FL FL - Thonotosassa, WhtFem 25-35,UP197, Sep '75

[Melt71]

Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP197 Female, White / Caucasian
Date Body Found September 23, 1975
Location Found Thonotosassa, Florida
Estimated Age Range 25-35 Years
Associated Case
Case Numbers
ME/C Case Number 75-01398
Demographics
SexFemale
Race / Ethnicity White / Caucasian
Estimated Age Group Adult - Pre 40
Estimated Age Range (Years) 25-35
Estimated Year of Death0-1975
Estimated PMI--
Height Cannot Estimate
Weight Cannot Estimate
Circumstances
TypeUnidentified Deceased
Date Body FoundSeptember 23, 1975
NamUs Case CreatedJune 30, 2007
Location Found Map
Location Thonotosassa, Florida
CountyHillsborough County
Circumstances of Recovery In September 1975, a human cranium was discovered lying on the ground surface in an orange grove near the intersection of Timmons and Bessie Dix Roads in Thonotosassa, Florida. The remains are believed to be those of a 25-35 year old White female. She had one dental restoration and an impacted third molar. No personal effects were found with her remains. She is believed to be a victim of homicide. Chemical isotope testing was conducted to estimate her geographical origin: the strontium and lead isotope data are consistent with a local USA origin of birth.
Details of Recovery
Inventory of Remains Torso not recovered One or more limbs not recovered One or both hands not recovered
Condition of Remains Not recognizable - Partial skeletal parts only

2016 recon created as part of a University of Florida program to help try and solve 20 UID cases University of South Florida Scientists, Top Forensic Artists Aim to Help Solve 20 Cold Cases - University of South Florida

 

[iulia]

From her Doe Network page: 515UFFL

Identifiers
Dentals: Available. Mandible and right maxilla not recovered. She had at least one filling, which was found in the upper left molar. Third molar impacted.
Fingerprints: Not available.
DNA: Available.

 

[YaYa_521]

There's a pretty significant difference in estimated age given on the profiles for Jane Doe. Also, should this be interpreted as a death in 1975 as stated on The Doe Network? NamUs profile est YOD seems to suggest her death could have happened years prior to 1975. MOO

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
515UFFL

Estimated Age Range (Years) 25-35 (The Doe Network - Estimated Age: 17-35 years old )
Estimated Year of Death 0-1975 (The Doe Network - Estimated Date of Death: 1975)

Exclusions -
-- Amy Billig
MP5852 Amy Billig 03/05/1974 Miami-Dade FL
-- Mary Margaret Cook
MP17121 Alexis Duggan 09/13/1970 Hillsborough FL
-- Teresa Lyn Fittin
-- Carmen Marie Hallock
-- Gail Lorriane Joiner
MP8614 Ellabeth Lodermeier 03/06/1974 Minnehaha SD
MP3980 Debora Lowe 02/29/1972 Broward FL
MP8530 Janis Sanders 08/05/1975 Berrien MI
MP5533 Denise Sheehy 07/07/1970 Queens NY
-- Catherine Lynne Sjoberg
- Edna Thorne
-- Mary Trlica

 

[Captain Beck]

Hillsborough County is next to Pinellas County on the west coast of Florida. James Delano Winkles was convicted of killing two women in Pinellas County in 1981 and 1982. As part of his modus operandi he removed the heads from his victims and dumped them away from the body. He also claimed to have started killing already in the 1960’s.

Even though he sadly wasn’t the only killer of women then, it is possible this skull belongs to one of his earlier victims. A start might be to compare it to women who disappeared in 1974-1975 under similar circumstances as his victims. The skull has dentals and DNA so there are identifiers available to use in comparisons with missing persons.

As DNA is available for this skull, it might be a candidate for forensic geneology if no missing persons match.

Winkles: James Delano Winkles | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers

 

[MadMcGoo]

I’m curious about the estimated date of death also. And the isotope testing - although I personally don’t put a ton of stock in the results, “a local USA origin of birth” seems a little broad.

 

[MadMcGoo]

Could her race be something other than “white”? The clay reconstruction looks like it could be (IMO the sketch and the clay recon don’t look much alike). I broadened the search parameters and found this missing black woman. Marie Giles:
https://www.namus.gov/MissingPersons/Case#/58406
Marie Deloris Giles – The Charley Project
She went missing in November 1971 from Tampa, about 25 miles from Thonotosassa. She’s a few years older than the estimated age range, but I think she looks similar to the reconstructions of the UID.

(Marie, center)

 

[MadMcGoo]

NamUs does not have a photo of her, but someone was able to find a yearbook photo of Suzie ...
FL - FL - Brenda Sue ''Suzie'' Lefler, 31, Greenacres, 2 May 1974

 

[Captain Beck]

I’m curious about the estimated date of death also. And the isotope testing - although I personally don’t put a ton of stock in the results, “a local USA origin of birth” seems a little broad.

I interpret a local USA origin of birth as she was born in the area where she/the skull was found, ie central Florida.

As to when she died, it is in my opinion very difficult to say anything specific based on available information, a possible time-of-death could be 1970 to 1975.

As to race, again difficult to say. From the description in Namus the skull appears to have been damaged and parts of the upper jaw/maxilla missing. One clue would be the nasal opening, caucasians usually have narrower openings than Africans. There are other differences as well.

I did a quick search in Namus for missing females aged 17-35 in Florida with dates of last contact 1974 and 1975 but there were no IMO relevant hits.

 

[MadMcGoo]

I interpret a local USA origin of birth as she was born in the area where she/the skull was found, ie central Florida.

As to when she died, it is in my opinion very difficult to say anything specific based on available information, a possible time-of-death could be 1970 to 1975.

As to race, again difficult to say. From the description in Namus the skull appears to have been damaged and parts of the upper jaw/maxilla missing. One clue would be the nasal opening, caucasians usually have narrower openings than Africans. There are other differences as well.

I did a quick search in Namus for missing females aged 17-35 in Florida with dates of last contact 1974 and 1975 but there were no IMO relevant hits.

That makes much more sense! I should have read over it again.

I didn’t find anyone in particular that really stood out. I think you’re right, it’s hard to say with so little information available.

 

[theshadow45]

Thonotosassa Jane Doe has been unidentified for 45 years today.

 

[theshadow45]

Thonotosassa Jane Doe has been unidentified for 47 years today.

 

[Captain Beck]

@othram, perhaps this case might be of interest to you?

 

[Beekarina]

Was just looking at Gail Joiner's thread. Thonotosassa is not that large of a place. I wonder if these two cases may be connected somehow? Same killer?

FL - FL - Gail Joiner, 13, Thonotosassa, 22 Sept 1972

Gail Lorraine Joiner Gail, circa 1972; Gerald Stano in 1981 Missing Since 09/22/1972 Missing From Thonotosassa, Florida Classification Endangered Missing Sex Female Race White Date of Birth 07/22/1959 (60) Age 13 years old Height and Weight 5'0, 100 pounds Clothing/Jewelry Description No...

www.websleuths.com

 

[Beekarina]

Another strange coincidence:

This UID was found on September 23, 1975

Gail disappeared September 22, 1979

Possible a killer has some odd thing going on with this time of year?

 

[John/Jane Doe]

@Caring1 Hey could you post the current list of NamUs exclusions for this Jane Doe? I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[Caring1]

@Caring1 Hey could you post the current list of NamUs exclusions for this Jane Doe? I would greatly appreciate it.

14 Missing Person Exclusions

 

[DS2021]

Age and race are off but she's also missing from Thonotosassa.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

 

[DS2021]

This is one of Doe Network's featured cases for this month.

 

[theshadow45]

Thonotosassa Jane Doe has been unidentified for 48 years today.

 

[buyerninety]

"in an orange grove near the intersection of
Timmons and Bessie Dix Roads."

In our current time those roads do not intersect,
however Timmons Rd did have a southwards
extension in the previous century. Also, the remains
were found in an orange grove "near a cemetery"
according to the Doe Network page quoted in the
2nd post. That would apparently be Mayberry
Cemetery on Bessie Dix Rd. 'CEM' as seen here:

https://www.historicaerials.com/location/28.031568981596504/-82.318035364151/T1977/15

https://www.historicaerials.com/location/28.031568981596504/-82.318035364151/1982/16