Identified! IN - Gary, WhtFem skeletal in sand dune, Aug'10 - Sylvia Jones

[Cubby]

Found this MP with blonde hair, last seen wearing blue jeans and a blue jean jacket, but Kansas City, KS is pretty far from Gary, IN.

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/b/boomer_star.html

 

[MarchingTwinkie3]

Found this MP with blonde hair, last seen wearing blue jeans and a blue jean jacket, but Kansas City, KS is pretty far from Gary, IN.

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/b/boomer_star.html

I found her, too, and a few others who are pretty far away.

http://www.nampn.org/cases/smith_marcie.html
http://www.nampn.org/cases/macdonald_marilyn.html (Grey hair, though)
http://www.nampn.org/cases/birgen_elizabeth.html (California)
http://www.nampn.org/cases/mishow_kateri_marie.html (Closer than CA, but Native American)

 

[CarlK90245]

Carl,

Under the conditions - buried shallow grave in the dunes - the media article (myfox IIRC) indicated there was no flesh left on the remains. With hair left, blonde, what is your estimate on how long the remains might have been there.

Thanks for your best guess. You have much more knowledge in this area than anyone else I can think of here in this forum.

tia

I would guess anywhere between 1 and 10 years. But that's entirely a guess.

A lot of factors go into how long it takes for all of the flesh to decompose and the last strand of hair to decompose or be dispersed. All they need is a single strand to determine hair color, and it may have been found within the clothing (i.e., protected from the elements).

On a different Indiana case involving skeletal remains, they estimated that the remains were there for about 2-5 years, and there was still cartilage on the bones, but it was unclear whether the body was initially buried. (it was found in a farm field and the remains had been spread around by tilling equipment)

The comment that there was no flesh on the bones came from the man who discovered the remains, and he probably only saw the portions that were exposed above ground. I doubt that he was able to examine the remains enough to determine whether the buried portions still had flesh on the bones.

 

[Claudette]

I've heard of remains thousands, hundreds, and decades old being found with hair still intact. I personally don't take hair decomp into too much account because of this.

 

[Claudette]

Also, if I recall from college Geology (someone feel free to correct me if I am 'mis-remembering') sand dunes don't "lose" sand, they are created by beach sand being blown up onto the dunes. So, over time they get bigger. Therefore, I doubt these are old remains being uncovered due to wind/weather/etc, but of course anything is possible. Just may not be as likely in this case.

 

[hoppyfrog]

I'm thinking of the Chicago heiress who disappeared? Brach? Yes! Helen Brach.

http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19012&highlight=brach

http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20374&highlight=brach

 

[Cubby]

I would guess anywhere between 1 and 10 years. But that's entirely a guess.

A lot of factors go into how long it takes for all of the flesh to decompose and the last strand of hair to decompose or be dispersed. All they need is a single strand to determine hair color, and it may have been found within the clothing (i.e., protected from the elements).

On a different Indiana case involving skeletal remains, they estimated that the remains were there for about 2-5 years, and there was still cartilage on the bones, but it was unclear whether the body was initially buried. (it was found in a farm field and the remains had been spread around by tilling equipment)

The comment that there was no flesh on the bones came from the man who discovered the remains, and he probably only saw the portions that were exposed above ground. I doubt that he was able to examine the remains enough to determine whether the buried portions still had flesh on the bones.

BBM. I went back and pulled up the myfox article. The comment about the remains having no flesh on the bones came from the detective being interviewed for the article.

Gary Police Detective Cpl. Art Azcona said this was his first time responding to a crime scene with only skeletal remains left.

"There's no flesh, no kinds of tissue," he said. "Just skeletal remains."

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/skeleton-found-dune-area-gary-20100831

Just pulled that up so we don't get that mixed up.

 

[Cubby]

I'm thinking of the Chicago heiress who disappeared? Brach? Yes! Helen Brach.

http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19012&highlight=brach

http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20374&highlight=brach

The remains were found with what looked like a jean jacket and blue jeans so most likely not Helen or anyone missing more than appx 10 years.

hth

 

[CarlK90245]

BBM. I went back and pulled up the myfox article. The comment about the remains having no flesh on the bones came from the detective being interviewed for the article.

Gary Police Detective Cpl. Art Azcona said this was his first time responding to a crime scene with only skeletal remains left.

Thanks for the clarification. :doh:

 

[raine1212]

This is probably a long shot, it is about a 3 and 1/2 drive from Ottawa Lake Michigan to Gary


http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/b/brant_jody.html

 

[SI-LOCAL]

Article link with more info regarding clothing found with remains:

http://www.post-trib.com/news/lake/2659270,new-gdeadfolo-0901.article

Bones buried in dunes 'petite,' expert to analyze the remains, (September 1, 2010):

The bones were discovered in a shallow grave.

Philpot's spokesman provided the following description of clothing found near the remains: a size small white surgical-type scrub shirt, a light blue Zeroxposure-brand jacket with white stripes down the sleeves, a white bra, dark underwear with glitter and blue jeans. No shoes were found near the bones.

Investigators speculate the bones have been there at least several months.

 

[CarlK90245]

According to Manta.com, the ZeroXposur brand (manufactured by Studio Ray LLC) has been in existence for five years.

http://www.manta.com/c/mm8sj1b/zeroxposur

BTW, ZeroXposur jackets appear to be the cold weather parka style and down jackets, not denim "blue jean" jackets.

 

[fhc]

:Welcome-12-june:

Article link with more info regarding clothing found with remains:

http://www.post-trib.com/news/lake/2659270,new-gdeadfolo-0901.article

Bones buried in dunes 'petite,' expert to analyze the remains, (September 1, 2010):

The bones were discovered in a shallow grave.

Philpot's spokesman provided the following description of clothing found near the remains: a size small white surgical-type scrub shirt, a light blue Zeroxposure-brand jacket with white stripes down the sleeves, a white bra, dark underwear with glitter and blue jeans. No shoes were found near the bones.

Investigators speculate the bones have been there at least several month

Thank you and :Welcome-12-june:

 

[MarchingTwinkie3]

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/j/jones_kimberly.html

Long shot, 5'0"-5'2" and last seen (in February 2009) in a blue jacket and blue jeans. She has brown hair, but I don't know if being out in the elements for 18 months. Kind of far away, but she is bipolar and apparently had a "high risk lifestyle". Probably not her, but based on the current information in this UID case she was the only one I found that fit the bill.

 

[carbuff]

According to Manta.com, the ZeroXposur brand (manufactured by Studio Ray LLC) has been in existence for five years.

http://www.manta.com/c/mm8sj1b/zeroxposur

BTW, ZeroXposur jackets appear to be the cold weather parka style and down jackets, not denim "blue jean" jackets.

ZeroXposur is carried by places like Kohl's and Sears; they're best known for snowboard-styled gear for older kids, though they do have adult lines. The high-end performance stuff is pricey but the basic stuff is good value -- designs that offer a lot of warmth without looking bulky -- fleece-lined hoodies, that sort of thing.

It could be this jacket, or similar: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_017AM232000P?vName=Clothing&cName=Women%27s&sName=Outerwear&sid=IDx20070921x00003j&srccode=cii_9324560&cpncode=23-106285023-2. Not exactly a jean jacket, but I'm guessing the material would look pretty similar after months or years in the ground.

It would seem to indicate she went missing in the colder part of the year.

Considering the petite build, and ZeroXposur's focus on high school market, my first guess would be somebody in the 16-18 range.

 

[Cubby]

Welcome to WS SI-LOCAL!

 

[mtrooper]

I found a black friday ad for zeroxposur @ Kohls 11/2004. I will keep looking to see if I cab go back any further. A picture might be nice of the jacket. I bet the company could tell you when it was manufactured/ distributed.

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/398852/

 

[CarlK90245]

The zeroxposur.com website was created on July 12, 2002.

http://www.who.is/whois/zeroxposur.com/

 

[hoppyfrog]

The remains were found with what looked like a jean jacket and blue jeans so most likely not Helen or anyone missing more than appx 10 years.

hth

Yep. I got that. I was just mentioning the first missing person that came to my mind b/c of the location.

 

[passionflower]

not Stacy Peterson???