Identified! NC - Orange Co, WhtFem 15-25, 558UFNC, pink sweatshirt w/bunnies, Sep'90 - Lisa Coburn Kesler

[bluejeanbaby]

Are there PM photos of her that anybody has seen? It would be interesting to know whether she had natural color/regrowth on her roots coming in, since her hair was dyed blonde.

 

[Fuuro]

Are there PM photos of her that anybody has seen? It would be interesting to know whether she had natural color/regrowth on her roots coming in, since her hair was dyed blonde.

Our very own Carl Koppelman was sent a PM picture of the UID so that he could make a reconstruction of her. Here is what he said about her:

I got ahold of the PM photo and the skull photo. I can't post either online, but here is my version of what she might have looked like.

Though she is very badly decomposed in the PM photo, I was able to see her hair and a single eyebrow, so I think I have her eybrows pretty close, and her hair color about right.

Not sure if he was able to discern much about her roots, though.

 

[lilacs]

Are there PM photos of her that anybody has seen? It would be interesting to know whether she had natural color/regrowth on her roots coming in, since her hair was dyed blonde.

There have been multiple statements released that she was a natural brunette with dyed blonde hair. Possibly a 90s “frosted” hairstyle.

 

[lilacs]

There have been multiple statements released that she was a natural brunette with dyed blonde hair. Possibly a 90s “frosted” hairstyle.

She likely had highlights done (just from my knowledge of hair) & it seems that she was very well groomed. Seeing the reconstruction from the PM having tweezed/styled eyebrows gives me that impression. Somehow that makes this situation even sadder. Just a normal young girl that liked making herself up. And then this happened.

 

[HopeRains]

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has not been available to speak today despite a couple calls. Neither the Sheriff’s Department nor the Chief Medical Examiner have responded to my email.

Albeit a tad frustrating, I am sympathetic to the fact of Covid and it being the holiday season.

I contacted the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and gave the most crucial information to them orally. I also left my contact information.

I hope to forward my communications with Jim Benton to these agencies so they can see the validity of my sources.

My Type-A personality has been a driving factor in my mindset and actions—I have to keep saying “Down doggie!” to myself . Trying to keep patient... trying not to be too bossy. Definitely flooding this thread.

Any suggestions of what to do are welcome with open arms! This is my first time ever “sleuthing” on a case. I can imagine there are technicalities and etiquettes.

I also have the advantage of being local to the incident. Whether that adds urgency, credibility, or commonalities...

Keeping Hope.

Hello, great news!

Jim Benton confirmed that the three bunnies on bicycles is his work!

I asked a lot of questions of him (lol) and here was the information he was able to provide. He gave me permission to share our communications to anyone.

“This is indeed a copy of artwork I did for a company called Sportsweats. It’s impossible to know exactly where it was sold.”

“This is not an actual print from my art. This is a copy. Mine had a little more color and my signature.”

“My original was made—I’m guessing here—in mid eighties I think. We distributed to stores all over the country, so it’s impossible for me to tell you where.”

I hope I am posting this correctly, 1st ever post. The sweatshirt was sold at Sears and Montgomery Ward. Mr. Benton did create the original design, however even back in the late 80s/90s there was much bootlegging. The image of the sweatshirt in recent reconstructions (NCMEC and Carl's) are from a replica I had made back in 2016/7.

 

[HopeRains]

Mr. Benton's bunny print was marketed nationally through Sears and Montgomery Ward. The image of the sweatshirt in recent reconstructions (NCMEC and by Carl) is from a reproduction I had made in 2016/7.

 

[ntt1]

I wonder if her clothes were retained and if so, perhaps DNA might be retrievable from them to do forensic genealogy? Also wondering if perhaps the skull may have been retained whilst the rest of her remains were cremated.

 

[paperlantern]

Hi all, I'm new here. I found this page after reading through the case file and researching the top design, came to my own conclusion that it was a Bassett Walker/Jim Benton design, then saw that you all had already discovered it! I'm glad to see that people are still trying to solve this case, and was amazed that Jim Benton himself was able to be contacted and contribute what he knew. I might pop in every now and then. For now, I just thought I'd link the other tops I found with similar design. I'm not sure it will help at all. But you can see the seller's locations if you click on their profile, so maybe it will help with finding distribution of similar designs (maybe even the design)?

Vintage 90s Bassett Walker Bunny Sweatshirt Sz M

Vintage Top Large Pink Graphic Crew Neck Party | Etsy

Vintage 80s pink sweatshirt with bunnies

️MARK DOWN ️ Bubblegum pink 80’s Vintage Jim Benton... - Depop

 

[paperlantern]

Back again. Read through the entire thread to double check on another theory. I agree with the Kimberly Norwood match. They look extremely similar to me. Same scar, around same height and weight. Younger than expected, but the clothing looks age appropriate. And she was tall for her age, or at least tall enough to possibly be seen as full grown by witnesses. It says her dental records are available. I wonder if they would match up?

If she was taken and kept somewhere for a year, then escaped and tried to hitchhike back with the wrong person, maybe that would explain the missing shoes - as someone else stated, some truckers ask passengers to remove their shoes. But then there is the mystery of did she end up with that taxi driver killer in the same vicinity.. and how if so? Could be no trucker involved at all.

 

[Curious_in_NC]

Back again. Read through the entire thread to double check on another theory. I agree with the Kimberly Norwood match. They look extremely similar to me. Same scar, around same height and weight. Younger than expected, but the clothing looks age appropriate. And she was tall for her age, or at least tall enough to possibly be seen as full grown by witnesses. It says her dental records are available. I wonder if they would match up?

If she was taken and kept somewhere for a year, then escaped and tried to hitchhike back with the wrong person, maybe that would explain the missing shoes - as someone else stated, some truckers ask passengers to remove their shoes. But then there is the mystery of did she end up with that taxi driver killer in the same vicinity.. and how if so? Could be no trucker involved at all.

Unfortunately Kimberly Norwood is on the exclusions list at NamUs so she's been ruled out for some reason. You can find these lists by creating an account at NamUs.
And @paperlantern, welcome to Websleuths!

 

[paperlantern]

Unfortunately Kimberly Norwood is on the exclusions list at NamUs so she's been ruled out for some reason. You can find these lists by creating an account at NamUs.
And @paperlantern, welcome to Websleuths!

I did that yesterday and forgot to reply. I sure was hoping it was a match. I also wish that there was more transparency as to why they ruled it out. I asked someone at the Doe network and they said that it was probably the dentals or DNA, but it would be nice to have closure. Ah well. Thanks for the welcome!

 

[Beekarina]

Did anyone ever submit Deanna Merryfield? I noticed she was mentioned a few years ago, and came across her profile this evening while looking. There are some similarities and she is not on the exclusions list.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[annemc2]

Did anyone ever submit Deanna Merryfield? I noticed she was mentioned a few years ago, and came across her profile this evening while looking. There are some similarities and she is not on the exclusions list.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

View attachment 316072 View attachment 316073 View attachment 316074 View attachment 316075

I wonder if CarlK was able to get a good look at her ears in the PM photo. It looks like Deanna Merryfield has pretty prominent ears, esp in the second photo.

 

[carbuff]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Current exclusions:

MP7572 Veronica Blumhorst 09/20/1990 LaSalle IL
MP2318 Gina Brooks 08/05/1989 Madison MO
MP27780 Stacey Chahorski 09/15/1988 Muskegon MI
-- Autumn Cox -- -- NC
MP2652 Krista De La Rosa 07/02/1990 Multnomah OR
MP4711 Andrea Durham 02/01/1990 Okaloosa FL
-- Kimie Eddy -- -- WV
MP14263 Phyllis Flynn 05/07/1988 Wayne MI
-- Janet Glover -- -- VA
-- Diana Hall -- -- OK
-- Billie Jean Hall -- -- MD
MP1174 Gina Hall 06/28/1980 Radford VA
MP2536 Angela Hamby 10/29/1982 Wilkes NC
MP13860 Frankie Horsley 03/10/1983 Cumberland NC
-- Michelle Jakaitis -- -- MA
-- Patricia Kelly -- -- TN
MP4035 Kimberly Kersey 03/11/1987 Clark WA
MP1100 Hazel Klug 05/20/1986 Henrico VA
MP2484 Tracy Kroh 08/05/1989 Dauphin PA
MP7135 Penny Lease 06/02/1989 Champaign IL
MP1376 Tammy Leppert 07/06/1983 Brevard FL
MP6327 Marjorie Luna 05/27/1984 Palm Beach FL
MP2491 Alicia Markovich 04/26/1987 Indiana PA
MP15590 Monique McClelland 08/21/1983 Bucks PA
MP5531 Tammie McCormick 04/29/1986 Saratoga NY
MP6388 Meredith Medina 02/14/1989 Oklahoma OK
-- Helen Miltenberger -- -- PA
MP1860 Kimberly Norwood 05/20/1989 Harrison TX
MP331 Victoria Owczynsky 08/26/1990 Hennepin MN
MP1785 Jennifer Pandos 02/10/1987 James City VA
MP8281 Cynthia Perry 06/17/1985 Wake NC
-- Joann Pogue -- -- IN
MP1868 Shannon Potter 03/03/1984 Baltimore MD
MP7914 Dean Pyle Peters 02/05/1981 Kent MI
MP6559 Sandy Rea 09/19/1984 Pottawatomie OK
MP835 Paige Renkoski 05/24/1990 Livingston MI
MP5414 Connie Royse 06/01/1990 Macomb MI
MP974 Patricia Schmidt 06/04/1985 Henrico VA
-- Stephanie Slater -- -- FL
MP4204 Angela Smith 11/12/1989 East Baton Rouge LA
MP2075 Sally Stone 05/16/1986 Kootenai ID
MP335 Susan Swedell 01/19/1988 Washington MN
MP7616 Charlene Villinger 09/04/1989 Virginia Beach VA
MP3063 Joyce Walcott 05/29/1986 Los Angeles CA
MP12567 Nancy Willis 12/23/1986 Bradley TN

 

[lilacs]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Current exclusions:

MP7572 Veronica Blumhorst 09/20/1990 LaSalle IL
MP2318 Gina Brooks 08/05/1989 Madison MO
MP27780 Stacey Chahorski 09/15/1988 Muskegon MI
-- Autumn Cox -- -- NC
MP2652 Krista De La Rosa 07/02/1990 Multnomah OR
MP4711 Andrea Durham 02/01/1990 Okaloosa FL
-- Kimie Eddy -- -- WV
MP14263 Phyllis Flynn 05/07/1988 Wayne MI
-- Janet Glover -- -- VA
-- Diana Hall -- -- OK
-- Billie Jean Hall -- -- MD
MP1174 Gina Hall 06/28/1980 Radford VA
MP2536 Angela Hamby 10/29/1982 Wilkes NC
MP13860 Frankie Horsley 03/10/1983 Cumberland NC
-- Michelle Jakaitis -- -- MA
-- Patricia Kelly -- -- TN
MP4035 Kimberly Kersey 03/11/1987 Clark WA
MP1100 Hazel Klug 05/20/1986 Henrico VA
MP2484 Tracy Kroh 08/05/1989 Dauphin PA
MP7135 Penny Lease 06/02/1989 Champaign IL
MP1376 Tammy Leppert 07/06/1983 Brevard FL
MP6327 Marjorie Luna 05/27/1984 Palm Beach FL
MP2491 Alicia Markovich 04/26/1987 Indiana PA
MP15590 Monique McClelland 08/21/1983 Bucks PA
MP5531 Tammie McCormick 04/29/1986 Saratoga NY
MP6388 Meredith Medina 02/14/1989 Oklahoma OK
-- Helen Miltenberger -- -- PA
MP1860 Kimberly Norwood 05/20/1989 Harrison TX
MP331 Victoria Owczynsky 08/26/1990 Hennepin MN
MP1785 Jennifer Pandos 02/10/1987 James City VA
MP8281 Cynthia Perry 06/17/1985 Wake NC
-- Joann Pogue -- -- IN
MP1868 Shannon Potter 03/03/1984 Baltimore MD
MP7914 Dean Pyle Peters 02/05/1981 Kent MI
MP6559 Sandy Rea 09/19/1984 Pottawatomie OK
MP835 Paige Renkoski 05/24/1990 Livingston MI
MP5414 Connie Royse 06/01/1990 Macomb MI
MP974 Patricia Schmidt 06/04/1985 Henrico VA
-- Stephanie Slater -- -- FL
MP4204 Angela Smith 11/12/1989 East Baton Rouge LA
MP2075 Sally Stone 05/16/1986 Kootenai ID
MP335 Susan Swedell 01/19/1988 Washington MN
MP7616 Charlene Villinger 09/04/1989 Virginia Beach VA
MP3063 Joyce Walcott 05/29/1986 Los Angeles CA
MP12567 Nancy Willis 12/23/1986 Bradley TN

Is there a list of possibilities?

 

[Beekarina]

I wonder if CarlK was able to get a good look at her ears in the PM photo. It looks like Deanna Merryfield has pretty prominent ears, esp in the second photo.

She does! I saw a post mentioning he saw the UID's eyebrow curve and hair color, but nothing about ears. And Deanna apparently had at least one tattoo even though she was only 13. Not sure if the decomposition was such that tattoos would have been noted? She is a twin, so sad for her sister.

Edited: I was also kind of drawn to Deanna as the bunny shirt just feels really young to me. Deanna disappeared after staying up late watching movies with her grandmother, who she lived with. She then snuck out and went in a car with two men, and woke up her twin sister in the middle of the night and the girls talked for a bit. Deanna took off in the night with the men. I remember this sort of look being kind of common in the era, but a pink bunny t-shirt sounds like the kind of thing a 13 year-old, even a rebellious/older seeming one, might wear as pajamas.....

 

[Beekarina]

I found another site with a bit more information about Deanna, including some possible contact after 1990. The contact is NOT confirmed, however, and the details all seem fairly sketchy, including if she had tattoos, and when she got tattoos, as they appear to possibly be linked to a visit with a relative years after she vanished.

Her sister is still alive and actively looking for her per this link. There is also an additional photo.

Personally, I find it really unusual for a twin, especially one so young, to cut all ties with her twin sister. It sounds like the girls had a close relationship even if the family situation was not ideal. Maybe if her sister is around she will find this thread, and perhaps she would remember if Deanna had a bunny shirt?

Deanna Michelle Merryfield

 

[carbuff]

Is there a list of possibilities?

Several people have been suggested in this thread. Not sure how many were actually submitted though.

 

[Triss]

I found another site with a bit more information about Deanna, including some possible contact after 1990. The contact is NOT confirmed, however, and the details all seem fairly sketchy, including if she had tattoos, and when she got tattoos, as they appear to possibly be linked to a visit with a relative years after she vanished.

Her sister is still alive and actively looking for her per this link. There is also an additional photo.

Personally, I find it really unusual for a twin, especially one so young, to cut all ties with her twin sister. It sounds like the girls had a close relationship even if the family situation was not ideal. Maybe if her sister is around she will find this thread, and perhaps she would remember if Deanna had a bunny shirt?

Deanna Michelle Merryfield

View attachment 316200View attachment 316201

I can definitely see the resemblance, good find!

 

[HopeRains]

I will look for her until I can no longer look. Keeping the faith that genetic genealogy resources can be utilized and bring forth her name. Always with Hope <3