Identified! OH - Troy, Miami Co., 'Buckskin Girl' WhtFem 133UFOH, 15-25, Apr'81 - Marcia King

[dotr]

Alleykins, this is the first i have heard about a witness stating she was seen in a barb bwhere did that come from? She doesnt look old enough to be in a bar, ImO. A super fit body is rarely found hanging in bars. JMO

rbbm
http://triblive.com/news/projects/ourstories/10570633-74/doe-jane-hickey

She was well-groomed, “someone who cared for herself,” said Carol Schweitzer, a senior forensic case specialist for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

Her eyebrows were neatly plucked, her clothes clean, her teeth perfectly aligned and brilliantly white.

But she also had several small scars on her body, including one on her left wrist that was over 2 inches long.
She had been strangled. The coroner also found blunt force trauma to her forehead and a lacerated liver, possibly the result of a blow. Authorities estimated her age at 18 to 24, though Miami County Sheriff's Detective Steve Hickey thinks she looks closer to 15.

“Something like that, it's hard not to make it personal,” Hickey said. “You see her (autopsy) photos and just wonder who she is. It makes you realize, you're here for a reason: to solve this.”

Hickey took over the case three years ago, the third detective to adopt Jane Doe.

The only evidence was her body and her clothes. No ID, no hometown, no known family or friends.
There were plenty of tips in 1981, said Hickey, who hadn't been born yet, but “none panned out.”

“Some locals said they saw her at a bar, but those leads didn't go anywhere.”

 

[Alleykins]

Alleykins, this is the first i have heard about a witness stating she was seen in a barb bwhere did that come from? She doesnt look old enough to be in a bar, ImO. A super fit body is rarely found hanging in bars. JMO

I'm only repeating what the witnesses stated. It's in one of the news articles posted last year about the time they announced the pollen results, I believe, if you want to take a look.
Just to clarify, I wasn't implying she was hanging out in bars. I only stated that she was seen in one. For all we know, she could have stopped in to ask directions or get something to eat, since some bars serve food as well as alcoholic beverages. I haven't seen toxicology reports on her, so I can't say one way or the other if she were drinking alcohol or not.
Since we don't know how old she was, her age can hardly be based on her looks, IMHO. Lots of folks look younger than they are. Also, I went to my first bar when I was fifteen, which would have been around 1981. They were a little lax in carding back then.

 

[Alleykins]

rbbm
http://triblive.com/news/projects/ourstories/10570633-74/doe-jane-hickey

Thanks for bringing that forward.

 

[carbuff]

I'm only repeating what the witnesses stated. It's in one of the news articles posted last year about the time they announced the pollen results, I believe, if you want to take a look.
Just to clarify, I wasn't implying she was hanging out in bars. I only stated that she was seen in one. For all we know, she could have stopped in to ask directions or get something to eat, since some bars serve food as well as alcoholic beverages. I haven't seen toxicology reports on her, so I can't say one way or the other if she were drinking alcohol or not.
Since we don't know how old she was, her age can hardly be based on her looks, IMHO. Lots of folks look younger than they are. Also, I went to my first bar when I was fifteen, which would have been around 1981. They were a little lax in carding back then.

I don't know about Ohio, but in 1980, the drinking age was 18 in many states. And yes, very few places were strict about carding, and many places would let you in as long as you weren't drinking, even in states where it was supposed to be illegal.

I never thought she looked that young, myself. It seemed like she was starting to show effects of sun or outdoors life around her eyes and the corners of her mouth.

Another thing she might have gone into a bar for is to use the pay phone. Before cell phones, it was hard to keep in touch when traveling. You used phones where you could find them.

 

[FigTree]

I wish we had some more case notes for BSG - off to search some more.

 

[DaisyChains]

It is popular around here, horses and trail riding. And cowboy boots. And farming. The country cowboy scene. Greenville even has a "ride your tractor to school" day.
Even today a co worker about her age range had her hair done like BSG. Maybe in other areas not common but here with the farming and Amish/Mennonite/German Baptist braids were not abnormal.
And my cubical neighbors boyfriend was just at a rodeo last weekend. Those get pretty rough. She could have had scars or a broken tooth from that. Not sure how involved girls were in 1981. I could ask my cowgirl friends what they know of event history. It's possible she could have been in Ohio for events then went south for events.

(That's why I've been investigating the circus because of the routine travel her hair showed - fit the Barnes and Carson circus of 1981- could not find the circus posts on here that was mentioned. just iceskating sports)

Ok scars from being kicked while trying to shoe horses... not fun work. The Amish also know how to do this quite well. They start pretty young teaching kids how to tend to the horses.


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[MelmothTheLost]

I tend to think this Jane Doe likely made the buckskin jacket herself or a close relation made it for her.

I've just been wondering about that. Making a garment like that in buckskin with a lining is a pretty substantial project requiring a sewing machine capable of handling multiple layers of buckskin. The fringes looke to be very regular so it was clearly well made. If she was at the lower end of the estimated age range it might be too difficult a project for her to have done it herself, but if she was towards the upper end then maybe not. Was sewing something that was taught in schools at that time or were it taught purely at home?

I also wondered if it might have been something made for her as a 16th or 18th birthday gift.

 

[carbuff]

I've just been wondering about that. Making a garment like that in buckskin with a lining is a pretty substantial project requiring a sewing machine capable of handling multiple layers of buckskin. The fringes looke to be very regular so it was clearly well made. If she was at the lower end of the estimated age range it might be too difficult a project for her to have done it herself, but if she was towards the upper end then maybe not. Was sewing something that was taught in schools at that time or were it taught purely at home?

I also wondered if it might have been something made for her as a 16th or 18th birthday gift.

I've said it before and I'll bring it up again: 4H project. It's exactly the kind of thing that an advanced seamstress chooses for a project if they aren't into designer gowns or business suits or whatever.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

There
was an exact Jacket on Etsy for sale with the lining in tact and the label available, so it seems unlikely it was her handmade Jacket.
This is the Etsy Jacket picture:

It's not absolutely the same though, as the yoko on the Etsy jacket is slopes towards the shoulders and BG's seems to go straight up either side of the collar. It's very likely they were made from almost identical patterns though.

I wonder if dressmakers' patterns were sold for high-skill garments like this to home dressmakers?

 

[carbuff]

It's not absolutely the same though, as the yoko on the Etsy jacket is slopes towards the shoulders and BG's seems to go straight up either side of the collar. It's very likely they were made from almost identical patterns though.

I wonder if dressmakers' patterns were sold for high-skill garments like this to home dressmakers?

Yes.

I didn't make a leather tunic, but I made several advanced garments. Home sewing was still a big thing in the midwest and west in the 70's into the early 80's. (Maybe in other parts of the country too but I don't know about them.).

My mother owned a sewing machine that could stitch two layers of leather or three of denim (for jeans). We knew people who had bigger machines. Farm/ranch people sometimes had a machine in the barn for repairing bridles and such.

 

[rosesfromangels]

All the points everyone raises are excellent ones. Wouldn't we have found some evidence of animal hair or some residue on that jacket?
Which leads me to the question....are we getting too distracted by this jacket? What if we evaluate her sans the jacket. Does that change our opinion?

I will say that I am starting to agree strongly with those of you who speculate that there is a group of people keeping their mouths quiet, and they defintely know what happened to this girl. Out of loyalty, fear, or? It seems impossible to me with all the coverage that this girl hasn't been identified. But then again, look at "Lyle Stevik". Same thing. Out of all our Does, these seem to have gotten massive exposure.

 

[nerosleuth]

Here are two interesting Wikipedia links regarding the Buckskin Girl case.


Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckskin_Girl


Unidentified Wiki

http://unidentified.wikia.com/wiki/Buckskin_Girl


And here are some interesting videos on Youtube about the Buckskin Girl case.


Jane Doe Buckskin Girl

https://youtu.be/yms0OVn80HY


Buckskin Girl True Unsolved Murder Case

https://youtu.be/qE41GuMLWcE


Buckskin Girl Chilling Crimes

https://youtu.be/eoKLN7eImhQ


Jane Doe Buckskin Girl (Who Is She?)

https://youtu.be/CnvpDFR3Ka8


El Misterio De Buckskin Girl

https://youtu.be/dR2-hthDnuQ

 

[MelmothTheLost]

Home sewing was still a big thing in the midwest and west in the 70's into the early 80's. (Maybe in other parts of the country too but I don't know about them.).

And in the UK. I remember my mother kneeling on the floor pinning paper patterns to lengths of fabric until the late 70s. I think it was starting to die out somewhat by then but in the 60s most of the girls at my primary school had summer dresses made (and cardigans knitted) by their mothers. Sewing (and cookery) were taught to girls for a couple of years even in grammar school (the boys did woodwork and metalwork).

 

[MelmothTheLost]

All the points everyone raises are excellent ones. Wouldn't we have found some evidence of animal hair or some residue on that jacket?

Not necessarily if she kept it for "best". It looks to be clean and there's no obvious rubbing or wear on the places you would expect to see that.

Which leads me to the question....are we getting too distracted by this jacket? What if we evaluate her sans the jacket. Does that change our opinion?

Maybe not. It seems to be a quality garment that if bought would not have been cheap. Her grooming and hygiene suggest a secure, maybe middle class, background which is in keeping with the jacket.

I will say that I am starting to agree strongly with those of you who speculate that there is a group of people keeping their mouths quiet, and they defintely know what happened to this girl. Out of loyalty, fear, or? It seems impossible to me with all the coverage that this girl hasn't been identified.

Certainly a possibility, and if so the simple passage of time may bring someone forward once a specific individual or individuals have died.

 

[honesty]

"Truckers friend" tool examples.
A lot of people back years ago made their own, now they can be purchased commercially in travel stores. The last one is actually used for dual purpose. The end pointing to the right knocks tires, the end on the left is used to help wench flatbed straps.

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[rosesfromangels]

Rancher/cowgirl wrangler jeans - check.
Western wear/Indian inspired buckskin jacket - check
Cowgirl braids - check
Boots - missing
Horse gloves - missing

I *really* wish we could see pics of her hands and feet. Even with boots and gloves, a horsewoman's hands and feet would show telltale signs of that work.
One thing I've learned on WS, is that what you can be SURE of, turns out not to be. So while I'm SURE she's a farm/ranch-girl, I'm keeping my mind open.
Why aren't people looking for her? Was she a foster? Are all her immediate relatives dead? It just seems so unlikely this sweet faced girl doesn't have someone missing her.

She was a pretty gal, and back in 81 folks married young. This was most likely a domestic violence situation, as many of you have speculated.
I was also looking at the US's largest horse breeding ranches, and note one of the largest is in Vermont, where I believe our gal's pollen was traced to.
However, this type of horse ranches are "hoity-toity", producing horses that run in the Kentucky derby. I imagine our girl more of a down home rancher, not elite breeding farm type. But who knows. The mystery continues. SO many people have tried to identify this gal. It's mind blowing.

 

[hec60504]

I know some people who specialize in selling vintage clothing in NYC - they said her sweater is machine-made, as was her buckskin jacket. The only thing they mentioned otherwise was the lining of the jacket which appears to be custom.

And in the UK. I remember my mother kneeling on the floor pinning paper patterns to lengths of fabric until the late 70s. I think it was starting to die out somewhat by then but in the 60s most of the girls at my primary school had summer dresses made (and cardigans knitted) by their mothers. Sewing (and cookery) were taught to girls for a couple of years even in grammar school (the boys did woodwork and metalwork).

 

[hec60504]

What would leave that characteristic 'M' shape wound? I was looking at so many of the older 'Trucker's Friend' tools, but none seem to have anything that would leave that mark. To me it almost looks like some kind of nail-puller...

<modsnip>

"Truckers friend" tool examples.
A lot of people back years ago made their own, now they can be purchased commercially in travel stores. The last one is actually used for dual purpose. The end pointing to the right knocks tires, the end on the left is used to help wench flatbed straps.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

 

[hec60504]

It always makes me wonder if the missing person records at police departments from back then were ever entered into the new systems, or just perhaps discarded at some point? I mean, back then everything was on paper and departments didn't necessarily share information either. I mean, NCIC was launched in 1967, but were all police departments online and using it in 1980?

Rancher/cowgirl wrangler jeans - check.
Western wear/Indian inspired buckskin jacket - check
Cowgirl braids - check
Boots - missing
Horse gloves - missing

I *really* wish we could see pics of her hands and feet. Even with boots and gloves, a horsewoman's hands and feet would show telltale signs of that work.
One thing I've learned on WS, is that what you can be SURE of, turns out not to be. So while I'm SURE she's a farm/ranch-girl, I'm keeping my mind open.
Why aren't people looking for her? Was she a foster? Are all her immediate relatives dead? It just seems so unlikely this sweet faced girl doesn't have someone missing her.

She was a pretty gal, and back in 81 folks married young. This was most likely a domestic violence situation, as many of you have speculated.
I was also looking at the US's largest horse breeding ranches, and note one of the largest is in Vermont, where I believe our gal's pollen was traced to.
However, this type of horse ranches are "hoity-toity", producing horses that run in the Kentucky derby. I imagine our girl more of a down home rancher, not elite breeding farm type. But who knows. The mystery continues. SO many people have tried to identify this gal. It's mind blowing.

 

[puzzleme]

I thought it looked like the other side of the hammer too!

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