NV NV- Henderson, WhtFem, 30-40, UP403, in shallow grave in the desert, February 1973

[cheemsg]

Another case I'm very surprised doesn't already have a thread:
Her remains were in a shallow grave in a desert less than a mile from Highway 93. The grave is seemingly disturbed by animals, the bones were scattered along a 300-400 mile radius. Inventory of the remains is a pelvis, jaw, portions of the skull, some ribs, and a leg. A clump of brownish red hair was also found. No clothing/accessories.
She is white, age 30-40, and an estimated 5'3. PMI is 6 months.

NAMUS

 

[MadMcGoo]

990UFNV

Estimated Age: 30-40 years old
Race: White
Sex: Female
Height: 5'3"
Weight: Unknown
Hair Color: Light brown or red, which appeared to be frosted.
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown

Circumstances of Discovery: The victim's skeletal remains were found in open desert south of Las Vegas about 0.3 miles west of US 93 and 2.5 miles south of Railroad Pass. The remains were scattered over a 300 to 400 yard radius.

The majority of the remains were in a shallow grave on the north side of Gornowick Sand and Gravel Company road. Also in the grave were bedding and wire. It would appear that the decedent might have been tied and wrapped.

The remains consisted of the pelvis, long bones, mandible, teeth, and fragments of the cranium and other bones. A small amount of hair was also recovered.

Dentals: Available. Tooth 23 mesiolingual rotated. Maxilla and most superior teeth lost. Not enough remaining for significant evidence.
Fingerprints: Not available.
DNA: Available.

 

[MadMcGoo]

This seems like a good possibility: Patricia Weeks – The Charley Project

ETA: I’m submitting this to Doe Network.

 

[cheemsg]

Can anybody check Jane Doe's rule-outs?

 

[MadMcGoo]

Can anybody check Jane Doe's rule-outs?

None listed on NamUs.

 

[heartanium]

Perhaps Patrica Lorraine Gentle? Patricia had naturally brown hair and seemed to have frequently dyed her hair blond. She disappeared from Redondo Beach, CA, which is about an 5 hour drive to where the UP was found.

NamUs #MP76904
Patrica Lorraine Gentle
Date Last Seen: January 1, 1973 (actual date unknown)
Location: Redondo Beach, California
Height: 5'4"-5'5"
Weight: 120-130lbs
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Circumstances: Unknown

Her websleuths article here.

 

[heartanium]

Feb 6, 1973, The Las Vegas Review Journal, pg 6

 

[heartanium]

Looks like Wayne Donald Horton was convicted of murdering this woman.

Aug 4, 1976, Las Vegas News Journal, pg 1

"[Horton] could not remember the woman's name nor the exact date of her murder. Authorities have put the time of the beating death between May of 1972 and Feb 4, 1973. Her skeleton was found in a shallow grave by some hikers on Star Route 5, about 2 miles from Railroad Pass Road."

"[Horton] said he had met her at Atomic Liquors (still in operation) on Fremont Street one night. They drank and danced then went to his car. Here he opened up his trunk and pulled out some marijuana. He smoked some, but could not get her to join him in a joint. Horton said she grew adamant about his smoking, and a heated argument insured. The argument ended with Horton banging her over the head with a jack handle."

"I put her in the car and drove around for about an hour...she was breathing but she was unconscious."

"When he finally found a place to dump her, he finished the murder by hitting her on the head some more. When it was apparent the life was gone from her body he left her in a shallow grave, went back to his car, smoked some marijuana then drove away."

Aug 10, 1976, The Las Vegas Review Journal, pg 5

Horton's address was 3808 Cannon Circle. Looks like the house is still original.

He died in 2010

 

[summergirl1]

I wonder if they ever identified who killed Vicky Price, the murder victim who was found nearby? Apparently it wasn't Horton who killed her. Genetic genealogy seems to be the only way to identify this woman now.

 

[heartanium]

I wonder if they ever identified who killed Vicky Price, the murder victim who was found nearby? Apparently it wasn't Horton who killed her. Genetic genealogy seems to be the only way to identify this woman now.

Looks like James Fairbanks Taylor was convicted of murdering her in 1976, he died in prison in 2014. Not sure if he had other victims though.

 

[Beccalicious]

Bumping