MD MD - Baltimore, BlkFem 18-60, UP1388, poss depression, long braids, clothes, tri-color ring, Aug'96

[tinynest]

Still missing with no rule-outs.

 

[Moonwalker9]

Let's hope with DNA this case can finally be solved in 2021. Based on the namus photo she looks like teen/young adult and it'sreally sad she's been unidentified for this long.

 

[SurrealisticSlumbers]

Let's hope with DNA this case can finally be solved in 2021. Based on the namus photo she looks like teen/young adult and it'sreally sad she's been unidentified for this long.

Seriously.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Bumping up. Was there any word on whether they were attempting to finally obtain DNA ? I hope they still could / can.

There are way too many African American female UIDs in Maryland. I really wish they could identify some of these women.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Bumping case up .
She has a very nice composite image, IMO.
They need to please obtain DNA and work on identifying this poor young woman.

Does she still have no rule-outs listed? Here is her NamUs link:

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

 

[dotr]

• Have you seen this child? Jane Doe1996
• NCMEC: 1184454 - NCIC: U955724611 - NamUS: 1388

• • Date Found
  • Aug 6, 1996
• • Location Found
  • Baltimore, MD
• • Estimated Age
  • 18-25
• • Sex
  • Female
• • Race
  • Black
• • Hair Color
  • Brown
• • Eye Color
  • Brown
• • Estimated Height
  • 5'7"
• • Estimated Weight
  • 179 lbs

An unidentified female was struck by a train on August 6, 1996 near Lohrs Lane on the west side of Baltimore, Maryland. The female is African American and estimated to be in her late teens or twenties. She had very long brown hair with braids. She was found wearing a green t-shirt with a large multicolored decal on the front, blue sweatpants, a black bra with flowers on it, red underwear, and brown lace-up shoes. She may also have been wearing a tri-colored ring. The female had seen a dentist at some point in life as dental fillings were observed in some of her teeth. The image above is a facial reconstruction completed by a NCMEC Forensic Artist and depicts what the female may have looked like in life.

• Baltimore County Police Department (Maryland) 1-410-887-2222 and Office of Chief Medical Examiner, Baltimore (Maryland) 1-410-333-3271

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

Estimated Age Range (Years)18-60
Estimated Year of Death1996
Estimated PMIMinutes
HeightCannot Estimate
Weight179 lbs, Estimated

Circumstances​

TypeUnidentified Deceased
Date Body FoundAugust 6, 1996
NamUs Case CreatedApril 25, 2008
ME/C QA ReviewedApril 26, 2008

Location Found Map​

LocationBaltimore, Maryland 21229
CountyBaltimore City
GPS Coordinates (Not Mapped)--
Found On Tribal Land--
Circumstances of RecoveryThe subject was struck by a train

Inventory of RemainsAll parts recovered
Condition of RemainsNot recognizable - Traumatic injuries

Physical Description​

Hair ColorBrown
Head Hair DescriptionBrown
Clothing
Green t-shirt, black bra, blue sweatpants and red panties
On the Body

Footwear
Right brown shoe
On the Body

 

[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.

0 Missing Person Exclusions

 

[ChatteringBirds]

She is someone's missing child, possibly sibling, cousin, niece... It's great that they created a composite of her image, but obtaining DNA needs to happen, too. Why haven't they? Was she cremated? Not enough funds? I believe people would donate to make it happen.

 

[The4TierBridge]

I’m pretty sure the reason this woman doesn’t have any DNA is because Baltimore cremates all unclaimed bodies after 2 weeks and disposes of the ashes after 1 year. There’s no way to get any at this point. This is still how they do it too this day and I don’t know what the procedure is for taking tissue samples.

 

[SurrealisticSlumbers]

Baltimore cremates all unclaimed bodies after 2 weeks and disposes of the ashes after 1 year

Horrible

 

[jennytrevor]

I’m pretty sure the reason this woman doesn’t have any DNA is because Baltimore cremates all unclaimed bodies after 2 weeks and disposes of the ashes after 1 year. There’s no way to get any at this point. This is still how they do it too this day and I don’t know what the procedure is for taking tissue samples.

I’d hope by 1996 that they had procedures for obtaining samples for DNA! Extremely neglectful if not.

However, definitely questioning if they ever actually processed any samples for DNA, or if the DNA is only in CODIS format and not what’s needed for Genetic Genealogy.

 

[summergirl1]

Jane Doe

Clipping found in The Baltimore Sun published in Baltimore, Maryland on 8/8/1996. Jane Doe

www.newspapers.com

 

[Beekarina]

Aug 6, 1996 was a Tuesday. So, we have a young woman, possibly still in her teens, walking alone on the Amtrak tracks around 10:20 pm? The article summergirl linked to says she was "jumping from one concrete tie to the next."

That does not sound like suicidal behavior to me. It sounds a bit more like an accident?

Does anyone have any ideas for what may have been going on that night? I found the Olympics were happening, but not sure of anything local to where this happened......i.e. big concerts or anything else.

Was thinking if we could figure out why she was out at that hour alone for reasons aside from trying to harm herself maybe it helps ID her? Just a thought

 

[summergirl1]

It doesn't mention they found any evidence of alcohol or drugs which might cause such behavior. It doesn't really sound suicidal to me, either, but maybe she thought standing by the tracks would be too suspicious? She may have been happy knowing the train was coming and soon she would be gone?

There are other mental health issues that might cause such behavior, without a desire to die-or also, intellectual/developmental disability of some sort. But if she had such serious issues that she was oblivious to the dangers of walking/playing on train tracks, you have to wonder why someone wasn't keeping an eye on her.

 

[Beekarina]

I wondered if she was trying to get away from someone? Or if she was out on a summer night with a group of young people, all being foolish and the others panicked when this happened?

I'm not familiar with this area really, but Boston area, for example used to have fairly large transient youth population that hung around Harvard Square in Cambridge at this time. Was there anything similar in Baltimore?

 

[Beekarina]

I did know poverty was an issue, was more wondering if specific areas were know as hang outs and if this may have happened near one? The kids in Harvard Square were often from all over the place and not just locals. So wondering if this young woman may have been a runaway from a different part of the country and that is why she has not been ID for so long?

 

[Beekarina]

This is the link to her NAMUS, It looks as though there are no rule outs listed as of July 17, 2025

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

 

[Beekarina]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

Shaquita Yolanda Bell
Date of Last ContactJune 27, 1996
Missing From:Alexandria, Virginia
Missing Age: 23 Years


Height5' 6" - 5' 7" (66 - 67 Inches)
Weight150 - 170 lbs

Circumstances of DisappearanceShaquita Yolanda Bell was last seen about 1 p.m. June 27, 1996, leaving her grandmother's house on East Raymond Avenue in Alexandria. She is believed to have been a victim of a homicide in the District of Columbia and her remains buried in a wooded area in Fort Washington, MD.

* Shaquita left with an abusive boyfriend, so IMO the possibility exists this could be her. She was last seen in a very different outfit--spandex leggings and heels, but she could have changed. The casual clothing could have belonged to a guy. The other stats all fit, and if she was trying to escape from someone, could possibly explain what she was doing on train tracks?

Maybe a stretch, but since no comparisons for this UID...

I cannot view the pdf for Shaquita, and cannot tell if she has been compared to anyone. Strange!

I do feel as though the UID is probably younger than 23, but it also does not sound like Shaquita's remains were found, so I dunno?

 

[Beekarina]

Hmm...ok I found more information about Shaquita in her thread here. It seems her former boyfriend pled guilty to her murder in exchange for escaping some other charges, and when he agreed to lead LE to the spot he allegedly buried her, no remains were found.

R

VA Post in thread 'VA - Shaquita Bell, 23, Washington DC, 27 June 1996'

Oct 9, 2021

25 years missing...



Shaquita Yolanda Bell
Missing since June 27, 1996 from Alexandria, Virginia
Classification: Involuntary

Vital Statistics

• • Date Of Birth: October 13, 1972
  • Age at Time of Disappearance: 23 years old
  • Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 5'6-5'7"; 150-170 lbs.
  • Distinguishing Characteristics: Black female. Black hair; brown eyes; pierced ears. Unknown tattoo on her left...

• Richard

Not sure what to think? Perhaps he lied? It sounds like they had a tumultuous relationship. I would assume he returned her children after taking them and her to the doctor's appointment, but not her? Which is odd. Maybe the kids were very, very young and not able to remember or know anything that could have happened--asleep in carseats or something along those lines. (He initially claimed they had a fight and she stayed behind, etc.)

I guess she is not especially likely, but I also cannot rule her out entirely either. Hmm.