IL IL - Jackson Co, Fem UP10580, 18-23, remains buried near Mississippi River, Aug'12

[Romulus]

NamUs UP 10580

https://www.identifyus.org/en/cases/10580

Unidentified Body/Remains (Female)

Found August 7, 2012 in Jackson County, IL
Body Condition: Not recognizable-Partial skeletal parts only

Probable year of death: to
Estimated postmortem interval: 5 years


Vital Statistics
Estimated age: 18-23
Approximate Height: 65 estimate
Approximate Weight: cannot estimate
Hair Color: Unknown
Eye Color: Unknown
Scars and marks: nothing

Clothing & Accessories
Clothing: nothing
Jewerly: nothing
Footwear: nothing
Accessories: nothing

Identifiers
Fingerprints: Fingerprint information is not available
Dentals: Dental information / charting is available and entered
DNA: Sample submitted-tests complete

Case History: On August 7, 2012 the Jackson County Sheriff's Office recovered partial skeletal remains along a remote stretch of the Mississippi River north of Grand Tower, IL. The bones consist of a partial mandible, the right tibia, and the right clavicle. No other evidence was located. An anthropologist from Southern Illinois University believes the remains are that of a female of unknown ancestry, between 18 and 23 years old, 5'3" to 5'8" tall. She believes the post mortem period to be between 5 and 25 years with at least part of that time spent in burial.

 

[watergirl62]

Janelle Lynette Sanger-Garza?
20yo missing since November 2009 from Morganfield KY (about 2 hours away). She may have travelled to Texas according to her CP page.

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/s/sanger-garza_janelle.html
https://www.findthemissing.org/en/cases/show/9682


MIchelle Lee Burchell?
21yo missing from Bardwell (her home) or Hopkins (mom's house) KY since June 1994. Bardwell is about 1.5 hours away from Grand Tower, IL.

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/b/burchell_michelle.html
https://www.findthemissing.org/en/cases/show/1713

 

[Melt71]

Just on the Illinois side of the Missouri/Illinois border, could this be a cross-border body dump? North of Grand Towers is pretty much a straight run to St Louis 100 miles away.

Kelly Allen missing from St Louis since early 2007 - fits height, possible PMI. www.namus.gov/MissingPersons/Case#/223?nav
Kelly L. Allen – The Charley Project

Tabitha Watson missing from Chicago since 2001 - fits on height, timeline and although Chicago is 350 miles away, it is a straight run down I-57 to where the UID was found. www.namus.gov/MissingPersons/Case#/52944?nav

 

[victoriarobinson642]

I'm personally inclined to say
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
Because of distance (an hour and a half, give or take) and she fits the stats.

 

[dub]

Just on the Illinois side of the Missouri/Illinois border, could this be a cross-border body dump? North of Grand Towers is pretty much a straight run to St Louis 100 miles away.

Kelly Allen missing from St Louis since early 2007 - fits height, possible PMI. www.namus.gov/MissingPersons/Case#/223?nav
Kelly L. Allen – The Charley Project

Tabitha Watson missing from Chicago since 2001 - fits on height, timeline and although Chicago is 350 miles away, it is a straight run down I-57 to where the UID was found. www.namus.gov/MissingPersons/Case#/52944?nav

I lived in Jackson county for a few years and know the area pretty well, and I agree there's a good chance it was a cross border dump.

I highly doubt whoever it was had traveled down 57 though, Grand Tower is at least 45min from 57 and is in the middle of nowhere. Likewise, the nearest bridge crossing from Missouri is probably close to half an hour away.

Whoever dumped the body pretty much had to know the area at least generally (and I'd bet it was someone who knew it very well), that's not a spot you'd just happen across.

 

[Melt71]

I lived in Jackson county for a few years and know the area pretty well, and I agree there's a good chance it was a cross border dump.

I highly doubt whoever it was had traveled down 57 though, Grand Tower is at least 45min from 57 and is in the middle of nowhere. Likewise, the nearest bridge crossing from Missouri is probably close to half an hour away.

Whoever dumped the body pretty much had to know the area at least generally (and I'd bet it was someone who knew it very well), that's not a spot you'd just happen across.

Great to have local insight, many thanks.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Is it known if the vehicle was in the same parking space? Employees usually park a distance away from the store. If so, was she intercepted between the exit and car? If the car was moved, was there any evidence in the car of a struggle, another driver, etc? Did anyone walk out with her, any customers in the parking lot??
Diana Jane Braungardt
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
“She finished her shift and was walking to the parking lot at the time, where her family's 1982 yellow ford escort was parked. Braungardt never arrived home that evening and has not bee seen since. The vehicle was located later in the lot, but there was no trace of Braungardt.”

 

[dub]

Great to have local insight, many thanks.

Sure. It's not very often I have any such insight to offer on here haha

The more I think about it, I lean toward the perp crossing and coming up north from Cape Girardeau, rather than coming south from Chester. Not for any real reason besides the Cape G area being much more populated than the Chester one, so both higher population % plus less high-percentage dump sites in the area (although it is pretty rural outside Cape and there would still be plenty).

I don't have a NAMUS account, are there any ruleouts? If not, I searched around a little and I think if you look at the higher end of the PMI (~25yrs) either of the first two women listed on this page could be viable possibilities:

Active Missing Persons

For PSD the age is off, although I assume because they found a mandible they guessed the age based on something with the wisdom teeth, which is not super reliable. She is also a little further away, 45min from the bridge/hour and 15 from the dump site. But height and PMI are in range.

With CAS, the height and PMI don't quite match, but the age does and she is much closer (15min from the bridge, ~45 from the dump site). For what it's worth, CAS was thought to have been abducted.

Personally I think CAS is the more likely of the two. Thoughts?

ETA: just to clarify, although I said "dump site" the distances I'm referring to are to Grand Tower. I don't know exactly where the places you can pull off highway 3 are north of there. I'm guessing the dump site is somewhere between GT and the highway 149 intersection, which is like 10 miles north of there.

 

[dub]

Is it known if the vehicle was in the same parking space? Employees usually park a distance away from the store. If so, was she intercepted between the exit and car? If the car was moved, was there any evidence in the car of a struggle, another driver, etc? Did anyone walk out with her, any customers in the parking lot??
Diana Jane Braungardt
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
“She finished her shift and was walking to the parking lot at the time, where her family's 1982 yellow ford escort was parked. Braungardt never arrived home that evening and has not bee seen since. The vehicle was located later in the lot, but there was no trace of Braungardt.”

DJB definitely is a possibility, really good call.

Side note, with DJB the circumstances of disappearance, appearance, age and timeframe are all quite similar to those of CAS I mentioned above, wow. The distance between the two is kind of far, but I could see those two disappearances being related.

 

[watergirl62]

one rule-out:
MP18496 Zoe Hope DLC 04/20/2006 Wake, NC

 

[PayrollNerd]

Reading over at Diana’s thread. Interesting theories to research on.

MO - MO - Diana Braungardt, 18, Crystal City, 11 March 1987

The distance and driving options are not out of the question.

 

[dub]

Reading over at Diana’s thread. Interesting theories to research on.

MO - MO - Diana Braungardt, 18, Crystal City, 11 March 1987

The distance and driving options are not out of the question.

Ah nice, thanks. Also sorry, I misread DB's date of disappearance initially as 1982, not 87. Not as close timing wise to CAS as I thought.

I don't think the distance is prohibitive at all, but I will say that that part of the drive between I-55 and Chester is extremely squirrelly. Not like dangerous, just it would be really hard to make it through to the bridge unless you knew the area extremely well.

I drove from Jackson county thru Chester to Farmington and back many, many times and usually intentionally avoided that part of the route because I'd get lost if it was dark or the conditions were bad.

I honestly think someone coming from Festus would have a better chance of getting to the dump spot continuing further south on 55 to Cape Girardeau and cutting back north in IL, unless they really knew the area.

Side note, and just FYI, Grand Tower and where I'm presuming the dump site is are right around that "3" at the very bottom of the image.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Ah nice, thanks. Also sorry, I misread DB's date of disappearance initially as 1982, not 87. Not as close timing wise to CAS as I thought.

I don't think the distance is prohibitive at all, but I will say that that part of the drive between I-55 and Chester is extremely squirrelly. Not like dangerous, just it would be really hard to make it through to the bridge unless you knew the area extremely well.

I drove from Jackson county thru Chester to Farmington and back many, many times and usually intentionally avoided that part of the route because I'd get lost if it was dark or the conditions were bad.

I honestly think someone coming from Festus would have a better chance of getting to the dump spot continuing further south on 55 to Cape Girardeau and cutting back north in IL, unless they really knew the area.

Side note, and just FYI, Grand Tower and where I'm presuming the dump site is are right around that "3" at the very bottom of the image.

Ah yes! I didn’t realize there were GPS coordinates available. Definitely near Grand Tower. Someone picked a dot on a map, she traveled there and got mixed up with someone or the perp came from a different direction. So many possibilities. She was buried so whoever it was, had strength enough to do so.

 

[carbuff]

The Namus file has the coordinates where the body was found: خرائط ‪Google‬‏‏

It's right beside the water and made me wonder a couple of things. Could the remains have been brought there via boat? Or maybe washed there from upstream and then buried by the river's action?

 

[dub]

The Namus file has the coordinates where the body was found: خرائط ‪Google‬‏‏

It's right beside the water and made me wonder a couple of things. Could the remains have been brought there via boat? Or maybe washed there from upstream and then buried by the river's action?

I'm not certain on either count, but I think either of those are plausible. On the latter, people have been known to commit suicide by jumping off the bridge at Chester, which could lead them to end up downstream in that area eventually.

ETA: also thanks much for the coordinates, that is very close to where I was thinking it would be. I really need to sign up for NAMUS haha

 

[carbuff]

Looking at women in the right age range who disappeared from upstream:

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) Christina Whittaker, 21, missing from Hannibal in 2009, possibly suicidal

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) Shemika Cosey, 15, missing from Berkeley MO in 2008 but thought to have remained in the local area.

 

[PayrollNerd]

The Namus file has the coordinates where the body was found: خرائط ‪Google‬‏‏

It's right beside the water and made me wonder a couple of things. Could the remains have been brought there via boat? Or maybe washed there from upstream and then buried by the river's action?

I didn’t even think of a boat but you’re right that is a possibility. If she did jump off a bridge, fall off a boat or whatever, the silt could have buried her over the years. I tend think when they say buried, that it was an intentional human burial tho. JMO.

 

[carbuff]

I didn’t even think of a boat but you’re right that is a possibility. If she did jump off a bridge, fall off a boat or whatever, the silt could have buried her over the years. I tend think when they say buried, that it was an intentional human burial tho. JMO.

It sounds like it, but with so few remains, I'm not sure how they'd tell?

 

[hkhkhk]

Looking at women in the right age range who disappeared from upstream:

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) Christina Whittaker, 21, missing from Hannibal in 2009, possibly suicidal

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) Shemika Cosey, 15, missing from Berkeley MO in 2008 but thought to have remained in the local area.

A few months ago I submitted a review for Christina Whittaker & the Jane Doe. I received an email back saying they would send it for review but that I wouldn’t receive further updates. (First time submitting one) I checked NamUs today & they haven’t compared it yet, beginning to wonder if they will. I’m still learning the process. Wish I had found this thread earlier.

I was surprised to see there was only one comparison done for the Jane Doe, considering the location and limited information provided, this case could potentially apply to a lot more missing persons than the usual Jane Doe, so I would think they would compare all potential cases since the descriptors are so broad.

I’m originally from up the river of where our Jane Doe was found. I have family in Hannibal, Mo where Christina Whittaker is from, so I’m interested in both cases. I’m hopefully going to continue submitting reviews.
One other thing, not every city along the Mississippi river has a lock & dam. Christina went missing about a block or so from the river, & Hannibal doesn’t have a lock & dam near that area. It’s further down river & they didn’t immediately search for her either. So that’s one thing to keep in mind when cross referencing missing persons from river towns north of where Jane Doe was found, whether or not a search was done & if it was in a timely fashion or delayed, and whether or not they have a lock & dam. In Quincy, il where I’m originally from, (about 30ish mind from Hannibal), they close the lock & dam immediately if there’s any boating accidents, ppl missing or haven’t checked in while boating that day, reports of ppl in the water, etc. They’re quick with it, and have more success with rescuing boaters & helping the families involved whatever the situation, other places aren’t so good at it.

 

[Tabirey]

A few months ago I submitted a review for Christina Whittaker & the Jane Doe. I received an email back saying they would send it for review but that I wouldn’t receive further updates. (First time submitting one) I checked NamUs today & they haven’t compared it yet, beginning to wonder if they will. I’m still learning the process. Wish I had found this thread earlier.

I was surprised to see there was only one comparison done for the Jane Doe, considering the location and limited information provided, this case could potentially apply to a lot more missing persons than the usual Jane Doe, so I would think they would compare all potential cases since the descriptors are so broad.

I’m originally from up the river of where our Jane Doe was found. I have family in Hannibal, Mo where Christina Whittaker is from, so I’m interested in both cases. I’m hopefully going to continue submitting reviews.
One other thing, not every city along the Mississippi river has a lock & dam. Christina went missing about a block or so from the river, & Hannibal doesn’t have a lock & dam near that area. It’s further down river & they didn’t immediately search for her either. So that’s one thing to keep in mind when cross referencing missing persons from river towns north of where Jane Doe was found, whether or not a search was done & if it was in a timely fashion or delayed, and whether or not they have a lock & dam. In Quincy, il where I’m originally from, (about 30ish mind from Hannibal), they close the lock & dam immediately if there’s any boating accidents, ppl missing or haven’t checked in while boating that day, reports of ppl in the water, etc. They’re quick with it, and have more success with rescuing boaters & helping the families involved whatever the situation, other places aren’t so good at it.

Unfortunately, they don't always have all the exclusions public. Many times we've sent in possible matches because they weren't shown as excluded and received word back that they'd already been compared and excluded. Also, they do compare to persons that are not on NamUs or are not public on NamUs, so those are not always put in the exclusions. Can be frustrating to say the least!
So, I wouldn't take the number of exclusions as being the only ones they've been compared to.