***Unsolved homicide from Cattaraugus County, NY***
Karen A. Damon was 23 years old when she was reported missing from her Salamanca, New York home at 13 Oak Street on April 13, 1980.
On that date, neighbors heard the sounds of what they thought was a child who was home alone in the duplex apartment house and called police. Salamanca Police responded and found Damon’s 4 year old daughter inside. She was alone and in her bedclothes.
Damon disappeared just three weeks after her mother had died.
At the time of her disappearance, Miss Damon was a student of practical nursing at St. Francis Hospital in Olean, NY. She was also engaged to Gene Mack, then living in the Randolph area. The couple had made arrangements to marry on July 5, 1980.
Damon was considered a missing person until April 15, 1989.
Her remains were found by a farmer near Narrows Road in the Town of Napoli, about three miles southwest of the Village of Little Valley. The secluded spot in the woods was about half a mile from the farm house, but only a few yards from Narrows Road. This is approximately 12 miles from Damon’s home in Salamanca.
Police stated she was wearing nightclothes and a diamond engagement ring, and probably was buried April 12, 1980.
"It's my opinion she was dead when she left her home and was taken away in a vehicle and buried that night,” according to Detective Ernest R. Travis of the Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Department.
Laboratory tests on the woman's remains and items in the grave have given police some clues on how she died. Pathologists determined Damon was killed by a blow to her upper jaw bone and eye socket.
"Only one other person knows as much as we do -- and that's the murderer," Travis said.
Karen Damon’s case remains unsolved.
Do you have information regarding this case?
Call the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office at 716-938-2573 or your local law enforcement agency.
http://mckeancountycoldcases.weebly.com/k-damon.html
Karen A. Damon was 23 years old when she was reported missing from her Salamanca, New York home at 13 Oak Street on April 13, 1980.
On that date, neighbors heard the sounds of what they thought was a child who was home alone in the duplex apartment house and called police. Salamanca Police responded and found Damon’s 4 year old daughter inside. She was alone and in her bedclothes.
Damon disappeared just three weeks after her mother had died.
At the time of her disappearance, Miss Damon was a student of practical nursing at St. Francis Hospital in Olean, NY. She was also engaged to Gene Mack, then living in the Randolph area. The couple had made arrangements to marry on July 5, 1980.
Damon was considered a missing person until April 15, 1989.
Her remains were found by a farmer near Narrows Road in the Town of Napoli, about three miles southwest of the Village of Little Valley. The secluded spot in the woods was about half a mile from the farm house, but only a few yards from Narrows Road. This is approximately 12 miles from Damon’s home in Salamanca.
Police stated she was wearing nightclothes and a diamond engagement ring, and probably was buried April 12, 1980.
"It's my opinion she was dead when she left her home and was taken away in a vehicle and buried that night,” according to Detective Ernest R. Travis of the Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Department.
Laboratory tests on the woman's remains and items in the grave have given police some clues on how she died. Pathologists determined Damon was killed by a blow to her upper jaw bone and eye socket.
"Only one other person knows as much as we do -- and that's the murderer," Travis said.
Karen Damon’s case remains unsolved.
Do you have information regarding this case?
Call the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office at 716-938-2573 or your local law enforcement agency.
http://mckeancountycoldcases.weebly.com/k-damon.html
