OR OR - Portland, Willamette River, WhtFem 30-40, UP9599, Road Runner ring, clothes, c-section, Sep'93

[Kimster]

I'll make it easy and get an email over to her with a link to this thread so she can look when time allows.

You guys are doing great! :great:

 

[Neptune]

I found a similar ring on e-bay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Roadrunner-...age-Native-American-7-7-25-Oval-/370661515326


The image is placed sideways on this one too.

Well, I certainly stand corrected on the ring being one-of-a-kind! I do remember the popularity of the SW theme for decor and jewelry and the Hopi roadrunner (and the dreamcatchers) -- but I don't recall the sideways version of the roadrunner.

Her ring and the one on eBay still look very "artisan" to me and not something mass-produced. Would love to know if there was a mass manufacturer of this particular sideways style or if it was a signature style of a particular designer.

What I'm also curious about is the bracelet on her right wrist: Brown elastic band with gold-colored glitter around right wrist.

 

[LotsaLatte]

Well, I certainly stand corrected on the ring being one-of-a-kind! I do remember the popularity of the SW theme for decor and jewelry and the Hopi roadrunner (and the dreamcatchers) -- but I don't recall the sideways version of the roadrunner.

Her ring and the one on eBay still look very "artisan" to me and not something mass-produced. Would love to know if there was a mass manufacturer of this particular sideways style or if it was a signature style of a particular designer.

What I'm also curious about is the bracelet on her right wrist: Brown elastic band with gold-colored glitter around right wrist.

BBM - I am thinking that the brown elastic band with gold colored glitter might be a ponytail holder (Goody brand, I think?). Back then, I had the ones with the "gold glitter" and I always kept them on my wrist when I didn't have a ponytail in. I still do that

 

[carbuff]

In case anybody didn't see this pointer upthread: http://www.kptv.com/story/19482707/cold-case The article includes a video that shows where the body was found, among other things. It mentions that they think she might be from out of state.

 

[carbuff]

BBM - I am thinking that the brown elastic band with gold colored glitter might be a ponytail holder (Goody brand, I think?). Back then, I had the ones with the "gold glitter" and I always kept them on my wrist when I didn't have a ponytail in. I still do that

Oh, good thought. Yes, I used to do that too back when my hair was long, and so did my daughter. Yeah, Goody made a really good quality holder. I had been trying and failing to visualize what they meant.

 

[thess]

Do you guys mean scrunchies?

 

[CuriousHousewife]

Wouldn't it be important to know WHAT KIND of c-section scar? Different doctors in certain hospitals make them one way, some another, especially back in the 90s when it was more variable (I work on L&D). If they can try to narrow it down to an area she might be from, maybe there would be medical records. I wonder if there are photos of the scar because sometimes you can tell approx how old it is, but maybe not if she was soaking in water a while. Also I'm sure they've thought of what i just said and also this, but local and spread hospitals for ALL medical records on ALL women who were treated for fractured/broken ribs maybe in the previous 10-15 years seems like on a cold case wouldn't be unreasonable. Same hospital or area to look at delivery records. Longshot, I know, but there's a LOT that scars and surgery can tell us. Broken ribs, did she have any "hardware"? Sad that no one has missed her at all all this time. I cannot believe they got rid of her things along with her and no DNA?

 

[CuriousHousewife]

After reading it twice, I also assumed the "elastic band" with glitter specks in it was probably a "Goody"-type elastic band like this since I can't think of another type of elastic bracelet that was in fashion and with the burgundy jeans, she seems to be fashion-sensible for that time.
http://www.drugstore.com/goody-ouchless-hair-elastics/qxp206734

They still make them and I have some of the glitter ones from before I cut my hair last year too short for a pony. I had Goody ones in High school too and I graduated in 93. I think they were much thinner and very often had glitter, more than I see now. They would snap easily, but I always had one on my wrist if my hair was down.

 

[deca]

Do you guys mean scrunchies?

I think they mean (and I believe) that it is just a thick rubber band with gold sparkles (foil string) woven into the black band. There is usually a gold/silver colored metal connector joining the two ends to form a circle. I haven't seen this type in a long time. All the new Goodys I have seen are the new "ouchless" kind without the metal connecter.



I wouldn't be surprised to hear that this Jane Doe was on her way to work or had worked that day.
Pro-Wings were cheap tennis shoes made by Payless. Hers were black with black laces. Many places like food establishments require shoes like that to work in. Since she also had a ponytail thing on her hand makes me feel like she was going to (or had) put her hair back to work, also a requirement in most places.

 

[deca]

White or hispanic or both?

I know that hispanic can also be caucasian..

I wonder if she looked "white" or "hispanic". If she was hispanic it could mean that she was a migrant worker and that could explain the lack of people coming forwards to identify her.

But I would think the detectives on the case would have noted her background if it was obvious. Therefore I am veering away from her being a latina.

 

[carbuff]

If you go over on the missing but not forgotten forum, there are so many friends and relatives looking for people who have been missing for 10, 20, 30 years that I don't want to conclude nobody is looking for her.

I agree that she sounds like she might have been going to or from work.

 

[Neptune]

Hadn't thought of a Goody hairband or a scrunchy -- you'd hope someone processing her remains would have known these items, but maybe not. I thought perhaps a cheap "admission" bracelet such as you would get if you paid a cover charge to get into a bar.

FYI I emailed the company that has the Roadrunner ring on eBay asking if they may have information as to its origin. Owner(?) was quick to respond but unfortunately had no history on the ring. Interesting to note the company description: “…procuring and dealing in fine vintage treasures for the past 10 years with an eye for a bargain. We seek out unique treasures and believe in getting quality items to people at excellent prices.”

The lack of info is disappointing but... In 1993, I had taken a seminar called "Learning Yahoo!" and the Internet was just starting to be used commercially. The Fortune 500 company I worked for didn't even have a website -- they were deciding whether this thing called the Internet was just a fad. Interesting to know that people handling this unidentified case and others would have no inkling that one day people from all over the country would be talking to each other through computers analyzing the little information we have on Jane Doe Swan Island. Had they known, they probably would have made more of an effort to preserve her personal items.

 

[thess]

White or hispanic or both?

I know that hispanic can also be caucasian..

I wonder if she looked "white" or "hispanic". If she was hispanic it could mean that she was a migrant worker and that could explain the lack of people coming forwards to identify her.

But I would think the detectives on the case would have noted her background if it was obvious. Therefore I am veering away from her being a latina.

I'm probably about to be anthropologically imprecise, but...

Early in the thread someone pointed out the sketches look like someone who was of American Indian descent (see, I no longer even know the right PC term, much less the correct scientific term). Meaning (to me), from any indigenous people of North America, including Canadian indian tribes. And I do definitely see that in each of the three sketches--which all three look somewhat different from each other.

Herlinda Soto of course looks more Central American to me. But it was the high cheekbones, lip shape, dark hair (which is even parted/cut similarly to sketch 1) that caught my eye, and she matches several of the biographical details (age, weight, height (within 2"), and went missing two months prior to Jane Doe being found. I don't know how much leeway one should allow for post-mortem sketches, so I went with it.

 

[deca]

I know CarlK wrote in another thread that they determine race by different shaped bones when they find skeleton remains ??? IIRC. Anyway, the might not go to that trouble for a recently deceased person.

The reason I am reserved about Ms. Soto is that her circumstances seem way off. But, anything can happen so might as well go with it, I guess.

 

[Neptune]

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/s/soto_herlinda.html

It sounds like Herlinda's abduction was quite bloody. Police stated it was the bloodiest scene they'd seen in years. Her blood was found inside of her abandoned vehicle -- but unclear about whose blood was in the house.

I was hoping this was a match, but sounds not feasible.

 

[thess]

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/s/soto_herlinda.html

It sounds like Herlinda's abduction was quite bloody. Police stated it was the bloodiest scene they'd seen in years. Her blood was found inside of her abandoned vehicle -- but unclear about whose blood was in the house.

I was hoping this was a match, but sounds not feasible.

Thanks, I had never seen that specific article and that quote. I agree it seems thin.

Edit: Oh god, reading even more carefully that all seems pretty unequivocal. And horrible. I apologize if I missed this writeup earlier in the thread.

 

[Livvy]

I wonder if its possible she was Canadian? Portland isn't that far from BC Canada. There were sooooo many missing women in BC Canada in that time period.

I wonder the same thing. Cherokee brand clothing is sold in Zellers in Canada. Actually I have ever only seen it sold in Zellers and always thought it was their brand. Does anyone know which stores carry Cherokee brand clothing in the US?

 

[thess]

I wonder the same thing. Cherokee brand clothing is sold in Zellers in Canada. Actually I have ever only seen it sold in Zellers and always thought it was their brand. Does anyone know which stores carry Cherokee brand clothing in the US?

Target.

 

[Ozark~Mnt~Miss]

Not quite as tall but......what do you all think of this one?

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/c/cross_wilda.html

 

[Ozark~Mnt~Miss]

Here is another one. What do you all think of this one?

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/c/cross_wilda.html