Identified! MS - Pascagoula, WhtFem Child 45UFMS "Delta Dawn", 1-3, Dog River @I-10, Dec'82 - Alisha Heinrich

[Paul B.]

isn't the usual spelling of the name Alicia rather than Alisha?

 

[Susikatze]

My personal theory is that she left with her boyfriend, but they argued, and he threw her out of the car with baby Alisha, and drove off. This left Gwendolyn all by herself in an unfamiliar area... likely no money, no way of getting anywhere, and no options. I think at this point, distressed and alone, she decided life wasn't going to get any better, and she jumped with Alisha into the river. This theory explains the sightings of the woman and child before Alisha was found, the woman in the water, and fits with the new information we have about the situation.

MOO of course

Initially I thought the same. But then, wouldnt maternal instinct be more powerful? She was apparently running alongside the road for a day or more in the cold... that is not normal, you would at least make sure your child is safe... even if you wanted to kill yourself. I am a mom of a 2 year old and even if some man would dump me and baby on the street, i would seek help as soon as possible.
Either she had a complete mental breakdown of some sorts or drugs were involved. I also dont believe she and baby were killed, but rather agree to the murder-suicide theory.

 

[Paul B.]

I'm afraid I have to tell you that "maternal instinct" is BS, shown by the mothers that have killed their children. It's just as silly as the "collective sisterhood" which also falls apart when it meets with the reality of the world.

 

[Susikatze]

I'm afraid I have to tell you that "maternal instinct" is BS, shown by the mothers that have killed their children. It's just as silly as the "collective sisterhood" which also falls apart when it meets with the reality of the world.

Of course, I agree on that, too many kids being killed by their mothers (even more by the moms partners and the moms keep quiet).

But usually there is a reason, e.g. underlying mental illness or substance abuse. Is anything like that known for Gwen? Because just some new boyfriend dumping you on the street in the middle of the night imho is not enough reason to kill your child and likely yourself, too. It was only a short new relationship after she divorced her former husband.

 

[DixieDiva11]

I was also apart of the genealogy team and am the personal caretaker for Alisha’s gravesite. Thank you everyone for keeping her in your hearts over these many years.

Can you tell me what became of Alishas father? I’ve seen the fb saying his name was Clyde and he passed days before the identification and either that’s not true or it’s a hell of a coincidence that Gwendolyns fathers name was Clyde and he passed days before the identification.

 

[DixieDiva11]

Actually it was Gwendolyn’s father that passed away right before he found out. My husband was one of the main investigators.

I’d just asked what became of Alishas dad because it was either a false post by someone who misunderstood or a hell of a coincidence

 

[DixieDiva11]

The one thing that bothers me is what happened to the mother and what they were doing for 9 days? Did Gwendolyn meet someone and decide to leave with them, but she and her lover got into an argument and he killed her, then killed Alisha because he didn't know what to do with her? That's the best explanation I can come up with.

Just my guess -9 days they could have stopped and stayed a few days before heading on to Florida.
I think the man she left w:is the one who killed her after some type of argument then was left with Alisha. My bet is Gwendolyn was killed-probably strangled but who knows and he had to dump her body and had Alisha there in the car when he went to dump the body and dumped her in the water as well. I mean he couldn’t take her back w/o Gwendolyn and if he kept her & continued on to Florida-if her family came looking he’d be in trouble for kidnapping and still have to explain where Gwendolyn is so either way he was on a bind and probably still mad over whatever the argument was and adrenaline pumping and threw her over then. There are some evil sick ppl out there.
mad for why they didn’t find Gwen ( I do think they were dumped within minutes of each other-maybe Alishas body hung up on brush before getting free whereas Gwens didn’t who knows. She may still be somewhere along the river in some wooded marshy area. It’s 129 miles long and spreads through Alabama and Mississippi according to 1 website then dumps into another river before hitting the gulf.
I’d love to know the man’s name because I know a lot of ppl in bit Joplin/Webb city to Kansas City

 

[DixieDiva11]

Alisha's biological father apparently passed away just days before the family found out. According to a relatives FB post.

No that was not true. I saw that as well and someone was mistaken. It was Gwendolyns father Clyde who went by his middle name Ed who recently passed on sept 9

 

[Liv27]

Can you tell me what became of Alishas father? I’ve seen the fb saying his name was Clyde and he passed days before the identification and either that’s not true or it’s a hell of a coincidence that Gwendolyns fathers name was Clyde and he passed days before the identification.

Alisha’s father passed away years ago and Gwendolyn’s father passed in September.

 

[aThousandYearsWide]

I want to know more about what Gwen's boyfriend said when he returned to Missouri without them. Too bad he's deceased. Could he have confessed to a relative? I hope they interview the people that were closest to him.

 

[othram]

I want to know more about what Gwen's boyfriend said when he returned to Missouri without them. Too bad he's deceased. Could he have confessed to a relative? I hope they interview the people that were closest to him.

There is an ongoing investigation and they mentioned that folks are cooperating with and helping the Jackson County Sheriff's Office. Hopefully there is a case update soon!

 

[folieadeuxnola]

Just to clairfy ... that area does not empty out that quickly into the gulf. The gulf however does push upward north and in the Dec you would not get that much push either inward or outward. That is primarily seen in the active season weather season Late May to around Nov ... at the very latest. Unless its 2020........

When we talk about observations or views from a motor vehicle back in 82 the speed limit was 55. Traffic was much slower and one would observe alot more along the roadways back then... i remember more from those years traveling then I do now.. in a nut shell whatever occured its obvious gwen and alisha were making their way back home. If she refused help from anyone on a cold dark night .. yes I would assume she was scared mentally ..something or someone starked her. I do not feel as thou she was in such a mental state she would have thrown her child and herself from the bridge.

 

[Richard]

It might be of interest to some that the origin of the name given to this little girl (when for so long unidentified) was "Delta Dawn". It comes from a 1971 song of the same name by Alex Harvey and Larry Collins.

Delta Dawn, what's that flower you have on?
Could it be a faded rose from days gone by?
And did I hear you say he was ameetin' you here today
To take you to his mansion in the sky...

LINK:
Lyrics for Delta Dawn by Helen Reddy - Songfacts

 

[jbsb344]

Alisha’s father is deceased. He passed away years ago. His family was located and investigators spoke with them prior to any information coming out. Gwens Father passed away shortly before investigators were able to inform the family.
The name of the friend/boyfriend will not be released. He is no longer alive and cannot give his side of the story. His family has fully cooperated with investigators. The Sheriff’s Department knows much more than what was released to the public and they made it clear in the presser that they did not think Gwen was the person who put Alisha over the bridge. Here is the link to the full press conference from the local WLOX news. I know it is long. I was in the front row.

Jackson County authorities update case of unidentified child found dead in 1982

 

[othram]

Alisha’s father is deceased. He passed away years ago. His family was located and investigators spoke with them prior to any information coming out. Gwens Father passed away shortly before investigators were able to inform the family.
The name of the friend/boyfriend will not be released. He is no longer alive and cannot give his side of the story. His family has fully cooperated with investigators. The Sheriff’s Department knows much more than what was released to the public and they made it clear in the presser that they did not think Gwen was the person who put Alisha over the bridge. Here is the link to the full press conference from the local WLOX news. I know it is long. I was in the front row.

Jackson County authorities update case of unidentified child found dead in 1982

Long, but touching to see so many of the folks that were there 38 years ago return to share their experiences.

 

[DixieDiva11]

I thought she'd never be identified. Every unidentified now has hope.

After the very first cases were solved like the man in Ohio who had been using the name of a deceased little boy committed suicide & they found out who he was I knew it was only a matter of time before we start seeing all these cases solved. I’d bet within next 10 years we will have few if any unidentified & that will be amazing

 

[DixieDiva11]

Alisha’s father passed away years ago and Gwendolyn’s father passed in September.

No Gwendolyn s father Clyde aka Ed passed away in September. There has been some misunderstandings posted about this.

 

[DixieDiva11]

Her Mom is still a MP. I sadly think her body was washed into the Gulf of Mexico. Will Alisha's body be returned to Missouri?

I think the same on Gwendolyn either that or she’s hung up on some brush in a very wooded part of the river. It’s about 129-130 miles long. I know they said it was searched thoroughly but isn’t if it was all searched throughly since it crosses from Alabama to mississli

I want to know more about what Gwen's boyfriend said when he returned to Missouri without them. Too bad he's deceased. Could he have confessed to a relative? I hope they interview the people that were closest to him.

I would love to know his name too. I knew a lot of ppl in Joplin/Webb city areas back 20-30 years ago. I wish my aunt was still alive because she grew up and went to school there & given the ages would have probably went to school with Gwen but she passed a couple of years back. She was my moms half sister so she’s the only one I could ask

 

[DixieDiva11]

Her Mom is still a MP. I sadly think her body was washed into the Gulf of Mexico. Will Alisha's body be returned to Missouri?

I think the same on Gwendolyn either that or she’s hung up on some brush in a very wooded part of the river. It’s about 129-130 miles long. I know they said it was searched thoroughly but isn’t if it was all searched throughly since it crosses from Alabama to Mississippi

Alisha's biological father apparently passed away just days before the family found out. According to a relatives FB post.

 

[Liv27]

No Gwendolyn s father Clyde aka Ed passed away in September. There has been some misunderstandings posted about this.

I was a genealogist on this case and can confirm that Gwen’s father was not named Clyde. Gwen’s father did pass in September, but Alisha’s father passed years before.