NY NY - Northport, WhtFem 20-40, UP134470, "H.A." clothing, found in the LI sound near CT in a trunk, Oct'73

[beavt]

How about Sandra Lee Hopler, a college student, aged 18, last known to be heading to NYC from Pennsylvania on 9/29/1973 for a visit. Hair color and eye color in the brown range, but height and weight differ with Sandra listed at 5’4” and 125 vs UID at 5’1” and 110. Sandra was wearing a new gold faced Seiko watch and UID had on a gold faced watch with red strap (attached picture below of what that watch *could* look like) Perhaps she went to the city to elope?

1436DFPA - Sandra Lee Hopler

 

[Periwinkl3]

Interesting possibility. I did a quick search and found her mother's 2017 obituary mentioning Sandra Lee had predeceased her. From that it's unclear if the family had proof or had her declared legally dead at some point.

 

[summergirl1]

Contemporary articles don't seem to mention the initials on her clothing..

 

[Periwinkl3]

Contemporary articles don't seem to mention the initials on her clothing..

See Namus: Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP134470

Crucial information is sometimes published by one source but not another. What's hard for me is that I'll see an important detail and then forget where I read it. I get lucky here because our great posters dig up so much helpful info.

 

[summergirl1]

I just thought it was interesting that it wasn't mentioned in the contemporary articles posted here. Obviously, the info online today is more complete. Maybe if it had been mentioned in contemporary articles it would have helped identify her. It was just something I noticed. Of course maybe it was mentioned in articles from the time not posted here..

 

[Periwinkl3]

I just thought it was interesting that it wasn't mentioned in the contemporary articles posted here. Obviously, the info online today is more complete. Maybe if it had been mentioned in contemporary articles it would have helped identify her. It was just something I noticed. Of course maybe it was mentioned in articles from the time not posted here..

I completely agree. I wonder at times why editors leave out details. Are they told to by LE? Are they pressed for space? Are they overwhelmed and miss things?

 

[summergirl1]

I wonder if they have DNA on her..probably not. If not, I wonder if there's anything they could get DNA from or if they would have to exhume her. I couldn't find any info on where she may have been buried.

 

[Periwinkl3]

I wonder if they have DNA on her..probably not. If not, I wonder if there's anything they could get DNA from or if they would have to exhume her. I couldn't find any info on where she may have been buried.

I've wondered that, too. I would think the Suffolk County, NY medical examiner's office knows.

 

[theshadow45]

Following.

 

[Palisades]

With initials on all her clothes, a wedding ring, and trunk manufactured in the prior two years, I wonder if she was married within the last two years or a newlywed on a honeymoon. I do believe H.A. are her initials. Why would an adult initial their clothes - drycleaner? shared apartment laundry? going on a long-ish trip? Was the "A" her surname by birth or marriage?

 

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[UncoolNegated]

She might have been dead for a while and he needed to dispose of her remains.

They find her in mid-October. Why did the person who put her remains in a sealed (how?) trunk think that was a smart move? She was barely 100 lbs. The trunk was more apt to float than to sink without more weight.

Did he feel guilty and want her found?

Was weighed down by the trunk, chains, and an anchor. Not sure how it started to float if that was the case, unless her decomposition gases caused it or maybe the fisherman who found her managed to dislodge it somehow.

 

[UncoolNegated]

I think garroting as a method of strangulation implies a military background for the murderer.

 

[UncoolNegated]

I do not think this Jane Doe is Hazel Alice Cross. She went missing in May 1973. If we assume via abduction, then it's hard to explain how she lived five months after the abduction and was then murdered in underwear and clothing with her initials on the articles. She never changed her clothes in five months? Or did her abductor provide her with fresh clothing and write her initials on the clothes so she wouldn't lose them at the laundromat? Fat chance.

I think someone murdered wearing clothing that they wrote their initials on would be someone who was summarily killed after being abducted. I think the person who tried to disappear her remains felt very confident that she would not be found or else he would remove her clothing and wedding ring. But if you come across someone else with the initials "HA" who was last seen just before October 13th, 1973, then that would be a great find.

 

[Quilty]

I submitted Helen Allison as a potential match for this UID. Similar physical descriptions are and the initials made it compelling.https://charleyproject.org/case/helen-irene-allison
Age is off, as is the possible eye color, but…

 

[UncoolNegated]

I submitted Helen Allison as a potential match for this UID. Similar physical descriptions are and the initials made it compelling.https://charleyproject.org/case/helen-irene-allison
Age is off, as is the possible eye color, but…

Yes, it's a reasonable guess, IMO. Also, it says Helen was traveling, albeit to Washington, DC. However, just that she was traveling means we can consider Jane Does outside of where she lived. Eye color and age don't matter much for ruling out, IMO. Good catch.

 

[UncoolNegated]

My mistake. Looking at a map, Fairfax and Washington are the same area. I guess we don't know if she was traveling. But still an intriguing prospect.

 

[beavt]

I submitted Helen Allison as a potential match for this UID. Similar physical descriptions are and the initials made it compelling.https://charleyproject.org/case/helen-irene-allison
Age is off, as is the possible eye color, but…

I do not think this is Helen JMO

 

[beavt]

I do not think this Jane Doe is Hazel Alice Cross. She went missing in May 1973. If we assume via abduction, then it's hard to explain how she lived five months after the abduction and was then murdered in underwear and clothing with her initials on the articles. She never changed her clothes in five months? Or did her abductor provide her with fresh clothing and write her initials on the clothes so she wouldn't lose them at the laundromat? Fat chance.

I think someone murdered wearing clothing that they wrote their initials on would be someone who was summarily killed after being abducted. I think the person who tried to disappear her remains felt very confident that she would not be found or else he would remove her clothing and wedding ring. But if you come across someone else with the initials "HA" who was last seen just before October 13th, 1973, then that would be a great find.

I’m not thinking abduction, but rather eloped of her own volition and things went south. But fat chance too.

 

[mst]

I know sizes have gotten bigger over the years but would a 5'1 woman who is 109 lbs wear a size 7?