Identified! FL - Palm Beach Co, WhtFem, UP16715, 22-44, in wooded area, two diamond rings, Dec'82 - Leona Jean Keller

[EmiliaRT007]

Gosh so sad -

could you share the newspaper article here? I appreciate we can’t share the unconfirmed info from social media, but no reason the newspaper article couldn’t be shared as a possible match?

Agree. I think the newspaper article should be allowed but I completely understand if not.

 

[StarrChance]

Gosh so sad -

could you share the newspaper article here? I appreciate we can’t share the unconfirmed info from social media, but no reason the newspaper article couldn’t be shared as a possible match?

Possible match
1982

1986

Working on a couple more

 

[StarrChance]

1986

 

[victoriarobinson642]

The daughter has her mother's name on her FB profile, but I don't see anything about her disappearance in the papers.

 

[taramarie]

1986
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Interesting find, wonder if Deborah Green was ever found. She isn’t connected to this case though. I would post this woman’s purported name, but it is on a fb post which isn’t permitted as an information source on websleuths. Especially given that LE hasn’t officially made announcements about this case yet.

 

[taramarie]

Interesting find, wonder if Deborah Green was ever found. She isn’t connected to this case though. I would post this woman’s purported name, but it is on a fb post which isn’t permitted as an information source on websleuths. Especially given that LE hasn’t officially made announcements about this case yet.

The info is fairly easy to find though - there’s a public group on fb called “Palm Beach County Cold Cases”, and it’s run by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. You can find their Feb 2022 post about the “Jeweled Mom” which is commented on by her daughter.

 

[StarrChance]

Interesting find, wonder if Deborah Green was ever found. She isn’t connected to this case though. I would post this woman’s purported name, but it is on a fb post which isn’t permitted as an information source on websleuths. Especially given that LE hasn’t officially made announcements about this case yet.

Lucky I said possible! Your correct that is not the women the daughter is talking about. Sorry for any confusion

 

[taramarie]

Lucky I said possible! Your correct that is not the women the daughter is talking about. Sorry for any confusion

Well now I’m just wondering if Deborah Green is also unidentified somewhere, we’ll have to see if we can find anything else about her. So good find!!!

 

[EmiliaRT007]

Lucky I said possible! Your correct that is not the women the daughter is talking about. Sorry for any confusion

So this woman is NOT Deborah?

 

[taramarie]

So this woman is NOT Deborah?

No

 

[EmiliaRT007]

No

Still no clue on Deborah’s whereabouts I’m assuming.

 

[SimsGuy67]

I think her NamUs has been down a while. Hope this means an ID.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

 

[imstilla.grandma]

In another Loxahatchee case, a real estate agent inspecting land nearby on Dec. 19, 1982, found the decomposed remains of a female dispersed through thick bush in woods 140 yards north of Okeechobee Boulevard off F Road. She had been shot in the head and has not been identified

Boynton Beach's Christopher Wilder suspected in many Florida killings. 2 are in Loxahatchee

Hulu's 'Beauty Queen Killer' is about Chris Wilder who went on a 1984 rampage of rape, torture, killings. He is suspected of more unsolved slayings in Florida.

www.palmbeachpost.com

 

[SimsGuy67]

In another Loxahatchee case, a real estate agent inspecting land nearby on Dec. 19, 1982, found the decomposed remains of a female dispersed through thick bush in woods 140 yards north of Okeechobee Boulevard off F Road. She had been shot in the head and has not been identified

Boynton Beach's Christopher Wilder suspected in many Florida killings. 2 are in Loxahatchee

Hulu's 'Beauty Queen Killer' is about Chris Wilder who went on a 1984 rampage of rape, torture, killings. He is suspected of more unsolved slayings in Florida.

www.palmbeachpost.com

Odd how they still refer to her as unidentified here. Maybe an announcement is coming, even without a name? I assume the investigation length just gets much longer when it's tied to a case like this one.

 

[cheemsg]

If anyone's interested, this is the ring she wore

Vintage Marquise Garnet Cluster 9ct Yellow Gold Ring size O ~ US 7 1/4 | eBay

 

[Melt71]

The info is fairly easy to find though - there’s a public group on fb called “Palm Beach County Cold Cases”, and it’s run by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. You can find their Feb 2022 post about the “Jeweled Mom” which is commented on by her daughter.

Following through on that daughter's profile, there are several photos and mention of her mom, who really was beautiful.

 

[iulia]

Past Meeting Packets

www.fdle.state.fl.us

August 2024

On December 19, 1982, the severely decomposed remains of the decedent were discovered in a wooded area approximately 140 yards north of Okeechobee Road in Loxahatchee, Florida. The remains were estimated to belong to a middle-aged white female and presented with a perforating gunshot wound to the skull. An autopsy was performed by Dr. Fred Hobin and the remains were submitted to Dr. Yasar Ican for anthropological evaluation on December 20, 1982. The cause of death was determined to be gunshot wound to the head with manner being ruled homicide. On August 20, 2013, the left femur was submitted to UNT for DNA extraction and submission to CODIS. On December 12, 2022, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the decedent was identified via Forensic Genealogy and DNA Confirmation (Othram Inc.) as Leona Jean Keller, (DOB: 12/13/1945), a 37-year-old white female.

 

[Vern]

So an @othram solve from quite a while ago with name only being recently released.

See page 4:

https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/MEC/Commission-Meetings/Documents/August-13,-2024-Meeting-Packet.aspx

Identified as Leona Jean Keller.

So thankful that you have you name back Leona and that your family has some answers.

Reporting to that mods can update the thread title.

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Leona Jean Ritzius Keller (1944-1982) - Find a...

Leona was a beautiful soul. Survived by four children, her life was taken from her much too soon.

www.findagrave.com

Leona Jean Ritzius Keller
Leona was a beautiful soul. Survived by four children, her life was taken from her much too soon.

 

[Warwick1991]

My research in My Heritage shows that a Leona Jean Keller was born in Philadelphia on either 12/13/1944 or 12/13/1945. She had 2 marriages - the first to a man named Albert Goldstein, and the 2nd to Herbert Keller. She married Herbert Keller in Broward County, Florida in 1976. Her maiden name was Ritzius. She had 4 children. I am wondering whether this was domestic violence.

I live in Palm Beach County and have been interested in this case...

I have attached a marriage record from My Heritage. It is difficult to link data from My Heritage, as one must have an account.