Identified! NV - Henderson, 'Arroyo Grande', WhtFem UP46, "S" tattoo, Oct'80 *GRAPHIC* #2 - Tammy Corrine Terrell

[Springrain]

The fact that she was last seen in a restaurant at 10 pm in Roswell with an adult man and woman is disturbing to me. Hope her killers are trembling in their boots...

 

[Feme98]

The fair detail and the male-female company made me think of Gerald Gallego and Charlene Williams, i wonder if they have been considered.

 

[onceuponadecember]

Here’s a better version of the photo!

 

[Wossy]

RIP to Tammy, Sherri, Evelyn, James, Pamela, and all the other Does identified this year. Such a joy when another one gets their name back.

 

[Mrs. Badcrumble]

My deepest sympathies to the loved ones of Tammy Terrell ♡

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Henderson police identify teen girl killed in unsolved 1980 homicide


Ugh, how come I get the feeling she was a victim of human trafficking, and the tattoo was her "brand"? It was one of the theories in the old thread.

On a completely different note: Tammy was identified through forensic genealogy before her isotopes came back.

 

[faithx]

Press release from the Henderson Police Department:

After 41 Years “Jane Arroyo Grande Doe” Has Been Identified

Henderson, Nev. – The City of Henderson Police Department’s Investigative Division has identified the victim of their 1980 cold case homicide as 17-year-old Tammy Terrell.

On October 5th,1980, at approximately 9:00p.m., Tammy’s body was located by a passing motorist in the desert area near Arroyo Grande Boulevard and Lake Mead Parkway.

Since the incident, Tammy had only been known as “Jane Arroyo Grande Doe”, as all attempts to identify her to this point had been unsuccessful. The Clark County Coroner’s Office had ruled her death a homicide.

On November 10, 2021, the City of Henderson Police Department’s Investigative Division received a positive identification confirmation, through the use of investigative genetic genealogy.

Investigative genetic genealogy is the use of DNA testing to determine relationships between individuals and identify possible relatives of the unidentified victim. Detectives then contact these potential relatives in an attempt to identify family members that have gone missing.

Tammy was last seen at a restaurant in Roswell, New Mexico on the evening of September 28th, 1980, with an unidentified white male adult and white female adult; possibly planning to leave New Mexico for an unknown destination in California.

Due to the fact that this is still an open investigation, no additional details will be released at this time.

This investigation has been ongoing and active throughout the years, involving the continued efforts of many law enforcement partners and investigating individuals who helped make the identification possible; to which include the Henderson Police Department Cold Case Homicide Unit, the Clark County Coroner’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, NamUS Regional Program, Barbara Rae-Venter and Firebird Forensics, Gene by Gene Forensics, Artesia Police Department, Roswell New Mexico Assurance Home, Terry Meurer and the Unsolved Mysteries Team, and the victim’s family.

Anyone with information in this case is urged to call the Henderson Police Department at 702-267-4750, or to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or visit Crime Stoppers website. Tips directly leading to a felony arrest, or an indictment processed through Crime Stoppers may result in a cash reward.

 

[Feme98]

Enhanced profile photo of Tammy.

 

[Alleykins]

Here's a picture of her from ancestry dot com, which was uploaded 10/19/21, from her family's family tree.
Her mother's obit is also on line. She passed in 2001, but it reads that Tammy survives her. RIP Tammy & her mom.

 

[Friday Fan]

I have a question, was Tammy reported missing?

Since someone remembers where she was last seen, there is a good chance that she was reported missing or at least someone was looking for her.

Like many other cases from that time, the report was probably purged.

 

[AloySobeck]

RIP Tammy

 

[Moonwalker9]

Wow! Identified at last! I said it in the walker county jane doe thread that shes next in lite to get her name back. It seems like every other week we get good news by now. Rip Tammy

 

[Sneaker33]

Condolences to the family and friends of Tammy Corrine Terrell. It would be nice to know more about her before her life was taken. I hope those responsible for her disappearance and murder are found and held responsible.

 

[faithx]

From NCMEC's "Help ID Me" Facebook page:

#IDENTIFIED AFTER 41 YEARS

The Henderson Police Department in Nevada has announced the identification of a female homicide victim found deceased in 1980 as 17-year-old Tammy Corrine Terrell.

Tammy was identified through collaborative efforts between genealogist Barbara Rae-Venter and investigators from the Henderson Police Department using advanced DNA testing.

The investigation revealed that Tammy was suspected to have gone missing from the Roswell State Fair in September 1980. She was last seen at a restaurant in Roswell, New Mexico on the evening of September 28th, 1980, with an unidentified white male adult and white female adult; possibly planning to leave New Mexico for an unknown destination in California. Tammy was reported missing to police, but was unfortunately found deceased near Henderson, Nevada the following month. Investigators learned that that Tammy was sadly a victim of sex trafficking and was dealing with a variety of personal struggles.

While we now know who Tammy is, the investigation surrounding the circumstances of her death continues. Anyone who knew Tammy or may have information related to the investigation, please contact the Henderson Police Department at 702-267-4750, or to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555.

For more information click here: Henderson police identify teen murdered in 1980 | KLAS

 

[cvaldez1975]

the california connection makes gerald and charlene gallego even more interesting.... where were they then?

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Rest in peace, Tammy Terrell

 

[Owen4195]

Henderson police department thanked many individuals and organisations for their help in Tammy’s identification, including “Roswell New Mexico Assurance Home” as per their Facebook post. A quick google search tells me this is a home for “troubled and abused teens”. Seems like another sad case of youths removed from the family home

 

[cvaldez1975]

so, they were active at that time and this murder was between a few of the last victims

Gerald and Charlene Gallego - Wikipedia

 

[sunnynz]

Henderson police department thanked many individuals and organisations for their help in Tammy’s identification, including “Roswell New Mexico Assurance Home” as per their Facebook post. A quick google search tells me this is a home for “troubled and abused teens”. Seems like another sad case of youths removed from the family home

Gosh yes, so sad and shades of WCJD.

Condolences to Tammy's family. Now I hope her killer/s is/are brought o justice.

You can really see how a teen in this situation would have been very vulnerable to offers of a trip to California with an older couple who may have promised her all kinds of things.

What I don't understand, is if she'd been sex trafficked, wouldn't she be more valuable alive than dead.

 

[Springrain]

Tammy was reported missing to police, but was unfortunately found deceased near Henderson, Nevada the following month. Investigators learned that that Tammy was sadly a victim of sex trafficking and was dealing with a variety of personal struggles.

So horrible. Poor, poor Tammy. That is horrendous. I wonder had she been trafficked before her disappearance?

so, they were active at that time and this murder was between a few of the last victims

Gerald and Charlene Gallego - Wikipedia

Very interesting. They are definitely looking like possibilities here. Sounds like their MO. I wonder if they lured her to California, then kept and tortured her for a week or so and then disposed of her in Nevada.

 

[Mrs. Badcrumble]

..and then there were none.

ETA: For some reason, WS won't copy over the new updated poster, but here's the Wikipedia URL to the file:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe...Grande_-_Walker_Co_-_Buckskin_Girl_Poster.jpg

Investigators learned that that Tammy was sadly a victim of sex trafficking and was dealing with a variety of personal struggles.

rsbm.
ooof, I had a feeling this was the case per my last post. Poor little one. Could be quite possible she was killed when resisting and fighting back. Hopefully, her identification might bring POIs into light, or jogs someone's memory.