Identified! PA - Perry Co, Rte 322, WhtFem 15-38, 11UFPA, UP5166. turquoise jewelry, clothes, Jun'79 Doris Joanne Girtz

[dotr]

Human remains discovered in Perry County in 1979 identified as 23-year-old Ohio woman

Decades after human remains were discovered in Watts Township, Pennsylvania State Police announced Friday they have identified the deceased woman.

local21news.com

Pennsylvania State Police have identified human remains found in 1979 as Ohio woman Doris Joanne Girtz. (Courtesy of Pennsylvania State Police)
''In a news release, state police said the identification of the woman comes as a result of the work performed by Othram Labs and the “unrelenting efforts of investigators from the Pennsylvania State Police, Troop H, Newport Station, and the Troop H, Criminal Investigations Section”.

The cause and the manner of Girtz’s death is still under investigation.

Troopers are asking anyone familiar with Girtz between 1977-1979 or anyone with information on her death or disappearance to call state police in Newport at (717) 567-3110 or PSP Tips at 1-800-472-8477.''

 

[SimsGuy67]

Very glad to see this ID finally happen. As soon as Othram got involved I knew it wasn't if, but when. Isotopes were actually somewhat accurate for once, but I'd say it's more than likely just a coincidence. I'd consider the Carl Koppelman recon the most accurate, but of course, thats just my opinion.

Rest in peace, Doris.

 

[Fraize]

Not sure if anybody is interested in this kind of thing, but I did a little Photoshop restoration and colorizing of her photo.

 

[youngsleuth95]

OMG!!! WOW!! Rest in peace, Doris. I hope your killer gets put away. I didn't think an identification would come so soon...
I hope this brings Doris' family some peace.

 

[Vaderman]

Incredible job giving the victim her name back. I'd love to know her story.

 

[sunnynz]

<modsnip: quoted post was removed> Sad that a young mother went missing and her husband never reported it.

 

[sunnynz]

Also interesting that current news reports are using her maiden name not her married name. Unless there is a divorce record for her?

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Also interesting that current news reports are using her maiden name not her married name. Unless there is a divorce record for her?

<modsnip: sleuthing family>. I wonder if she was declared deceased at some point.

 

[SleutherGirl]

<modsnip: sleuthing family> wonder if she was declared deceased at some point.

You have to go through a whole thing to get someone declared legally deceased. You have to go to the police and wait five years(in Ohio at least) and go through the courts. There would be a record of such a thing.

 

[summergirl1]

<modsnip: referenced post was removed> I wonder if she <modsnip> ever lived in Pennsylvania. Ohio isn't that far away from where she was found, though.

 

[DS2021]

It's possible that she was reported missing, but her report never made it into the digital era.

It's also possible someone tried to report her, and LE didn't take the report

 

[summergirl1]

I couldn't find a record of her marriage to her last husband <modsnip>

 

[SleutherGirl]

I couldn't find a record of her marriage to her last husband <modsnip>

Is it possible that it was a common law marriage, or is that unlikely?

 

[LucyOso]

RIP Doris. So happy you have your name back. This is so sad. So many unknowns. I hope Nicole has the support and residency to process grief on this discovery.

 

[LucyOso]

Is anyone good at maps? I can't seem to figure out where she was found. Route 322 eastbound in Watts Township, about 1/4 mile east of the Midway exit along the shore of the Juniata River. This is a really long river, like 142 miles. Just wondering if she ended up in the river elsewhere and was deposited there by currents. Wondering if there are old articles about her missing, presumed drowned, car accident, etc in a different location.

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Is it possible that it was a common law marriage, or is that unlikely?

It's also possible it just hasn't been digitized, or if it was digitized, transcribed horribly. I've seen a lot of the latter.

 

[summergirl1]

I couldn't seem to find any old newspaper articles on her- I tried searching under different names, and in multiple states. <modsnip: no source link/sleuthing family>

 

[MadMcGoo]

@CarlK90245 Your reconstruction was spot on! Even the hair. Great job as always.

Rest peacefully now, Doris.

 

[iamshadow21]

Very glad to see this ID finally happen. As soon as Othram got involved I knew it wasn't if, but when. Isotopes were actually somewhat accurate for once, but I'd say it's more than likely just a coincidence. I'd consider the Carl Koppelman recon the most accurate, but of course, thats just my opinion.
View attachment 596682

Rest in peace, Doris.

Wow, @CarlK90245 , I'm guessing that first recon is your work? Absolutely uncanny.

MOO

 

[Quoththeraven]

Human remains discovered in Perry County in 1979 identified as 23-year-old Ohio woman

Decades after human remains were discovered in Watts Township, Pennsylvania State Police announced Friday they have identified the deceased woman.

local21news.com

View attachment 596675
Pennsylvania State Police have identified human remains found in 1979 as Ohio woman Doris Joanne Girtz. (Courtesy of Pennsylvania State Police)
''In a news release, state police said the identification of the woman comes as a result of the work performed by Othram Labs and the “unrelenting efforts of investigators from the Pennsylvania State Police, Troop H, Newport Station, and the Troop H, Criminal Investigations Section”.

The cause and the manner of Girtz’s death is still under investigation.

Troopers are asking anyone familiar with Girtz between 1977-1979 or anyone with information on her death or disappearance to call state police in Newport at (717) 567-3110 or PSP Tips at 1-800-472-8477.''

They must not have had a photo of her as an adult. The one they used is from Streetsboro High School in Streetsboro, Portage County, Ohio when she was about 16.

Source: Join Ancestry®