Identified! PA - Fort Indiantown Gap, WhtFem 12-20, 609UFPA, extensive dental work, covered w/ plastic, Oct'73 Ruth Elizabeth Brenneman

[CCJD]

Ruth left for school one morning at the start of the 1973 school year but never returned home. It remains under investigation whether she ever made it to school.

Remains found in 1973 now determined to be from missing teen girl - UPI.com

Human remains found under a plastic tarp and brush in 1973 have now been determined to belong to Ruth Elizabeth Brenneman, a 14-year-old girl from York who went missing that year.

www.upi.com

 

[Trino]

Ruth left for school one morning at the start of the 1973 school year but never returned home. It remains under investigation whether she ever made it to school.

Remains found in 1973 now determined to be from missing teen girl - UPI.com

Human remains found under a plastic tarp and brush in 1973 have now been determined to belong to Ruth Elizabeth Brenneman, a 14-year-old girl from York who went missing that year.

www.upi.com

If she disappeared on her way to school or on her return, don't we still think it's a homicide? Didn't the school have records if she was in school that date or wouldn't some classmate remember? Odd.

 

[DD Byrd]

If she disappeared on her way to school or on her return, don't we still think it's a homicide? Didn't the school have records if she was in school that date or wouldn't some classmate remember? Odd.

I think we do think it's a homicide. The point is she could have disappeared as a runaway, kidnapping, misadventure, etc. But homicide is a manner of death and we don't know she died at the hands of another. So as someone mentioned earlier, she could have died from any number of things...went drinking and passed out, aspirated and died, accidently shot herself, fell off a roof, had an aneurysm, decided to go swimming and drowned, was hit by a car and found by a third person who didn't want to be blamed etc. etc. None of which are homicide.

Unless she went into the woods, bringing (or finding) a tarp to get under, then did something like taking an entire bottle's worth of sleeping pills (or other scrips or OTCs), yes, another person/s put her there. Doing so lends itself to a host of other potential charges, but doesn't prove a homicide.

School records would have to be accurate in the first place. As for classmates/teachers/staff, you'd think so. But we don't know if she was regularly absent and memories fade. At the time, one wouldn't be thinking, "hey Ruth is going to disappear, we have to remember this day." That being said, LE has more than has been released, so hopefully there will be some answers.

 

[Mama-dukes]

Remains found in Pennsylvania over 50 years ago are identified as teen girl who went missing | CNN

The remains of a York, Pennsylvania, teenager who vanished in 1973 have been identified through genealogy research and DNA analysis more than 50 years after she went missing, authorities said.

amp.cnn.com

I wasn’t sure what trend 2 put this in if I can get help with that and i looked her name up and didn’t c anything in websleuths so if she in here and just not identified please help put this there thank you

 

[snarast]

I think we do think it's a homicide. The point is she could have disappeared as a runaway, kidnapping, misadventure, etc. But homicide is a manner of death and we don't know she died at the hands of another. So as someone mentioned earlier, she could have died from any number of things...went drinking and passed out, aspirated and died, accidently shot herself, fell off a roof, had an aneurysm, decided to go swimming and drowned, was hit by a car and found by a third person who didn't want to be blamed etc. etc. None of which are homicide.

Unless she went into the woods, bringing (or finding) a tarp to get under, then did something like taking an entire bottle's worth of sleeping pills (or other scrips or OTCs), yes, another person/s put her there. Doing so lends itself to a host of other potential charges, but doesn't prove a homicide.

School records would have to be accurate in the first place. As for classmates/teachers/staff, you'd think so. But we don't know if she was regularly absent and memories fade. At the time, one wouldn't be thinking, "hey Ruth is going to disappear, we have to remember this day." That being said, LE has more than has been released, so hopefully there will be some answers.

Well, PA actually has a history of deeming murders suicides if they are unable to solve the homicide - referring to Ellen Greenberg here.

Of course Ruth died at the hands of another.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

If she left for school and never came home, her caregivers would have surely found out from the school if she made it there. They would have talked to her friends, searched for her around the neighborhood. They would have talked to police. If those things didn't happen, something was very wrong.

I agree LE might have not taken it seriously in 1973, but if no one in her family ever contacted LE about it again later, that also saddens me.

 

[Alleykins]

I was wondering the same thing. I am so glad she finally got her name back, but makes me sad that she wasn't identified a long time ago.

Same, Chaddylex. Same.

 

[theshadow45]

RIP Ruth. Today is her birthday.

 

[Alleykins]

Happy Birthday, Ruth. Grateful you have your name and your family back.

 

[Friday Fan]

She may have had a history of running away. But maybe not. But it does seem many of our young UIDs have histories of running away. If that was the case, LE would not have taken the case seriously or the parents may have been reluctant to report her missing at the time. She may have been in a relationship etc. We don't know. The odds are if police were contacted, it was dismissed as a runaway. Her parents are likely no longer alive to tell the details.
Even if LE did take a report, it was probably purged when she turned 18.

The family states she disappeared around the beginning of the school year. (A stressful time for many)

 

[bev1228]

The Doe Network:
Case File 609UFPA 609UFPA

Reconstruction of Victim

Unidentified White Female

The victim was discovered on October 10, 1973 in Fort Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, Pennsylvania
Estimated Date of Death: September 1973
Decomposed from the waist up.

Vital Statistics

Estimated age: 16-20 years old
Approximate Height and Weight: 5'6"-5'8"
Distinguishing Characteristics: Light brown/blonde hair.
Dentals: Available
Clothing: Nude. No jewelry
Skeletal Findings: No previous fractures.
Fingerprints: Available
Dentals: Available
DNA: Not Available

Case History
Remains were not buried but covered with tree branches, brush and a 48"x32.5" piece of plastic.
A white seal on the plastic read "National Sanitation Foundation, Testing Laboratory, Number "8505".

<MOD NOTE: Several original links throughout the thread were broken and have been edited to include the current link (when available) and images as of January 16, 2024>

There is very little on Ruth Elizabeth Brenneman. I went thru Ancestry and found nothing so far on her. It took awhile but using her birth date and comparing it to news articles from York PA from 11.26.1958 to 12.3.1958, I was able to find Elizabeth's birth announcement published on November 28, 1958, She was for sure born in York to Mr. and Mrs. Richard W Brenneman. They were living at 512 Duke St. There are at least two Richard W Brenneman in the area and Brenneman is a very common last name for the York, Lancaster Counties. Also found her body was discovered off Moonshine Road, a few feet off the corner of New Ridge and Tomston Road on Oct 10, 1973. Estimated the body had been there between one and three weeks before it was discovered. I also just found an article about the isotopes. They say she could have been born in the south south east covering states to include TX OK DE VA Etc. BUT could it be she may have visited one of those areas shortly before disappearing? The York Newspaper gives the birth of a girl to Richard W Brenneman and Mrs. Brenneman on Nov 28, 1858 IN YORK.

 

[bev1228]

The Doe Network:
Case File 609UFPA 609UFPA

Reconstruction of Victim

Unidentified White Female

The victim was discovered on October 10, 1973 in Fort Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, Pennsylvania
Estimated Date of Death: September 1973
Decomposed from the waist up.

Vital Statistics

Estimated age: 16-20 years old
Approximate Height and Weight: 5'6"-5'8"
Distinguishing Characteristics: Light brown/blonde hair.
Dentals: Available
Clothing: Nude. No jewelry
Skeletal Findings: No previous fractures.
Fingerprints: Available
Dentals: Available
DNA: Not Available

Case History
Remains were not buried but covered with tree branches, brush and a 48"x32.5" piece of plastic.
A white seal on the plastic read "National Sanitation Foundation, Testing Laboratory, Number "8505".

<MOD NOTE: Several original links throughout the thread were broken and have been edited to include the current link (when available) and images as of January 16, 2024>

 

[DD Byrd]

Ruth died at the hands of another.

Agreed. I was commenting that seemingly obvious is not proof in a coroner's office or court room.

 

[Friday Fan]

There is very little on Ruth Elizabeth Brenneman. I went thru Ancestry and found nothing so far on her. It took awhile but using her birth date and comparing it to news articles from York PA from 11.26.1958 to 12.3.1958, I was able to find Elizabeth's birth announcement published on November 28, 1958, She was for sure born in York to Mr. and Mrs. Richard W Brenneman. They were living at 512 Duke St. There are at least two Richard W Brenneman in the area and Brenneman is a very common last name for the York, Lancaster Counties. Also found her body was discovered off Moonshine Road, a few feet off the corner of New Ridge and Tomston Road on Oct 10, 1973. Estimated the body had been there between one and three weeks before it was discovered. I also just found an article about the isotopes. They say she could have been born in the south south east covering states to include TX OK DE VA Etc. BUT could it be she may have visited one of those areas shortly before disappearing? The York Newspaper gives the birth of a girl to Richard W Brenneman and Mrs. Brenneman on Nov 28, 1858 IN YORK.

Isotopes are often often wrong! From what I read it's a bit of junk science based on where food was grown in a juvenile diet. Food was often not grown locally in the late 50s. Maybe 120 years ago, it would have been more accurate. Also there are few locations in the database and often minerals are similar in many locations.

I was born in 1956 and grew eating lots of canned, processed food and tons of cereal. (Like Jerry Seinfeld)
About the only local I ate was tomatoes and milk. Most was produced in another state.

Sounds like she disappeared around Labor Day or shortly after.

 

[Friday Fan]

There is very little on Ruth Elizabeth Brenneman. I went thru Ancestry and found nothing so far on her. It took awhile but using her birth date and comparing it to news articles from York PA from 11.26.1958 to 12.3.1958, I was able to find Elizabeth's birth announcement published on November 28, 1958,

She likely was starting her freshman year in HS.

She could possibly have been a sophomore if her parents had pushed her to start early. Us fall babies started school a year early, but there were requirements to get in early. (1974 grad here)

Either way: New school or youngest student in her class...

 

[Friday Fan]

A Pennsylvania schoolgirl's remains were found in 1973. Police have finally identified her.

Officials in Pennsylvania have identified remains found in 1973 as 14-year-old Ruth Elizabeth Brenneman.

www.usatoday.com

Trooper Ian Keck, the lead investigator on the case, spoke too and said it was a combination of factors that led to identifying the girl’s remains.

“It was good ol’ genealogy research, going out, interviewing family, looking through old articles, public records of articles in the newspaper, as well as court documents,” Keck said.

Apparently there are old articles somewhere.

Court documents could be anything. So I don't want to speculate.

 

[snooptroop88]

There is very little on Ruth Elizabeth Brenneman. I went thru Ancestry and found nothing so far on her. It took awhile but using her birth date and comparing it to news articles from York PA from 11.26.1958 to 12.3.1958, I was able to find Elizabeth's birth announcement published on November 28, 1958, She was for sure born in York to Mr. and Mrs. Richard W Brenneman. They were living at 512 Duke St. There are at least two Richard W Brenneman in the area and Brenneman is a very common last name for the York, Lancaster Counties. Also found her body was discovered off Moonshine Road, a few feet off the corner of New Ridge and Tomston Road on Oct 10, 1973. Estimated the body had been there between one and three weeks before it was discovered. I also just found an article about the isotopes. They say she could have been born in the south south east covering states to include TX OK DE VA Etc. BUT could it be she may have visited one of those areas shortly before disappearing? The York Newspaper gives the birth of a girl to Richard W Brenneman and Mrs. Brenneman on Nov 28, 1858 IN YORK.

Okay, so I believe that's right here:

Blowing up the map to look at what else is in the area:

There's a small airport nearby, Bandigo's Airport, that's open to the public, and private pilots and flying companies do use it. It's been around since 1946, it was purchased by the Bendigo family in 1962. I saw pretty heavy coverage between this airport and Dallas advertised on a website.

There's something of a natural marvel out near there, Boxcar Rocks, with a campsite nearby. They're quite spectacular, also known as Chinese Wall & High Rocks, and they draw campers, hikers, rock climbers and photographers.

I see state game lands, so hunters will be familiar with this area. Sawmill near where Ruth was found. Holiday Inn not too far off. This area is around 75 miles from Philadelphia. about 100 miles from Baltimore, and about 150 miles from New York City.

They found this victim completely disrobed with no IDs on her at all, no jewelry. Had the murder been committed by someone she were extremely familiar with, someone with a legitimate connection to the victim, I cannot picture that person taking this approach. It would have been much easier to come up with some kind of plausible story once the body were found to explain it away. Someone intimately familiar with the victim would have all kinds of options available in terms of "explanations" that would largely shield that person in terms of legality. That person would not need to drive the victim, I would guess by then deceased, 50 miles away to dispose of remains, and that would have been extremely risky for that individual. And if something had been done to the victim in the area of say Boxcar Rocks, again, all kinds of "alternative explanations" would have been available. I can't picture such a person removing all clothing and IDs and opting for concealment. Again, pure speculation & jmo. Removal of jewelry & IDs shows some stealth, but stealth for a murderer who's something of an outsider. 1973 is pre-DNA. If someone with a legitimate connection to the victim really were stealthy, they likely wouldn't have had to go to these lengths at all. Yes, there are scenarios where it could have happened, but for now, I'm approaching it as an unknown (or largely unknown) murderer that picked this girl up (probably?) walking on her way to school. If she was at 512 S. Duke, York Catholic is right near that home, 5 min drive, 15 min walk. Central York HS is much further, about a 15 min drive, two hour walk. West York is a one hour walk away. Which high school was she going to and was she being driven or walking? Bus? Hitchhiking was very common back then. There are about 50,000 people in York in 1970, so it's a fair size and outsiders can be in the area without triggering red flags.

At the same time I'm assuming for now it's an outsider, watching for information about this:

If she left for school and never came home, her caregivers would have surely found out from the school if she made it there. They would have talked to her friends, searched for her around the neighborhood. They would have talked to police. If those things didn't happen, something was very wrong.

I agree LE might have not taken it seriously in 1973, but if no one in her family ever contacted LE about it again later, that also saddens me.

There's absolutely no disputing that, jmo. So watching to see if we get more info.

 

[Trino]

Okay, so I believe that's right here:

View attachment 548301

Blowing up the map to look at what else is in the area:
View attachment 548302There's a small airport nearby, Bandigo's Airport, that's open to the public, and private pilots and flying companies do use it. It's been around since 1946, it was purchased by the Bendigo family in 1962. I saw pretty heavy coverage between this airport and Dallas advertised on a website.

There's something of a natural marvel out near there, Boxcar Rocks, with a campsite nearby. They're quite spectacular, also known as Chinese Wall & High Rocks, and they draw campers, hikers, rock climbers and photographers.

I see state game lands, so hunters will be familiar with this area. Sawmill near where Ruth was found. Holiday Inn not too far off. This area is around 75 miles from Philadelphia. about 100 miles from Baltimore, and about 150 miles from New York City.

They found this victim completely disrobed with no IDs on her at all, no jewelry. Had the murder been committed by someone she were extremely familiar with, someone with a legitimate connection to the victim, I cannot picture that person taking this approach. It would have been much easier to come up with some kind of plausible story once the body were found to explain it away. Someone intimately familiar with the victim would have all kinds of options available in terms of "explanations" that would largely shield that person in terms of legality. That person would not need to drive the victim, I would guess by then deceased, 50 miles away to dispose of remains, and that would have been extremely risky for that individual. And if something had been done to the victim in the area of say Boxcar Rocks, again, all kinds of "alternative explanations" would have been available. I can't picture such a person removing all clothing and IDs and opting for concealment. Again, pure speculation & jmo. Removal of jewelry & IDs shows some stealth, but stealth for a murderer who's something of an outsider. 1973 is pre-DNA. If someone with a legitimate connection to the victim really were stealthy, they likely wouldn't have had to go to these lengths at all. Yes, there are scenarios where it could have happened, but for now, I'm approaching it as an unknown (or largely unknown) murderer that picked this girl up (probably?) walking on her way to school. If she was at 512 S. Duke, York Catholic is right near that home, 5 min drive, 15 min walk. Central York HS is much further, about a 15 min drive, two hour walk. West York is a one hour walk away. Which high school was she going to and was she being driven or walking? Bus? Hitchhiking was very common back then. There are about 50,000 people in York in 1970, so it's a fair size and outsiders can be in the area without triggering red flags.

At the same time I'm assuming for now it's an outsider, watching for information about this:

There's absolutely no disputing that, jmo. So watching to see if we get more info.

Your investigations and scenario are very informative. I, too, don't understand the completely disrobed idea, which IMO must have happened on site. And, where did the tarp come from that covered her? If you recall the Abigail Williams and Liberty German cases, they were undressed on site of their murders. Just cannot see this case being solved.

 

[Friday Fan]

Okay, so I believe that's right here:

View attachment 548301

Blowing up the map to look at what else is in the area:
View attachment 548302There's a small airport nearby, Bandigo's Airport, that's open to the public, and private pilots and flying companies do use it. It's been around since 1946, it was purchased by the Bendigo family in 1962. I saw pretty heavy coverage between this airport and Dallas advertised on a website.

There's something of a natural marvel out near there, Boxcar Rocks, with a campsite nearby. They're quite spectacular, also known as Chinese Wall & High Rocks, and they draw campers, hikers, rock climbers and photographers.

I see state game lands, so hunters will be familiar with this area. Sawmill near where Ruth was found. Holiday Inn not too far off. This area is around 75 miles from Philadelphia. about 100 miles from Baltimore, and about 150 miles from New York City.

They found this victim completely disrobed with no IDs on her at all, no jewelry. Had the murder been committed by someone she were extremely familiar with, someone with a legitimate connection to the victim, I cannot picture that person taking this approach. It would have been much easier to come up with some kind of plausible story once the body were found to explain it away. Someone intimately familiar with the victim would have all kinds of options available in terms of "explanations" that would largely shield that person in terms of legality. That person would not need to drive the victim, I would guess by then deceased, 50 miles away to dispose of remains, and that would have been extremely risky for that individual. And if something had been done to the victim in the area of say Boxcar Rocks, again, all kinds of "alternative explanations" would have been available. I can't picture such a person removing all clothing and IDs and opting for concealment. Again, pure speculation & jmo. Removal of jewelry & IDs shows some stealth, but stealth for a murderer who's something of an outsider. 1973 is pre-DNA. If someone with a legitimate connection to the victim really were stealthy, they likely wouldn't have had to go to these lengths at all. Yes, there are scenarios where it could have happened, but for now, I'm approaching it as an unknown (or largely unknown) murderer that picked this girl up (probably?) walking on her way to school. If she was at 512 S. Duke, York Catholic is right near that home, 5 min drive, 15 min walk. Central York HS is much further, about a 15 min drive, two hour walk. West York is a one hour walk away. Which high school was she going to and was she being driven or walking? Bus? Hitchhiking was very common back then. There are about 50,000 people in York in 1970, so it's a fair size and outsiders can be in the area without triggering red flags.

At the same time I'm assuming for now it's an outsider, watching for information about this:

There's absolutely no disputing that, jmo. So watching to see if we get more info.

She may have been going to West York. I say that based on a wedding announcement from someone who "could" have been her brother. However, his home address in wedding announcement was not Duke St. It was a suburban address west of US 30. The odds are, the family could have moved to a larger home over time. I can't verify that this was her address, but I really couldn't find much of anything and I saw that possible link.

I agree, the crime scene indicates this was a predator. Usually someone known to the person, will leave some clothing.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

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