NJ NJ - Jan Cotta, 19, Wall Township, 26 June 1973

[JillyNJ]

I found an 82 year old Eric Shore on spoken who now lives in Bala Cynwyd, PA. I wonder if I should forward that info to the detective.

Well done. I also came across the same Eric Shore some time ago and found his professional past might have some ties to Jan as well as his connection to NJ. But who knows?. This case is so haunting. Could be any number of factors that led to her disappearance. I strongly feel Jan could have been a victim of an abortion gone wrong. A doctor who may not have had the best interest of her at heart could have played a part. And I also strongly feel there were many girls in the NJ area who fell victim as well. During that time abortions were very "back alley" so to speak. Unsafe and secretive.

 

[Alleykins]

I strongly feel Jan could have been a victim of an abortion gone wrong

That's what I was thinking and had mentioned it awhile back. Roe v Wade had just passed earlier that year but late term abortions were still illegal. I think she would have been right on the cusp of falling into that category. I don't think she would have been able to find a reputable doctor to perform the procedure, if that's the path she was taking. Nothing I've read has mentioned if she'd made it known what her plans were as far as her pregnancy was concerned, though.

 

[scriptgirl]

Were her folks okay with her being pregnant-was it widely known that she was?

 

[Alleykins]

From the news articles I read it didn't mention any issues with her pregnancy but as for her pregnancy being widely known, it didn't appear to be a secret.
Kaylara said she lived in an apartment attached to the barn/tack room, so they didn't kick her out. It sounds like they were okay with it, though I don't think they knew who the father was. This is what I gathered from information on line.

 

[KaylaraOwl]

Yeah, seems like no one knows who the father was. And they did all know she was pregnant.

 

[Alleykins]

Yeah, seems like no one knows who the father was. And they did all know she was pregnant.

Kaylara, when her relative mentioned her living arrangement, did they happen to mention if Jan had a place set up for the baby, too, like a nursery, etc. or that she was making preparations for being a mom, like picking out names, attending a shower, buying baby clothes? It seems she was far enough along to have considered those things.

 

[Jmoose]

I think somebody knows who the father is-a close female friend or sister would likely know or strongly suspect.

 

[KaylaraOwl]

According to the sister in law, the family doesn't know. Her friends haven't told anyone, if they know.

 

[KaylaraOwl]

Kaylara, when her relative mentioned her living arrangement, did they happen to mention if Jan had a place set up for the baby, too, like a nursery, etc. or that she was making preparations for being a mom, like picking out names, attending a shower, buying baby clothes? It seems she was far enough along to have considered those things.

No, she didn't mention any of that.

 

[Alleykins]

I think somebody knows who the father is-a close female friend or sister would likely know or strongly suspect.

That's possible. One of the frustrations her family has been facing (and still is) is that none of Jan's friends are talking about what happened that night, even after all these years.

 

[Pettibon Junction]

Has anyone considered that Otto Nilson might be responsible for Jan's disappearance? He was arrested for the murder of Joan Kramer and even stood trial but wound up in a mental hospital instead of prison. He was also suspected in the abductions of Mary Anne Kelley and Lorraine Pryor as well as the killing of Jeannette DePalma.

 

[KaylaraOwl]

He seems to operate up north from here. That's at least an hour north of Wall, even up the parkway. And his MO seemed to be picking up hitchhikers, and Jan was picked up from her house.

 

[Alleykins]

I hope they followed up on your Eric Shore tip!

 

[KaylaraOwl]

Well, I sent it into crimestoppers and haven't heard anything.

I did find an article on an Eric Shore getting remarried. It said he had been married before but divorced. I can't find a record of the divorce though.

 

[Pettibon Junction]

He seems to operate up north from here. That's at least an hour north of Wall, even up the parkway. And his MO seemed to be picking up hitchhikers, and Jan was picked up from her house.

I'm well aware of that and the circumstances of Jan's disappearance would appear to suggest the perp was someone familiar. But as a known violent and organized serial offender targeting young women in New Jersey at the time of Jan's disappearance, it wouldn't hurt to review Nilson in order to properly rule him out.

 

[KaylaraOwl]

Found a guy who was adopted in NJ, time line fits if Jan were only 5 months pregnant when she left. He looks similar to the pictures of the Cotta family members that I've seen pictures of. (But I could just be seeing things.) No information on his adoption except that it took place in Nov. 1973 when he was about 1 month old. Born in Essex County, NJ. Adoption happened in Trenton. If anyone is interested in looking, or is good at matching faces/family members, pm me and I'll send you the information.

 

[Alleykins]

Found a guy who was adopted in NJ, time line fits if Jan were only 5 months pregnant when she left. He looks similar to the pictures of the Cotta family members that I've seen pictures of. (But I could just be seeing things.) No information on his adoption except that it took place in Nov. 1973 when he was about 1 month old. Born in Essex County, NJ. Adoption happened in Trenton. If anyone is interested in looking, or is good at matching faces/family members, pm me and I'll send you the information.

Great find. Is that something you feel comfortable sharing with her family to see what they think?

 

[KaylaraOwl]

I'm not sure to be honest. I'd like to get a few opinions.

 

[KaylaraOwl]

The following Uids have been ruled out as Jan Cotta.

https://identifyus.org/cases/6661
https://identifyus.org/en/cases/5054
https://identifyus.org/en/cases/1458
https://identifyus.org/en/cases/1567

 

[KaylaraOwl]

I submitted Jan as a possible match for https://identifyus.org/en/cases/11902 but haven't heard back yet.