Found Deceased FL - Tammy Alexander, 16, Brooksville, 8 Nov 1979

[Tahlia Woodson]

We all know how Sherri Jarvis' killer is referred to as the I-45 killer, Libby and Abby's killer is referred to as Bridge Guy, etc.

Has any such name been given to Alexander's killer?

I guess 'the man at the diner' would be the closest thing to a name for the [suspected] killer?

 

[DS2021]

Bump

 

[Falling Down]

Found this while chasing down a case in Bath, NY:

Bath Police reopen 1973 cold case disappearance of Barbara Jean Aleksivich; identify deceased suspect

BATH, N.Y. (WETM) – The Village of Bath Police Department has reopened the missing persons’ case of 24-year-old Barbara Jean Aleksivich, who disappeared in 1973, and have named a new su…

www.mytwintiers.com

Suspect traveled extensively across the northern tier of the U.S., was in Alaska, also traveled through and lived in the central part of the country.

OFFENDER (DECEASED) - RICHARD WILLIAM DAVIS | Federal Bureau of Investigation

Missoula, Montana - 1974 Bath, New York - 1973

www.fbi.gov

Had he lived in Bath, he would have used I-90, U.S. 15 (Now NY 15), NY 5, U.S. 20, etc., for travel to get north and west of Bath.

 

[Tahlia Woodson]

Thinking about Tammy Jo this past week. Do you think they've made any progress with the male DNA they found? I hope they have. Tammy deserves to have justice this year

 

[hafom8840]

Found this while chasing down a case in Bath, NY:

Bath Police reopen 1973 cold case disappearance of Barbara Jean Aleksivich; identify deceased suspect

BATH, N.Y. (WETM) – The Village of Bath Police Department has reopened the missing persons’ case of 24-year-old Barbara Jean Aleksivich, who disappeared in 1973, and have named a new su…

www.mytwintiers.com

Suspect traveled extensively across the northern tier of the U.S., was in Alaska, also traveled through and lived in the central part of the country.

OFFENDER (DECEASED) - RICHARD WILLIAM DAVIS | Federal Bureau of Investigation

Missoula, Montana - 1974 Bath, New York - 1973

www.fbi.gov

Had he lived in Bath, he would have used I-90, U.S. 15 (Now NY 15), NY 5, U.S. 20, etc., for travel to get north and west of Bath.

Maybe, maybe. The hair is quite on.

 

[hafom8840]

The guy said that he thought Tammy was a hunter trespassing on his property. Does that mean he heard the gunshot?

 

[Eddie99]

The guy said that he thought Tammy was a hunter trespassing on his property. Does that mean he heard the gunshot?

Probably not. He likley meant to convey he though it was someone hiding from him as he drove by because they didn't have permission to be there. Most likley reason being they were hunting.

 

[DS2021]

Could the ‘Snapshot Killer’ be responsible for the 1983 Ellery Jane Doe cold case?

Authorities are investigating whether a man suspected of being the “Snapshot Killer” might be responsible for a Jane Doe found in Ellery, New York, 40 years ago.

www.nbcnews.com

BBM

Di Zinno said they’ve connected with police in Florida who had Wilder’s DNA on file from an unrelated case. “The Palm Beach Police actually still had his DNA. So we have his DNA that we’re tracking against Ellery Jane Doe’s clothing.” The investigator added that the DNA will be used to test in the Shari Lynne Ball and Tammy Jo Alexander cases, too.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

About 35 miles away, a body had been discovered four years earlier in Caledonia, New York, on Nov. 10, 1979. The teen was found shortly after her death but wasn’t identified until 2015 as Tammy Jo Alexander, 16, who had vanished from Brooksville, Florida, in 1979.

She had been wearing an Auto Sports Products jacket, a brand Wilder had been fond of. The .38-caliber bullet found beneath her could be used in .357-caliber revolvers, like one that Wilder used to kill himself.

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

 

[dotr]

by: Damon Fletcher Nov 9, 2024

https://www.rochesterfirst.com/news/local-news/deputies-ask-for-help-with-investigation-of-the-tammy-jo-alexander-cold-case-on-45th-anniversary/

''Despite thousands of leads generated over the past 45 years, the identity of her killer is still unknown. Tammy Jo Alexander would have turned 61-years-old on November 2.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office via telephone at 585-243-7100 or 1-844-LCSO-TIP or Email Investigator James Merrick [email protected]''

 

[PommyMommy]

The #FBI is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for info leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible for the homicide of Tammy Jo Alexander. On Nov. 10, 1979, her body was located off New York State Route 20 in Caledonia, NY: https://fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/tammy-jo-alexander

https://twitter.com/x/status/1855626664534790230

 

[Falling Down]

Following...

 

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[Richard]

Tammy Jo Alexander was a 16-year-old girl found murdered in Caledonia, New York, in 1979, and her case remained unsolved for over three decades until her identity was confirmed in 2015.

Background​

Tammy Jo Alexander was born on November 2, 1963, and had a troubled upbringing in Brooksville, Florida. She often ran away from home and was known to hitchhike, sometimes with truckers. On November 10, 1979, her body was discovered in a cornfield near U.S. Route 20 in Caledonia, New York. She had been shot twice, once in the head and once in the back, and her body was left in the field after being dragged from the road.

Investigation and Identification​

For many years, Tammy remained unidentified, known only as "Caledonia Jane Doe" or "Cali Doe." The investigation faced challenges due to heavy rainfall on the night of her murder, which washed away much of the forensic evidence. However, advances in forensic technology eventually allowed investigators to extract DNA from her remains in 2005. In 2015, through a combination of DNA analysis and renewed efforts by her family, Tammy was identified.

Suspects and Theories​

Initially, serial killer Henry Lee Lucas confessed to Tammy's murder, but his credibility was later questioned as he made numerous false confessions to various crimes. This left investigators uncertain about the true circumstances of her death and the identity of her killer.

Ongoing Efforts​

The FBI has offered a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Tammy's murder. Despite the identification of her remains, the case remains officially unsolved, and authorities continue to seek leads.

Tammy's tragic story highlights the challenges faced in solving cold cases and the importance of advancements in forensic science in bringing closure to families affected by such crimes. If anyone has information regarding her murder, they are encouraged to contact the FBI or local law enforcement.

 

[Armchair Detective Peewee]

Just become intrigued by this case after watching a documentary on YouTube. I've not yet had the time to fully read the forums, so forgive me if I post about something already discussed, but I want to post some initial thoughts before I go to bed.

I'm interested in the obituary for Tammy's mum; it states that she is preceded by her daughter, Tammy, yet at the time (1998) Tammy was surely just thought of as missing. It's kind of surprising to me that someone would write that, even if she was presumed dead. Do we have any other information about this obituary, where it was published or by whom?

Another thought; I'm not sold on Christopher Wilder as a suspect. The witnesses in the cafe stated that they thought that Tammy and the man may have been siblings. I'm not sure how many people would think that if you put their photo's side-by-side, aside from the age difference, there's not a great deal of similarity to one another IMO. If I saw them together and tried to guess at the relationship between them, I'd more likely say niece & uncle over brother & sister.

 

[HelpfulHalfElf]

Just become intrigued by this case after watching a documentary on YouTube. I've not yet had the time to fully read the forums, so forgive me if I post about something already discussed, but I want to post some initial thoughts before I go to bed.

I'm interested in the obituary for Tammy's mum; it states that she is preceded by her daughter, Tammy, yet at the time (1998) Tammy was surely just thought of as missing. It's kind of surprising to me that someone would write that, even if she was presumed dead. Do we have any other information about this obituary, where it was published or by whom?

Another thought; I'm not sold on Christopher Wilder as a suspect. The witnesses in the cafe stated that they thought that Tammy and the man may have been siblings. I'm not sure how many people would think that if you put their photo's side-by-side, aside from the age difference, there's not a great deal of similarity to one another IMO. If I saw them together and tried to guess at the relationship between them, I'd more likely say niece & uncle over brother & sister.

I also just saw the same video from Brew. He's been covering a lot of traffic from this site and the amazing work they do, so... Yay. First post. But something that stuck with me was from the beginning of his video, describing the situation and the leads the LE were following.

At the start of the video it was said that a trucker had called in with a lead that he had seen Tammy at a truckstop. As far as I know, due to the fact that it was either not included in the video due to it being irrelevant, or LE never followed up, the truckstop lead was never followed up on.

I myself am a trucker, and I myself have had to call Truckers Against Trafficking, something similar to the Center for Lost and Exploited Children. TAT was created in 2009, so it, as an organization, is completely irrelevant to the narrative. However, truckers are, under most circumstances, looking out for people, today as well as 50 years ago. We are considered to be the front line in terms of eyes of anti-trafficking enforcement. Look at any major company truck and I almost guarantee that you will find a TAT sticker on the driver and passenger windows. Sorry about this digression.

My point is, did the LE ever follow up on the truckstop lead from the trucker? Tammy was confirmed to have worked at a truckstop by her sister, and that she would regularly receive rides from truckers during hitchhikes. If she was seen at a nearby truck stop, as was the narrative at the beginning of Brew's video, more than one trucker must have seen her as well as the truck stop staff. Even if she didn't get onto a semi with a trucker and was picked up by a 4-wheeler, it's likely that there was someone who saw her at the time get into the vehicle.

As another thought, it is possible that she was picked up by a trucker who was heading home nearby, who then took his truck home and took her out in his car to the diner, hence why the server/waitress/hostess at the diner did not see a truck. I only bring this option up due to the fact that I, even with a newer aero truck, can fit my truck in my driveway in a densely populated suburban area. Back then they were using long noses (Peterbilt 358, 359, 379 // Kenworth W900 // Freightliner Classic/Concordia) and Cab overs. The long noses are, as the name suggests, long nosed, but also have a much longer frame due to the design of the truck. Hard to park in a standard driveway as they stretch about 25-28 feet in length from bumper to mudflaps. Cab overs on the other hand are only 16-19 feet in length from bumper to mudflap. A standard Aero truck is around 21-24 feet in length. If the area was sparsely populated back then, as the cornfield would suggest, then this thought makes no difference what-so-ever.

The one thing that actually bugs me about this thought, that it was a trucker that would have lived nearby, is that no one seemed to have known the man from the sketch. This only makes sense if, like me, the male stays out on the road for months at a time, comes home for a few days, and then leaves again, only there to see family or take a short vacation, as I use my hometime to stop off in whatever city I want, Vegas for 3 or 4 days for example.

This is a lot of me rambling after only having just seen the video about this case, but it really bugged me that he never said anything about the LE having followed up with the truckstop lead or why the LE didn't directly follow up with the trucker.

Even back then, with paper logs, truckers were required to keep tabs on their time in 15 minute incriments on driver log time sheets. With these logs we are required to put our city and state whenever we stop or start, every time we change duty status; Off Duty, Off Duty Sleeper, On Duty Not Driving, and On Duty Driving. If the driver was properly logging their hours, he would have had to swap to on duty (if fueling) or off duty (break), even if he went in for a snack that took 7.5 minutes, and that would have to include City, State, and what he was doing at the time under the duty status change with a flag. Drivers love to fudge logs, every 15 minutes saved is another 15 miles they can drive, which is another dollar per mile, if they are owner op and were making that back then. Every minute off duty saves a minute on the drive clock. Drivers on paper logs usually even kept multiple log books at the same time to try and get away with breaking HOS (Hours of Service) laws.

Even with electronic logs today, we are required to keep at least 1 blank paper log on our truck in case our e-logs go down. We are also legally required to keep keep our RODS (Record of Duty Status) for 6 months. Each log book has 30 or 31 days (I can't remember as I haven't used mine in over 2 years due to e-logs), which means you only need 6 books to cover that time. This RODS keeping was around even back in 1979.

With all this said, it would surprise me if the LE didn't follow up with the trucker and get his logs for posterity to see where he had stopped, what time he stopped (within a 15 minute window), how long he was stopped for, and then had tried to talk to the staff at that truck stop. Again, all of this is a thought, and I haven't even begun digging, so it's possible this did take place, but it wasn't mentioned in the video. It's 50 years too late to talk to those people, 50 years too late to get that driver's logs. But that would have been the first thing that I did.

P.S. I'm not an old timer like a lot of the drivers out there. I wouldn't have been born at the time of this case for another 23 and change years, but if there are any questions that are had about truckers that I might be able to help with, I'd be happy to answer.

Edit: This is the video that we are talking about if anyone is interested and hasn't seen it. It has all of what you wonderful people have done for Tammy.

 

[GeneralHoque]

Tammy Jo Alexander was a 16-year-old girl found murdered in Caledonia, New York, in 1979, and her case remained unsolved for over three decades until her identity was confirmed in 2015.

Background​

Tammy Jo Alexander was born on November 2, 1963, and had a troubled upbringing in Brooksville, Florida. She often ran away from home and was known to hitchhike, sometimes with truckers. On November 10, 1979, her body was discovered in a cornfield near U.S. Route 20 in Caledonia, New York. She had been shot twice, once in the head and once in the back, and her body was left in the field after being dragged from the road.

Investigation and Identification​

For many years, Tammy remained unidentified, known only as "Caledonia Jane Doe" or "Cali Doe." The investigation faced challenges due to heavy rainfall on the night of her murder, which washed away much of the forensic evidence. However, advances in forensic technology eventually allowed investigators to extract DNA from her remains in 2005. In 2015, through a combination of DNA analysis and renewed efforts by her family, Tammy was identified.

Suspects and Theories​

Initially, serial killer Henry Lee Lucas confessed to Tammy's murder, but his credibility was later questioned as he made numerous false confessions to various crimes. This left investigators uncertain about the true circumstances of her death and the identity of her killer.

Ongoing Efforts​

The FBI has offered a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Tammy's murder. Despite the identification of her remains, the case remains officially unsolved, and authorities continue to seek leads.

Tammy's tragic story highlights the challenges faced in solving cold cases and the importance of advancements in forensic science in bringing closure to families affected by such crimes. If anyone has information regarding her murder, they are encouraged to contact the FBI or local law enforcement.

Hey man. I came here from Yt channel Brew and after some research about the murder case, I have a different theory. IMO, the guy was mentally unstable. You see, as things played out, tammy wasnt even afraid when she was pointed by a gun, at least thats what report suggests. Things happened quickly and the guy also didnt act coldly after that, he shot her again and dragged her deep into the field and took some identifications from her, but also, didnt take everything as he left a neckless or something like that . He didnt quite plan how to commit the crime as investigators suggested that Tammy went to the cornfield with him willingly and wasnt afraid. It shows that things took a turn quickly and the murderer, enraged or something shot her and then panicked and left. If he was planning to murder her beforehand, he wouldve worked a plan out. it suggests that the murderer maybe had mental stress and anxiety issue and probably thats why he had a gun with him. Now, the reason i am emphasizing on this fact is because tammy went to Rainbow Prison MInistries which was a faith based program for former inmates ,located in the remote mountaneous region of Georgia . The fact is that,she probably met her killer there. As I mentioned before, the killer might have had mental issues and probably thats why he went to the faith based program and was charmed by Tammy which mightve been mutual but took a tragic turn. I think we should look into the number of male residents in that rehab center and try to check which one of em went to psychiatrists or had criminal history . But , i think the guy didnt have a criminal background. The way he just committed the crime and ran away after that doesnt show any plan or clinical activity of a criminal . Rather, it suggests sudden impulse and panic .Theres a high chance the guy was prescribed to go there by a psychiatrist . This would make things easier since there wasnt a large number of psychiatrists then. Therefore, the number of male residents in the rainbow prison ministries and their identifications should be checked ,especially if any of them had mental issues and went there despite not being a criminal. Hope it helps.

 

[SomeRand0mFurry]

Just become intrigued by this case after watching a documentary on YouTube. I've not yet had the time to fully read the forums, so forgive me if I post about something already discussed, but I want to post some initial thoughts before I go to bed.

I'm interested in the obituary for Tammy's mum; it states that she is preceded by her daughter, Tammy, yet at the time (1998) Tammy was surely just thought of as missing. It's kind of surprising to me that someone would write that, even if she was presumed dead. Do we have any other information about this obituary, where it was published or by whom?

Another thought; I'm not sold on Christopher Wilder as a suspect. The witnesses in the cafe stated that they thought that Tammy and the man may have been siblings. I'm not sure how many people would think that if you put their photo's side-by-side, aside from the age difference, there's not a great deal of similarity to one another IMO. If I saw them together and tried to guess at the relationship between them, I'd more likely say niece & uncle over brother & sister.

I got intrigued for the same reason. I think it may have been linked to the jacket; the video mentioned that the jacket was promotional, maybe there was a limited supply where she got it, and if she got the last one, someone like a fan or collector may have tracked her down. but then again, she was found with it on.

Another theory I have is that someone (probably the guy from the bar, considering he was the last person that she was with. Not trying to point fingers, it just seems logical) may have gotten drunk/high and told her something that he didn't want anyone to know, he could have been a sex-addict/non-consentual-sex-haver/minor-lover(sorry about the euphemisms, I read the TOS, but I couldn't make sense of a lot of it besides some rules like don't be rude, and don't "curse"/"cuss"/"swear", and so because I don't want to get banned, I'm being extra cautious about what I say and do on this platform.), or a drug dealer, and to continue with that, he killed her, and then took her ID so that no one would find out who she is, because then; none of the witnesses accounts would be fully confirmable, seeing as, without a confirmation as to who the person is, there's a higher chance that it's just a lookalike.

But this is my first time on this site, so I don't have much experience, but I do consume a lot of content involving analysis, investigation, etc, so I do have some information, but I wouldn't count on it for a definitive answer yet.

 

[craits237]

by: Damon Fletcher Nov 9, 2024

https://www.rochesterfirst.com/news/local-news/deputies-ask-for-help-with-investigation-of-the-tammy-jo-alexander-cold-case-on-45th-anniversary/

View attachment 544071
''Despite thousands of leads generated over the past 45 years, the identity of her killer is still unknown. Tammy Jo Alexander would have turned 61-years-old on November 2.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office via telephone at 585-243-7100 or 1-844-LCSO-TIP or Email Investigator James Merrick [email protected]''

I have a theory since most cops/ state troopers had an issued hand gun with the same caliber as the one that killed Tammy. The killer might have been a cop/ state trooper as Tammy wasn’t afraid of her attacker as she thought they wouldn’t hurt her. The cop/state troopers would also have and easy get away as back then they “heavily” checked routes such as route 20. The usual off-duty police/ state troopers gun carry would likely be .38 for state troopers on duty and the .357, .32, and .38 were issued for off duty. The off-duty weapon would probably have been used as it would be harder to track.

 

[ZohanJB]

Hi, I saw a video about this investigation. I’m not even from the US, but I have some experience with forensics since I studied it in my country, so I’d like to help in any way I can.
I speak English only moderately, so sometimes I’ll use a translator—apologies in advance for any mistakes. Based on the sketch, the suspect seems to have poor eyesight, which makes it difficult to be a racer, as some people assume here. That’s why it’s more likely the person is just a fan. I also suspect that in the driver’s license photo he is wearing glasses, which would confirm the bad eyesight. So the suspect may just be a racing fan, or maybe he was there spontaneously with someone. If he met and picked up the runaway girl, perhaps he was only passing through and came to some kind of show or event a while before the murder, maybe looking for company.


The murder involved two shots. Either it was a panicked action—first in the back, then a final shot to the head—or it was a deliberate act—first to the head, then to the back, to make sure the victim couldn’t survive and bleed out while escaping. I’ve heard of cases where people survived headshots, so maybe the killer knew about that too.


Regarding the jewelry, my theory about a random encounter supports this. An emotional, impulsive purchase of a cheap trinket for a runaway girl is a significant gesture, especially for someone so active and lively.


As for the weapon, I would look for information about revolvers that were found in rivers or discarded, or perhaps search again in nearby areas along the highway.


Also… maybe the killer listened to her story, realized no one would be looking for her, and then carried out something he had long been thinking about? From materials I studied earlier, I know some people dream of committing such acts all their lives, and in certain situations adrenaline drives them to do what they desire. And here everything lines up: a person no one will search for, underage, passing through an unknown place, before the rain, maybe months after the races he took her to (possibly?), waiting for the right weather. This could explain the shot to the head—as if it was the final step of a plan. Too many coincidences for a simple murder caused by an argument. Usually when it’s done emotionally or under the influence, the shots are random.


I only have theories, but I think a person who is a racing fan, unable to drive fast himself because of bad eyesight, kills another person under such “perfect” conditions. All this raises many thoughts. I tried to lay out my theories, maybe someone else can connect them to better understand who was there at that moment?
Also, as people here mentioned, if the murder was committed under the influence of substances or alcohol, the suspect might have gotten into a car accident or something similar. Maybe it’s worth checking traffic violations in nearby areas from that period and comparing the offenders with the photo available now?