FL- Latanya Reese, 15, found murdered in boxcar, missing from foster home in PA, Apr 1996

[aThousandYearsWide]

Body of slain teen in boxcar is identified

"A teenager found slain in a refrigerated orange juice boxcar in Florida more than five years ago was identified Tuesday as a 15-year-old Philadelphia girl who vanished from her foster home.

The body exhumed in Manatee County on Tuesday was identified through dental records as Latanya Reese, Philadelphia and Florida authorities confirmed.

Latanya was last seen alive outside her West Philadelphia foster home on March 3, 1996. Her body was discovered April 2, 1996, in a boxcar in Bradenton.

"She said she was going outside," said Philadelphia Officer Virginia Hill, a missing persons investigator who cracked the case. "She never came home."

The teen's body was wrapped with a chain and stuffed in a pillowcase and plastic trash bag. The coroner's report determined the cause of death to be asphyxiation."

 

[Filly]

Oh for the love of all things........I remember this child.

WTH happened? How horrific.

 

[Filly]

Just noting it was Officer Virginia Hill here in Philly who made the connection. Officer Hill always, always cared about these children. Worked tirelessly, and never gave up.

What monster did this to a child that had a lousey rotten roster from jump start? Save for a grandmom who "at least" found out her Grand was "found".

Please RIP sweet girl. You'll forever be a girl.

 

[Filly]

Thinking of you today, Latanya.

You're not forgotten, sweetie.

 

[Filly]

Oh my gosh where have I been? Reading about Latanya I find that retired Police Officer Virginia Hill was a victim herself in her Virginia home.

That so stinks. I remember meeting her waaay back when my child was involved in things like PAL, and such and they'd have a fancy dinner. I knew this was the lady. The Officer that cared about kids. Missing kids. Kids on the street. Kids of all ages, races and classes.

RIP Officer Hill. Betting you are with Latanya up there caring for her and all those kids you cared for here.

Sorry for long post. It was like yesterday bringing my child to these events and meeting extremely caring, kind, people through them. Nice lady, Officer Hill. I guess unless she busted you at some point. Said in jest.

 

[PayrollNerd]

My gosh how sad to lose such a valuable investigator to murder!!!

Retired Philadelphia Police Officer Murdered In Virginia..

 

[Lgreen]

I couldn't find any info on if her killer was found. Sad tho someone that did so much good, a valuable gem, and she died so tragically.