Identified! FL - Sumter Co, 'Little Miss Panasoffkee', WhtFem 17-24, 470UFFL, Feb 1971 (Maureen L. Minor Rowan)

[beubeubeu]

Omg what a news! I almost lost hope that she will ever get her name back.

 

[The4TierBridge]

When was the last time a long term doe was identified by fingerprints? Crazy

It's probably how most of these identifications are made in all honesty (especially the cases removed from NamUs that never get public updates, and more recent ones in general), but these two that were publicly acknowledged come to mind:

• This man found deceased in Los Angeles CA on 6/12/1982 was identified via fingerprints as Pedro Recio-Sanchez in September (was #UP4306 in NamUs), and went unclaimed (a lot of them also seem to go unclaimed); The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) (#UCP150230)

• This man found murdered in Thornton CA on 7/13/1981 was identified via fingerprints as Edward Donald Raymond in April (I don't think he was in NamUs); https://www.recordnet.com/story/new...authorities-40-years-after-death/83105524007/

 

[victoriarobinson642]

What records have you been able to find on their marriage; I suck at using FamilySearch type websites and located nothing at all.

He was born in 1941. I won't share the address, but LE made specific mention of Enigma, Georgia, so I'm pretty confident it's the same man.

 

[Richard]

The case that you are referring to was that of an unknown woman found in Lake Panasofke in Sumpter County, Florida in February of 1972. She was near Highway 75, north of Tampa and about 50 miles Northwest of Orlando.

She had been strangled some days or weeks earlier and was wearing only her underclothing. I do not recall that she had any nickname, and I have never seen her on the Doenetwork or other such websites. Her case was featured on Unsolved Mysteries in late 1992 or early 1993.

She was believed to be aproximately 20 years old, Caucasion or American Indian, 5 feet two inches tall, 100 Pounds. The Medical examiner believed that she had once had a child. She had extensive dental work: fillings, crowns, and caps. She had also had orthopedic surgery on her right ankle, with what was known as a Watson-Jones Technique.

Police did not feel that she was a "local", as there were no reported/known missing persons of her description in that area and no one called with any information following 20 years of efforts to identify her. The case is still open and is in the jurisdiction of the Sumpter County Sheriff. Last phone number I had for them was (904) 793-0222.

This case was unique in that investigators first used the artist's technique of not only sketching her face, but then "age regressing" it to what she may have looked like when younger - I think at ages 12 and 6. Their idea was that although somebody might not recognize her at age 20, they might recognize her from an earlier time.

The case officer in 1993 was Chief Ed Galvin. I spoke to him on 19 February 1993. He was an older man, and had been involved with the case for over 20 years. We discussed several possibilities, among them that she might have been a victim of Serial Killer, Paul John Knowles (1946-1974). Chief Galvin was also very familiar with Knowles, because the Florida Police officer whom Knowles had murdered during a killing spree in 1974 was Galvin's partner.

Knowles often traveled Highway 75 from Florida to Georgia. In 1965, he kidnapped a police officer and got 5 years. By 1967, he was paroled and soon back in prison the same year. In 1970, he was again out on parole, and was loose until 1972 when he was again sentenced to prison. In May 1974, he was again released on parole and in July of that same year, he began a three state killing binge of 18 to 20 victims. In September 1974, he was captured in Georgia, and in December 1974, he was shot while attempting to escape. His story was detailed in a book by an English woman named Sandy Faulkes who traveled with him and knew him in 1974.

The murder of this young woman has never been solved, although it fit Knowles' pattern in several ways. She has also never been identified. The possibility of her having been in the military was considered, but not conclusively proven. It is certain, however, that she is somebody's daughter and somebody's mother. Perhaps they are still looking for her.

I have copies of the artist sketches for this young woman, and would be happy to supply them to the Doenetwork, should they decide to feature her case.

It is great to see that this 54 year old cold case has finally been solved, at least as far as her identity is concerned.

How much of the initial information, theories, and facts have proven accurate with this match?

Why was Maureen never reported missing? If she had been included in any websites or missing person registries, this identification might have been made a long time ago.

Kudos to the Cold Case detectives for staying with this case so long and for bringing it to a successful conclusion .

 

[summergirl1]

"The case was even featured on “Unsolved Mysteries” in 1992. Deputies said the episode yielded a lot of calls, but none of the tips identified the victim.

“What we recently learned is that someone saw Cookie and thought it could have been her, but no one ever called,” deputies said."

Quote from this article-

‘Little Miss Lake Panasoffkee’ identified as Tampa woman nearly 55 years after murder

Deputies in Sumter County announced Wednesday that “Little Miss Lake Panasoffkee” has been identified as a Tampa woman nearly 55 years after her murder.

www-wfla-com.cdn.ampproject.org

 

[ntt1]

Mary Silvani (Sheep’s Flat Jane Doe) was a fingerprint match in addition to a DNA match.

The fingerprint match was done as a means of confirming the genetic genealogy work, if I recall correctly.

 

[branmuffin]

When was the last time a long term doe was identified by fingerprints? Crazy

The better question is when has an a long term doe been identified by isotope testing?

 

[iamshadow21]

The better question is when has an a long term doe been identified by isotope testing?

I can't think of one, but someone else may know one.

I think it's junk science that's wrong more than it's right. It may have some limited applications in archaeological remains of ancient peoples, but not, IMO, in modern forensic science. Everything we eat and drink is produced or pumped from hundreds or even thousands of miles away. Even our water supply. The globalised trade in food and beverages has done more than create a beautiful polyglot and fusion of food culture, it's erased the usefulness - if there ever was any, which is doubtful - of using isotopes to identify regional, cultural, or possible racial background of Does. DNA is far, far more reliable, and with genetic genealogy, the results speak for themselves. Hundreds of identifications by the various GG orgs in the last year alone, some of them decades old. One the other week a CENTURY old.

MOO

 

[Susikatze]

What was her ethnicity? I am curious

Not Greek, thats clear

 

[Susikatze]

I can't think of one, but someone else may know one.

I think it's junk science that's wrong more than it's right. It may have some limited applications in archaeological remains of ancient peoples, but not, IMO, in modern forensic science. Everything we eat and drink is produced or pumped from hundreds or even thousands of miles away. Even our water supply. The globalised trade in food and beverages has done more than create a beautiful polyglot and fusion of food culture, it's erased the usefulness - if there ever was any, which is doubtful - of using isotopes to identify regional, cultural, or possible racial background of Does. DNA is far, far more reliable, and with genetic genealogy, the results speak for themselves. Hundreds of identifications by the various GG orgs in the last year alone, some of them decades old. One the other week a CENTURY old.

MOO

even in archeological contexts I doubt it now. There were many unlikely connections made regarding early medieval German burials and i honestly doubt them.
It is only useful to determine whether the individual ate a terrestrial or marine diet, that’s about it.

jmoo

 

[Susikatze]

Even in this case, he was 8 years older than her, and they married when she was 17.

Which means she had her first baby likely at 18, second at 20. Reminds me so much of Patty Otto.

She was arrested briefly in 1970 for counterfeiting a check - maybe around the time she separated? Her husband may not have supported her

jmoo

 

[Susikatze]

Her estranged husband filed for divorce in November 1970 and the divorce was granted in August 1971, six months after Maureen's body was found.

You actually can bet he killed her in November 1970. Many killers filed for divorce right after killing their wives, knowing the divorce will be granted in absentia. He likely pretended to be the heroic father of two babies who took care of them despite his wife running off.

jmoo

 

[Susikatze]

Lets patch together what we know.

Married in 1967 at the age of 17.
First baby in 1968, second baby in 1969 or 1970.
Was arrested in 1970 for check counterfeit.
Murdered probably in fall 1970
Husband files for divorce in November 1970
Body is found in February 1971
Divorce is granted in absentia in August 1971


jmoo

 

[summergirl1]

It's unfortunate that whichever family member thought the Doe on the TV show in 1992 could be her didn't call. I don't know if her family could have located her dental records then, but I think she could have been identified by DNA? Her DNA was degraded, but I think that was with regards to genetic genealogy. Given that a family member thought she might be a Doe, I think her family or some of them at least knew she might be deceased/a Doe somewhere, and probably had their suspicions about what happened to her. Thus, the identification of her estranged husband as a person of interest is probably not a shock.

I have read of other Doe cases, which ones I can't recall now, where family members or people that knew the victim saw or heard or read of attempts to ID the Doe years ago and didn't come forward, because they weren't sure it was the person they knew. That's always unfortunate. People die, and time in general just makes these cases harder to fully solve or sometimes, determine what happened. There is a picture of her estranged husband in the article below. The way she died is very sad. Little Miss Lake Panasoffkee homicide victim identified after almost 55 years - Villages-News.com

 

[summergirl1]

While it is likely that she was killed and her body disposed of shortly afterwards, it is also remotely possible that her body could have been stored for some period of time in a refrigerated space or freezer before being placed in the water.

I wonder if there is any chance this is true of her, especially given the time of her husband's divorce filing? It would be less common in these types of cases for the estranged husband to kill her during their ongoing divorce, but of course that does happen, too. From many of the articles on her, it sounds like despite the ongoing divorce case she and her estranged husband still lived at the same address. That is, of course, if she was still alive then.

It's possible the divorce not going well set him off and them still living under the same roof gave him an opportunity. Given her arrest for the bad check, etc, it was perhaps financial stuff about the divorce that pushed him over the edge. It wouldn't be the first time. The state of preservation her body was found in would not be possible for Florida even in winter (or anywhere, I wouldn't think) if she was killed in Nov of 1970, unless she was stored in a refrigerated space or freezer before being placed in the water as speculated above. Given how long she had been in the water, unless the PMI was inaccurate, whether she was refrigerated or not, and the fact it was Florida (albeit in winter), I think it's lucky they were able to obtain any useful fingerprints at all.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

While it is likely that she was killed and her body disposed of shortly afterwards, it is also remotely possible that her body could have been stored for some period of time in a refrigerated space or freezer before being placed in the water.

I doubt that her body was stored. She was found with the man's belt around her neck... that seems like "in the moment" passion. If the body was stored, I think he would have removed it.

It appears that Maureen's immediate family had moved from Maine to Florida... and she met this Rowan after she was already down there.
Her parents both died in the 70s and her babies were so very young.... so who would even be trying to look for Cookie??

I guess I am hoping that Maureen's daughters may have some reunions with her mother's relatives in Maine after this.

 

[Triss]

Why was Maureen never reported missing?

Her estranged husband was a POI, so if he was indeed responsible for her death, it would make sense that he didn't report her missing. I would imagine he would also tell everyone that Maureen left the family voluntarily, so nobody looked for her. Speculation.

 

[dotr]

Oct 30, 2025
A woman whose body was found in a Central Florida lake almost 55 years ago has finally been identified. The woman, who was known as “Little Miss Lake Panasoffkee” since she was found in the lake in 1971, has been identified as Maureen L. Minor Rowan, also known as Cookie, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday.

Oct 29, 2025
'Little Miss Panasoffkee' identified over half a century later in Sumter County cold case

 

[Diavola]

Did she have any siblings?

 

[Fake Protagonist]

When was the last time a long term doe was identified by fingerprints? Crazy

Steven Shelton (FKA Fulton County John Doe, 1996) was ID'd through a fingerprint match in September 2023. No genetic genealogy involved in his case. Sadly, he's still unclaimed as LE can't locate his next of kin.

Very glad to hear of Maureen's identification, but very disappointed that LE hadn't once thought to recirculate her autopsy fingerprints since 2006 (as I read further upthread). They could have ID'd her way back in 2013 if they'd just run another check.