NC NC - Vernelle Pickens, 36, Asheville, Sept 1977

[Moonwalker9]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Demographics
Missing Age36 Years
Current Age78 Years
First NameVernelle
Middle Name--
Last NamePickens
Nickname/Alias--

SexFemale
Height5' 0" - 5' 1" (60 - 61 Inches)
Weight125 - 140 lbs
Race / EthnicityBlack / African American

Circumstances
Date of Last ContactSeptember 12, 1977
NamUs Case CreatedJune 7, 2019
Last Known Location Map
LocationAsheville, North Carolina 28801
CountyBuncombe County

Circumstances of DisappearanceVernelle Pickens returned to Asheville for two days to visit her family, and then stated she was leaving again and going to Raleigh. Family has not seen or heard from victim since then.
Physical Description
Hair ColorBlack
Head Hair Description--
Body Hair Description--
Facial Hair Description--
Left Eye ColorBrown
Right Eye ColorBrown
Eye Description--
Distinctive Physical Features
No Information Entered

Clothing and Accessories
No Information Entered
Additional Case Info

Transportation

 

[glamourkitty1922]

I wonder how she was travelling, was it by car or bus?

This is supposed to be the last place she was at.

 

[luxISlight]

I haven't been able to find a picture yet for Vernelle and I know the dates are close to date last contacted vs date found.
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[luxISlight]

There is so little I could find for Ms Pickens and felt someone should be talking about her.
Here is the synopsis:

“Vernelle Pickens returned to Asheville for two days to visit her family, and then stated she was leaving again and going to Raleigh. Family has not seen or heard from victim since then.”

I cannot find any pictures of her to try and match her description to a possible unidentified. I’m including the link to Websleuths that talks about her but no real leads. Additionally, I’m providing the link go 2 Namus cases, 1 for Ms Pickens and 1 for an unidentified that is similar.

NC - NC - Vernelle Pickens, 36, Asheville, Sept 1977

Namus for Vernelle Pickens
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Namus for Unidentified
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Comparisons:
Pickens left Asheville to head towards Raleigh on September 12th
Asheville is 4 hours from Fayetteville
Fayetteville is 1 hour from Raleigh
Height 5’0 - 5’1
Weight 125-140
Age 36

Unidentified female was located in Fayetteville in a grave near Pine Forest High School on September 15th
Height 4’11
Weight 130
Age 30-40

I know its a stretch especially when the deceased estimated timeframe of death is 6 weeks but wonder if they could be the same person and if the date of Vernelle last seen is incorrect?

Thanks for reading. Please let me know if you find anything more on Vernelle. I’m sure her family has been looking for her but I’m not able go find anything on her. There is more of a description of the deceased then of her.

 

[shooksoul]

There is so little I could find for Ms Pickens and felt someone should be talking about her.
Here is the synopsis:

“Vernelle Pickens returned to Asheville for two days to visit her family, and then stated she was leaving again and going to Raleigh. Family has not seen or heard from victim since then.”

I cannot find any pictures of her to try and match her description to a possible unidentified. I’m including the link to Websleuths that talks about her but no real leads. Additionally, I’m providing the link go 2 Namus cases, 1 for Ms Pickens and 1 for an unidentified that is similar.

NC - NC - Vernelle Pickens, 36, Asheville, Sept 1977

Namus for Vernelle Pickens
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Namus for Unidentified
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Comparisons:
Pickens left Asheville to head towards Raleigh on September 12th
Asheville is 4 hours from Fayetteville
Fayetteville is 1 hour from Raleigh
Height 5’0 - 5’1
Weight 125-140
Age 36

Unidentified female was located in Fayetteville in a grave near Pine Forest High School on September 15th
Height 4’11
Weight 130
Age 30-40

I know its a stretch especially when the deceased estimated timeframe of death is 6 weeks but wonder if they could be the same person and if the date of Vernelle last seen is incorrect?

Thanks for reading. Please let me know if you find anything more on Vernelle. I’m sure her family has been looking for her but I’m not able go find anything on her. There is more of a description of the deceased then of her.

I don't think that could be Vernelle, sadly. If she was last seen on September 12th, she had only been out of prison for 2 days. She was arrested and sentenced to five years for selling controlled substances. She served 3 years. Unfortunately, with those circumstances, and that she'd only been out of jail for a little over 48 hours, I'm wondering if whomever she was selling for prior to arrest found out she was out.

PICKENS, VERNELLE PICKENS Inmate 0323220: North Carolina Prisons (DOC)

 

[shooksoul]

This is a better fit knowing the circumstances, I think.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[luxISlight]

Yeah, looking more into this and getting a subscription to newspapers.com I agree she's likely not a match with the lady found in Fayetteville. Very possible about the Newton Grove one you posted. Are you pursing this and will submit as a potential match? I think someone should look into it.

 

[shooksoul]

Yeah, looking more into this and getting a subscription to newspapers.com I agree she's likely not a match with the lady found in Fayetteville. Very possible about the Newton Grove one you posted. Are you pursing this and will submit as a potential match? I think someone should look into it.

I have not submitted it yet. I honestly just saw this case get some traction on Reddit and came to find this forum, and realized you had posted the same day! I'm hardly on here, and when I am, I don't feel like I'm offering much new. But, this case stands out to me, and this feels very solvable. I'll definitely send in the tip re: Newton Grove; especially since it's on the way to Raleigh from Ashville.

 

[luxISlight]

I have not submitted it yet. I honestly just saw this case get some traction on Reddit and came to find this forum, and realized you had posted the same day! I'm hardly on here, and when I am, I don't feel like I'm offering much new. But, this case stands out to me, and this feels very solvable. I'll definitely send in the tip re: Newton Grove; especially since it's on the way to Raleigh from Ashville.

That's great! I initially posted on Reddit yesterday and took me 3 tries to get it past their rules! LOL

Well worth it, keep us updated. I live in Fayetteville now so that's what drew me to that particular Namus.

 

[luxISlight]

I have not submitted it yet. I honestly just saw this case get some traction on Reddit and came to find this forum, and realized you had posted the same day! I'm hardly on here, and when I am, I don't feel like I'm offering much new. But, this case stands out to me, and this feels very solvable. I'll definitely send in the tip re: Newton Grove; especially since it's on the way to Raleigh from Ashville.

Any updates? Have you heard back? Her NAMUS hasn't been updated with any information.

 

[Beccalicious]

Bumping

 

[Crimhorra]

Bumping

 

[Aurora90]

I just came on here to suggest Newton Grove Jane Doe but it looks like it’s already been looked at! I hope we get some traction soon!

 

[Aurora90]

I have not submitted it yet. I honestly just saw this case get some traction on Reddit and came to find this forum, and realized you had posted the same day! I'm hardly on here, and when I am, I don't feel like I'm offering much new. But, this case stands out to me, and this feels very solvable. I'll definitely send in the tip re: Newton Grove; especially since it's on the way to Raleigh from Ashville.

Did you ever get a reply?

 

[Aurora90]

Any updates? Have you heard back? Her NAMUS hasn't been updated with any information.

A family member has been trying for years to get her mothers photo and identifiable details into NAMUS. I am working with her now.

It appears the the detective assigned to this case, detective Taylor, retired from the department coming on 9-10 years ago. That being said, I have received an update from the current sheriff that Detective Taylor although retired, still works the cold cases for this department. I’m not sure if that means there’s a cold case department or they just gave him those cases to review. If anyone can find any info let me know!

 

[Aurora90]

Question, seeing as Vernelle was previously incarcerated, do they have dentals? I know they do fingerprints but do they obtain dna and/or dental records?

If anyone knows this information please let me know!


Also if there any any rules outs please let me know as well.

 

[luxISlight]

A family member has been trying for years to get her mothers photo and identifiable details into NAMUS. I am working with her now.

It appears the the detective assigned to this case, detective Taylor, retired from the department coming on 9-10 years ago. That being said, I have received an update from the current sheriff that Detective Taylor although retired, still works the cold cases for this department. I’m not sure if that means there’s a cold case department or they just gave him those cases to review. If anyone can find any info let me know!

Sadly, still no picture in NAMUS. Any chance you can post one of her photos here?

Missing Person / NamUs #MP57849

View NamUs missing person case MP57849 for Vernelle Pickens missing from Asheville, North Carolina. Date of last contact: Sep 12, 1977. NCMEC case number: --.

namus.nij.ojp.gov

 

[luxISlight]

Question, seeing as Vernelle was previously incarcerated, do they have dentals? I know they do fingerprints but do they obtain dna and/or dental records?

If anyone knows this information please let me know!


Also if there any any rules outs please let me know as well.

Not certain but researching online it doesn't look like the prison systems had/have good dental procedures. Wonder if her family knows of prior dental work done before she went missing?

 

[alb1on]

Ancestry records suggest she was born Vernelle Harden (or Hardin) on 13 May 1941 to Vernon Hardin (father who died 1956). She seems to have married a Bobby Gene Pickens in Asheville in 1959. He died in 2007 but whether they divorced I do not know. There is a report from the Asheville Citizen Times of 4 May 1973 of his involvement in a drugs case (sorry I cannot copy but it can be read via OCR at Asheville Citizen-Times from Asheville, North Carolina). From the report, which involved a state witness going missing due to intimidation, it sounds as though the drugs involvement of the Pickens was significant and given that Vernelle had served 3 years (presumably 1974-77) I wonder if it was the same or a related case.

 

[luxISlight]

Good work! I hope she is found and laid to rest. She deserves justice.