jr found on his property in 1981. two other victims; a woman and a man remain unidentified. All of the victims were found on Mansfield's father's property in Centerwood Avenue in Weeki Wachee, Florida. Mansfield Jr. was convicted of all murders in 1982.

Fillingim vanished in May 1980 after she didn't show up for a job interview in Tampa, Florida. She was just one week shy of her 17th birthday. Fillingim was reported missing to the Tampa Police Department by her sister, Margaret Johns, on May 16, 1980.

The victim was estimated to have been killed between one and three years prior to the discovery of her remains, although her killer claimed he began murdering women as early as 1975. Missing individuals including Cynthia Gooding and Teresa Alfonso were excluded as potential identities. Because of the condition of her skeletonized remains, the only physical detail released was her estimated height, determined to be around 5'4.

She was identified in 2021 through Parabon NanoLabs, but it took until July 2022 for investigators to confirm this. Her identity was released on July 20, 2022.

Clothing​

• Red polyester blouse, with elastic surrounding the waist; diameter of the blouse at the waist was approximately 32" and at the chest it was approximately 44".
• Denim pants with a zipper made of 100% cotton.
• Cream-colored nylon bra, unknown size.

LINK:

https://[link removed]/wiki/Theresa_Fillingim