MO MO - Janice Younger 18, Monett, July 1981

[CarlK90245]

I wonder what happened to the little one she went to visit in monett in foster care there and what happened to the little one left at home with her sister.

Janice had two sons, and they now have sons of their own. Janice's sister still keeps contact with both of them, and would like to be able to tell them what happened to their mother.

 

[nanny2five]

Janice had two sons, and they now have sons of their own. Janice's sister still keeps contact with both of them, and would like to be able to tell them what happened to their mother.

thank you, Carl. it doesn't look like anybody ever came forward who saw her in monett the previous night when she went to the relatives who weren't home? But she made the visit with her son as scheduled ... I would assume the foster parents were above reproach and probably questioned ... I wonder if anyone came forward who saw Janice after she left the visit. God Bless Janice's sister and the boys. they deserve to have some peace over this.

 

[M86]

It looks like Janice has been removed from the Missouri State Police Missing Person's website, as well as NamUs. Hopefully her sister has seen some progress!

 

[mmtp777]

Any updates?

 

[SandraJean3041]

It looks like Janice has been removed from the Missouri State Police Missing Person's website, as well as NamUs. Hopefully her sister has seen some progress!

I just came across Janice Younger on NamUs..does this mean there was an update and she was relisted, or was she never removed in the first place?

 

[CarlK90245]

I just came across Janice Younger on NamUs..does this mean there was an update and she was relisted, or was she never removed in the first place?

It was probably just temporarily taken offline from NamUs. They do that on occasion.

 

[newfiedee]

Wonder why Janices description hasnt been changed ..

 

[Gardener1850]

I heard from Janice's sister back in May, but there hasn't been much in terms of progress on the case. Still not even so much as a yawn from the Missouri State Police.

She was given some names from some people in the area who seemed reliable, and she has forwarded that info onto the authorities. She feels that one is a very strong lead with cause and motive.

Janice is still listed on the Missouri Highway Patrol website as a missing person.

I found a news article from 1988 that says they found her remains in 1983 and matched it using dental records provided by her sister. Is there a reason her sister still thinks she is missing?

 

[Gardener1850]

Hi,
I am Mary Stilwell, Janice Younger is my sister. I was contacted thru email by two of your members recently and I felt that perhaps I should respond by giving an update.

I can tell you that the last 31 years has been a rollercoaster. I am a firm believer that if you allow the Lord to lead you and your life, then it seems a bit less chaotic.

I am excited to see that finally, she is a topic of conversation. Usually, its a bad thing to be but in this case it is excitiing. Yes, I feel that she has "slipped thru the cracks." I am not going to point fingers, that is a job for someone else. But, what I am going to do is give you the information I have or know. Please forgive me for such a lengthy post. I will try to cut it down as much as I can.

1981, July 16, Janice was driven to Monett by a friend who dropped her off in front of family whom lived on Boys St., Monett. (At the time we nor she knew they were not home and were infact out of state) so we do not know where she slept that night.

1981, July 17, Janice's Birthday, she turned 19, she kept the visistation with her son at noon., Left their house walking back to town. Last contact we know of. Later that afternoon, her friend came back up to Monett to pick her up at resident on Boys st, Monett. She did not show. He said he drove around town looking for her. Finally, he called me in NW Arkansas to see if she had returned home since I was keeping her 9mo son at the time for her.

I made calls to relatives in Monett but no one had seen her....
I called my mother and then I called Springdale PD whom informed me that since she was in MO I had to report her missing there, Also, because at the time she was concidered an adult at 18 in Arkansas and in MO it was 21. I proceeded to call Monett PD, was told to wait the 48 hours and call back Monday... I did and gave info...Then I called Cassville and reported her missing. Then I called Springdale back and they too took a report. Later that week, Cassville/MO SPD said they had placed her on a Possible Homicide Missing Person 4 State and that after 72 hours she would then go National.

fastforward to 1983--I saw a report on the news about a possible female remains found near Shell Knob, Mo. I called the number of the MO State Police and gave them information.

(at this time, I do not have my notebook with me so I am not sure of dates)
but, I was contacted by a Detective out of Cassville to view a Clay rendation of the remains and some articles found with it. Both my Mother and I went to Cassville where we were shown a picture. We both did not believe it looked anything like Jan. We did not recognize the articles and we told them we did not think it was her. They said it was because dental records said so.

later that week, it appeared in the Springdale Morning News that the remains found in Shell Knob was Janice. Even tho we said we did not believe it was her. After that I called several times to find out how things were going. was always to ok. I asked for remains to be sent to my mother, they said could not find them, did not know where they were, they'd have to look etc. NEVER received remains. Called and Offered to come get them. My mom wanted to have her own autopsy/study done. No return calls... My mom decided to not pursue.

1987- Detective contacted me in MO. about Janice. Came and took interview and almost all pictures of Jan that I could give him.... Never heard anything. Tried to contact him with no results.

Everytime I saw something on tv about findings or missings or serial killers, I would call...

fastforward to 2009, I contacted Barry Co. Sheriff about wanting her remains and wanting to reopen case. He suggested to do a Mydachondrial DNA with her son to identify the woman. to rule out or prove if was/wasn't Jan...He would have to contact FBI to get permission to send it somewhere to be tested. Finally, FBI said ok and to send it to Texas State University. Detective sent the jaw of the skull

December 24, 2009, Detective called me and said that they (TS) were getting ready to work on her case.

February 2010, Detective called and said that the jaw bone was not bone but clay... so they needed the other part of remains. Did I know where they might be...I said, Cassville, Columbia Mo, (LAB) or possibly Colorado University where the reconstruction was done... He found them in Colorado. They had been there since 1984. Detective told me that they would send all to Texas State. 13 months later, I recieved an email stating that the mtDNA came back positive to the Shell Knob, MO 1983 remains. That it was Jan. I asked detective to send me report and possibly anything that was not needed for investigation as this was now a Homicide. I never recieved anything. I contacted several time to set up a meeting, calls/emails not returned. My daughter finally contacted him thru her work (Springdale PD) He said he had turned it all over to the Missouri State Police...

I still have no death certificate, No mtDNA report, No remains, and now No clue as to what to do. I am ready to find a lawyer.

So, this is why when I was contacted by your members I was surprised that she was still listed as missing. That she was not moved to an active Homicide case.

It has been a year since I was told that the mtDNA came back to her. I don't understand why it has taken so long. But, I can tell you that they Picture of the girl with curly hair looks more like Jan then the clay reconstruction.

I don't know what to do now. I once again have more questions than answers but I will persevere.

I so very very much appreciatewhat all of you are doing and hope somehow, somewhere I can get answers. My Mother passed in 1996 without ever knowing what happened to her daughter.

vitals,
Janice Arlene Younger
DOB 17 July 1962
Born: Harrisonville, Mo
Height: 5' 09/5' 10 (5'07 was the height listed on her drivers license)
Weight: 120
Hair: Light Brown to Blonde (darker in winter, blonder in summer)
she wore it shoulder length and permed curly as was the 80's style)
She attended Monett and also Washburn, MO. High
She did have a gap between her two front teeth, had extensive dental work, and had Blue eyes.

Since Noone saw her after July 17,1981, it is the date that I believe she died. Or at least within 24 hours. She also was known to hitchhike and there is a truckstop in Monett that she might have gone to find a ride back to Springdale, only 1 hour away.

That is all, I am open to questions. I try to keep records and such but my Memory is not as good as it use to be.

Thank You!
for me and for Jan

I have read entire thread now. Mary, I am sorry for your loss and for all you had to go through trying to get
answers and closure.
Fellow WSer's is there anyway to get this story in the press and pressure LE to release the remains/issue a death certificate?
IMO, it sounds like the remains have been misplaced or destroyed after they closed the case. If that happened it is unacceptable.
Her sons deserve to know what happened and her case needs to be opened as an unsolved homicide. JMO.

 

[CarlK90245]

I found a news article from 1988 that says they found her remains in 1983 and matched it using dental records provided by her sister. Is there a reason her sister still thinks she is missing?

Yes, she believes the identification might have been in error. The remains were described as being way too short (Janice was about 5 feet 10 inches tall), and items found with the body (sandal type shoe with a broken strap and a tourquoise ring) did not belong to Janice. The remains were sent to Colorado State University for a facial reconstruction, and the recon depicted someone who appeared Hispanic or Native American (We all know how far off reconstructions can be though). And then for years, the bones were lost, and found, and lost again.

They told her that the Shell Knob remains were ID'd as Janice based on mitochondrial DNA from Janice's son, but they won't give her a death certificate. They won't give her a report from the DNA lab detailing the DNA comparison. Any attempts to get information from them is stonewalled.

 

[Betty P]

Yes, she believes the identification might have been in error. The remains were described as being way too short (Janice was about 5 feet 10 inches tall), and items found with the body (sandal type shoe with a broken strap and a tourquoise ring) did not belong to Janice. The remains were sent to Colorado State University for a facial reconstruction, and the recon depicted someone who appeared Hispanic or Native American (We all know how far off reconstructions can be though). And then for years, the bones were lost, and found, and lost again.

They told her that the Shell Knob remains were ID'd as Janice based on mitochondrial DNA from Janice's son, but they won't give her a death certificate. They won't give her a report from the DNA lab detailing the DNA comparison. Any attempts to get information from them is stonewalled.

What a mess. Some local and state LE have really bungled this case. It should be up to the county ME where she was found to issue the death certificate, right?

This is aggravating. Almost makes me want to call these people up myself.

 

[Gardener1850]

What a mess. Some local and state LE have really bungled this case. It should be up to the county ME where she was found to issue the death certificate, right?

This is aggravating. Almost makes me want to call these people up myself.

It really is a mess. Her family deserves some answers. Who will advocate for them to get justice and answers of what happened to Janice?
On a more practical note, we are trying to match Janice with UID profiles. If she has already been found, then it needs to be made clear she is a homicide case. We have a member who sent Janice's name as possible match for another case and the case person replied they will look into it. If Janice has already been found we are wasting LE's time trying to match her to other cases.

 

[ken olsen]

I would be interested in Any Information on the Janice Younger case. I don't know what is more Frightening, Disappearing or haveing the Story go COLD as hers has seemed to have. I'm coming to this very late so I'm sure Someone out there Knows More than I Do at this point. Please Assist in my inquiries.

 

[Irish_Eyes]

I notice that Janice's Namus profile is restricted again. Afraid to get my hopes up again that this has been resolved but we shall see.

 

[carbuff]

Every link in this thread is now a dead end. Yes, I checked them

So hopefully the identification has been confirmed and Mary has been able to find some peace and justice for her sister. What a brave woman you are.

 

[Stephenkess]

Every link in this thread is now a dead end. Yes, I checked them

So hopefully the identification has been confirmed and Mary has been able to find some peace and justice for her sister. What a brave woman you are.

I am Janices cousin Steve, I too wanty 100% closer,This has gone on way to long,were not getting any younger(no pun).Mary deserves to know We all do

 

[CastlesBurning]

Bumping for Janice...this month marks 39 years.

 

[StarrChance]

Janice is not in NamUs, has she been Identified?

 

[Soccermom0045]

Any updates on Janice?