FL FL - Miami-Dade County, Florida White Fem 24-34 UP14214 found in water Feb 1979

[Moonwalker9]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Recognizable face, no photo

Case Numbers
NCMEC Number--
ME/C Case Number1979-0507
Demographics
SexFemale
Race / EthnicityWhite / Caucasian
Possible First Name--
Possible Middle Name--
Possible Last Name--
Possible Nickname--
Estimated Age GroupAdult - Pre 30
Estimated Age Range (Years)24-34
Estimated Year of Death1979
Estimated PMI--
Height5' 1"(61 inches) , Measured
Weight110 lbs, Measured
Circumstances
TypeUnidentified Deceased
Date FoundFebruary 15, 1979
NamUs Case CreatedAugust 25, 2015
ME/C QA Reviewed--
Location Found Map
General Location--Florida
CountyMiami-Dade County
GPS CoordinatesOcean(approximately 29 miles East of Miami)
Circumstances of RecoveryFound 2/15/1979.
Details of Recovery


Inventory of RemainsAll parts recovered
Condition of RemainsRecognizable face
Physical Description
Hair ColorBlack
Head Hair DescriptionShort black hair.
Body Hair Description--
Facial Hair DescriptionNone
Left Eye ColorBrown
Right Eye ColorBrown
Eye Description--
Distinctive Physical Features
Item
Description
Finger and toe nails
Pink nail polish on fingers and toe nails.

Piercing
Pierced ear lobes.

Scar/mark
3/4 inch scar on the right lower arm, 2 1/2 x 1/2 inch scar over the left lower thigh and a 1/2 inch scar on the left knee.

Other distinctive physical characteristic
psoriasis on right wrist and hand


Clothing and Accessories
Item
Description
Accessories
Unknown
Near the Body

Clothing
- Blue bathing suit- one piece - White panties with pink flowers - Blue and white striped pull over blouse - Light blue bra - Blue high heels with tan heels.
On the Body

Clothing
Unknown
Near the Body

Eyewear
Unknown
On the Body

Footwear
Unknown
On the Body

Jewelry
Unknown
On the Body

 

[madamx]

Bump

 

[BigKeyManatee]

No rule outs
Breaks my heart.

Edited

 

[MagicCityMan]

Hmmmmm...29 miles  east of Miami would be more than halfway to Bimini which is part of the Bahamas. However, when I clicked on the map link in the Namus profile it was clearly out in the Everglades which of course would be  west of Miami. That is quite the discrepancy.
She was wearing a bathing suit which is more in line with being on a boat out in the Atlantic ocean rather than the Everglades which is far from a beach environment.
If she was out in the ocean, I have to wonder exactly where Mr. Oba Chandler was in 1979. We know he liked to lure women on his boat to violate and kill them then toss them overboard based on the crime for which he was convicted. Many speculated that it couldn't have been his first time.
We also know that he did come down to South Florida because he was connected to a murder in Coral Springs in 1990.
Of course, whether or not Mr. Chandler was involved doesn't help identify the decedent but it is interesting to think about.

 

[BigKeyManatee]

Interesting indeed to learn about Oba Chandler’s MO and history of victim disposal. Thanks for sharing that.

BTW, I’ve been flummoxed repeatedly by clicking on the map links from the NamUs profiles— they are not likely to take you to the actual recovery location. Just my experience.

Trying to research what Miami-Bahamas ferry boat services were around in the late 70’s…..
I see now with high speed boats it’s about 3 hours from Miami or 4 from Ft Lauderdale. Maybe a bit long for day-tripping? But perhaps an economical way to go spend some happy time gambling and partying on the Island.
Back in the 70’s we were not as safety-minded and I really think it’s possible that someone could go over the rails and not be noticed, especially if she was traveling alone.

The way she was dressed with a full one piece bathing suit, plus bra and panties gives more of a feeling that she dressed to go out on a smaller private boat, with limited space. She was prepared to strip down to her bathing suit, but then after swimming, she had dry underclothes to change into. With a blousey beach cover-up, I’ve done that more than a few times myself as a teen growing up in Florida. Except her high-heels would NOT be welcomed on any small craft! So maybe not, unless someone took the time to dress her up again.

Was drowning the cause of death? Any evidenced that she was assaulted? Was the blouse long enough to be a cover-up? If not, where were her pants? I guess a loose skirt could float off pretty easily, but she still had those high heel shoes on.

As someone who has lived in South Florida for a while, any insight about the ferry services?
TIA!

Edit- added questions about ferry and clothing, etc.

 

[MagicCityMan]

Interesting indeed to learn about Oba Chandler’s MO and history of victim disposal. Thanks for sharing that.

BTW, I’ve been flummoxed repeatedly by clicking on the map links from the NamUs profiles— they are not likely to take you to the actual recovery location. Just my experience.

Trying to research what Miami-Bahamas ferry boat services were around in the late 70’s…..
I see now with high speed boats it’s about 3 hours from Miami or 4 from Ft Lauderdale. Maybe a bit long for day-tripping? But perhaps an economical way to go spend some happy time gambling and partying on the Island.
Back in the 70’s we were not as safety-minded and I really think it’s possible that someone could go over the rails and not be noticed, especially if she was traveling alone.

The way she was dressed with a full one piece bathing suit, plus bra and panties gives more of a feeling that she dressed to go out on a smaller private boat, with limited space. She was prepared to strip down to her bathing suit, but then after swimming, she had dry underclothes to change into. With a blousey beach cover-up, I’ve done that more than a few times myself as a teen growing up in Florida. Except her high-heels would NOT be welcomed on any small craft! So maybe not, unless someone took the time to dress her up again.

Was drowning the cause of death? Any evidenced that she was assaulted? Was the blouse long enough to be a cover-up? If not, where were her pants? I guess a loose skirt could float off pretty easily, but she still had those high heel shoes on.

As someone who has lived in South Florida for a while, any insight about the ferry services?
TIA!

Edit- added questions about ferry and clothing, etc.

Not too sure about the ferry service to Bimini back in the 70's but for sure private boaters make the trek all of the time. In fact, it's almost a rite of passage for boaters/fishermen in south Florida. You are so right about high heels on a boat...definitely a no-no. Jumping, falling or being pushed off a ferry/party boat is certainly a possibility.

 

[BigKeyManatee]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

Sadly there are still no exclusions listed for this unfortunate young woman.

 

[Nancy Drew RN]

I was trying to find contemporary news reports, especially as it’s very odd to me that she had a recognizable face and clothing, but there are no photos. Is it possible this boating accident is related to her?

1979 Miami Jane Doe

Clipping found in The Miami Herald published in Miami, Florida on 2/16/1979. 1979 Miami Jane Doe

www.newspapers.com

Ok, yes, these numbers match up. If correct, this woman was one of six individuals who drowned after the Versalles II burned while out on a pleasure cruise, celebrating someone’s birthday. There were nine survivors, and accounts suggest alcohol was flowing freely. Everyone involved seems to have been Hispanic; only one survivor spoke English. If so, though, it seems odd to me that no one knew this woman’s name—possibly she was the guest of someone who also did not survive, or they were somehow unable to confirm her identity? Only about half of the survivors were from the Miami area, with others coming from out of state, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. None of the deceased carried identification.

If this woman is in fact a passenger from the Versalles II, it’s highly likely that she is also Hispanic and may not have been a US resident.

 

[MadMcGoo]

I was trying to find contemporary news reports, especially as it’s very odd to me that she had a recognizable face and clothing, but there are no photos. Is it possible this boating accident is related to her?

1979 Miami Jane Doe

Clipping found in The Miami Herald published in Miami, Florida on 2/16/1979. 1979 Miami Jane Doe

www.newspapers.com

Ok, yes, these numbers match up. If correct, this woman was one of six individuals who drowned after the Versalles II burned while out on a pleasure cruise, celebrating someone’s birthday. There were nine survivors, and accounts suggest alcohol was flowing freely. Everyone involved seems to have been Hispanic; only one survivor spoke English. If so, though, it seems odd to me that no one knew this woman’s name—possibly she was the guest of someone who also did not survive, or they were somehow unable to confirm her identity? Only about half of the survivors were from the Miami area, with others coming from out of state, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. None of the deceased carried identification.

If this woman is in fact a passenger from the Versalles II, it’s highly likely that she is also Hispanic and may not have been a US resident.

Good find!

 

[MadMcGoo]

UP14214 Unidentified female 1979 FL (1)

Clipping found in The Miami News published in Miami, Florida on 2/16/1979. UP14214 Unidentified female 1979 FL (1)

www.newspapers.com

UP14214 Unidentified female 1978 FL (2)

Clipping found in The Miami News published in Miami, Florida on 2/16/1979. UP14214 Unidentified female 1978 FL (2)

www.newspapers.com

This suggests they may not have known each other prior to the trip. What a tragedy.

 

[BigKeyManatee]

I was trying to find contemporary news reports, especially as it’s very odd to me that she had a recognizable face and clothing, but there are no photos. Is it possible this boating accident is related to her?

1979 Miami Jane Doe

Clipping found in The Miami Herald published in Miami, Florida on 2/16/1979. 1979 Miami Jane Doe

www.newspapers.com

Ok, yes, these numbers match up. If correct, this woman was one of six individuals who drowned after the Versalles II burned while out on a pleasure cruise, celebrating someone’s birthday. There were nine survivors, and accounts suggest alcohol was flowing freely. Everyone involved seems to have been Hispanic; only one survivor spoke English. If so, though, it seems odd to me that no one knew this woman’s name—possibly she was the guest of someone who also did not survive, or they were somehow unable to confirm her identity? Only about half of the survivors were from the Miami area, with others coming from out of state, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. None of the deceased carried identification.

If this woman is in fact a passenger from the Versalles II, it’s highly likely that she is also Hispanic and may not have been a US resident.

Wow. Excellent research. Thanks for sharing.
The more answers you find, the more questions they raise.
I hope that someday she can get her identity back through DNA forensic genealogy.

 

[madamx]

Wow everyone has done such a great job at uncovering so much on this woman and the other people on the boat.

It’s crazy how life is… here she gets invited to a birthday party on a boat to drink eat celebrate and enjoy the day only to drown and remain nameless for 44 years!

If she was one of the people that did not speak English…. maybe her family did not either and did not know how to report her. Or her family stayed back in another country or state and they found out later she drowned but never assumed they could do anything about it? Omg the possibilities are endless!!

I don’t understand she had a recognizable face but there is no photo or sketch. Or any photo of the clothing.

 

[Nancy Drew RN]

Wow everyone has done such a great job at uncovering so much on this woman and the other people on the boat.

It’s crazy how life is… here she gets invited to a birthday party on a boat to drink eat celebrate and enjoy the day only to drown and remain nameless for 44 years!

If she was one of the people that did not speak English…. maybe her family did not either and did not know how to report her. Or her family stayed back in another country or state and they found out later she drowned but never assumed they could do anything about it? Omg the possibilities are endless!!

I don’t understand she had a recognizable face but there is no photo or sketch. Or any photo of the clothing.

It's quite possible that she and/or her family were not legal residents and afraid to come forward, or her family was not in the US and unable to be in contact with her (I'm thinking of the other boater, who was from Cuba). Or she was reported missing in another jurisdiction within the US and otherwise not connected with this woman in Florida. Or she was unable to be reported missing because she was "an adult." So many possibilities, but I think she likely was Latinx. I do wonder if they had a good idea of who she was but were limited in their ability to confirm it because of one of the above issues--you'd hope they would publicize a possible name, but they didn't see fit to include any of the other circumstances in the NamUs entry, so who knows.

 

[MagicCityMan]

Amazing information. I wonder why NamUs didn't include the circumstances that lead to this UID's discovery. Perhaps whomever entered the information was unaware as well. At least the events that resulted in this poor woman's death were accidental as opposed to foul play. As was suggested in a previous post, I'll bet she was the plus one of one of the deceased men and no one else knew her. That, with being a probable recent immigrant would certainly explain why she wasn't identified. Someone at some point surely missed (and maybe still does) this woman. Before cell phones and social media we didn't always know what our friends and family members were doing. Let's say she's on a first date with the guy. She doesn't know anyone else at the gathering. She hasn't mentioned the guy or even the fact that she was going on this boat to anyone she knows. Tragedy strikes. It's like a perfect storm to end up unidentified for coming up on 45 years.