Resolved PA - Philadelphia, Delaware River, *GRAPHIC*, WhtFem 20-40, UP62263, 'Oakville Grocery' bag, Dec'19

[Mandibees]

The missing poster on Pinterest has her age wrong. Born in '79, missing in 2019. She'd be just a few months shy of her 40th birthday, not 28.

Anyway, pretty sure this is her. Same birth date. Appears to be on the lam.

MODOC Offender Search

Amber Leigh Crouch | District 25 Probation & Parole - Csc | Missouri Inmates & Offenders

VERY good catch!! I didn’t even notice that!! Oh and I never saw the inmate info in a search for her name!

 

[CCJD]

Info on Amber is current as of 6/10/2020

 

[UnlicensedPI]

Amber has an eyebrow piercing and multiple tattoos. Not our UID.

 

[SisterGrimm]

Info on Amber is current as of 6/10/2020

That's a really good find but I'm just not sure. Our Jane Doe has very high cheek bones. Amber looks like her but Doe's lower eye lids are smaller than Amber's.
One thing I want to note is that Jane Doe had excellent skin. Barely any wrinkles and old earring piercings. I didn't see an eyebrow piercing though.

Another thing is that her lips are either swollen or possibly plastic surgery. I couldn't help but think of that when making the recon so I made them the same size as her pm.

 

[bombardier]

That's a really good find but I'm just not sure. Our Jane Doe has very high cheek bones. Amber looks like her but Doe's lower eye lids are smaller than Amber's.
One thing I want to note is that Jane Doe had excellent skin. Barely any wrinkles and old earring piercings. I didn't see an eyebrow piercing though.

Another thing is that her lips are either swollen or possibly plastic surgery. I couldn't help but think of that when making the recon so I made them the same size as her pm.

i was going to say the swollen lips were from postmortem changes but youre right, she might have had lip fillers or something during life!
as a reference i looked for PM photos on NamUs of those who died in the water, i think its good to know common characteristics so you can guess what features happened after death vs what features they had in life - out of respect i won't post them directly but ill link the photos instead. 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 /14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19. id say those who look to have started decomposing like #3, 4, 7, 14 and 8 have all-over puffiness that's not concentrated to the lips (except maybe #11?). the mouth/jaw looking off-kilter seems to be common so i wouldn't say it indicates past injury. one interesting thing is i didn't see any people with the random looking mottling/bruising that this UID has, so it is making me wonder if she was already injured when she entered the water or if her face was smashing against things in the river.

 

[SisterGrimm]

i was going to say the swollen lips were from postmortem changes but youre right, she might have had lip fillers or something during life!
as a reference i looked for PM photos on NamUs of those who died in the water, i think its good to know common characteristics so you can guess what features happened after death vs what features they had in life - out of respect i won't post them directly but ill link the photos instead. 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 /14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19. id say those who look to have started decomposing like #3, 4, 7, 14 and 8 have all-over puffiness that's not concentrated to the lips (except maybe #11?). the mouth/jaw looking off-kilter seems to be common so i wouldn't say it indicates past injury. one interesting thing is i didn't see any people with the random looking mottling/bruising that this UID has, so it is making me wonder if she was already injured when she entered the water or if her face was smashing against things in the river.

I'm glad you see it too. Thank you for pm comparisons.
I was thinking that she could have fallen and hit rocks while drowning in the water. It seems practical with so much bruising and red marks on her face. I wonder if she fell face first and hit her nose. That could have easily knocked her out with that kind of bruising. The only reason I could see her tying some type of lunch bag or any bag to herself is if she was hiking or walking a long distance. Honestly that's what I do if I don't have a backpack or something.
Another thing I want to add is that Jane Doe has a pretty big red mark on her forehead that could indicate that she hit her head pretty bad if she fell.

 

[SisterGrimm]

NamUs description:
Misc: Decedent had an Oakville Grocery fabric lunch bag tied to her. Oakville only has locations in CA.
On the Body

I just wanted to add that Oakville Grocery bags look like this. Kind of like a Trader Joes or Farmers Market type of store. I didn't see a specific lunch bag type but I assume it's pretty standard.

 

[bombardier]

i feel like this woman has not been reported missing yet... if she is homeless/a transient and her family doesn't expect her to contact them she might never be her outfit does seem like a joggers which makes me think she wasnt a transient but thats only speculation.

 

[SisterGrimm]

i feel like this woman has not been reported missing yet... if she is homeless/a transient and her family doesn't expect her to contact them she might never be her outfit does seem like a joggers which makes me think she wasnt a transient but thats only speculation.

If she shopped at Oakville Grocery stores than she probably had money to be honest. She could have been visiting the area. If she was at a hotel they might have thrown her stuff away.

 

[PayrollNerd]

NamUs description:
Misc: Decedent had an Oakville Grocery fabric lunch bag tied to her. Oakville only has locations in CA.
On the Body

I just wanted to add that Oakville Grocery bags look like this. Kind of like a Trader Joes or Farmers Market type of store. I didn't see a specific lunch bag type but I assume it's pretty standard.

Early on in the thread there was a number of posts regarding the bag. It is possible this was what was used to make the marks on her neck as mentioned previously. A perp sliding a bag over her head and tying it around to strangle her type thing.

On their website they have a few different bags, like for wine, reusable shopping bags, canvas tote, etc. So when they say lunch bag, I wonder if that is just the only term they could come up with to describe it. As if they recognized it was not a reusable shopping bag.

In prior jobs, I have been given marketing "swag" with the company logo. Most people would think T-shirt or a pen. However, I had an insulated lunch "box" or "bag" but it looked like a small soft sided personal cooler.

Perhaps she went to CA over Thanksgiving to visit friends or family. She brought the bag back with her. Maybe someone mailed her a gift from the store and the bag was part of it, like the wine bag.

Oakville Grocery - Kitchen & Home

 

[sandydanny]

I'm from Philly so came across this case. Her body was found in the Delaware River off of an area of the city that is extremely ridden with opioid addiction. The waterfront is industrial and in decay, probably not a great place for a run (though of course she could have been carried by the river, but I doubt too far considering her state – it's still Northeast Philly for miles up).

Here is a 2018 New York Times feature on the Kensington area & its open-air narcotics market: Trapped by the 'Walmart of Heroin.' It is well known as a heroin hotspot so it attracts transients from all over the U.S. My guess is that this woman's presence in the area and her death is related.

I think she could be from Philadelphia or really anywhere from around the country. I also would not be surprised if she has not been reported missing because of drug problems and/or associating with addicts. And unfortunately from being in the area I know that not all transient addicts look like the stereotypical 'junkie.' They come from all walks of life.

Just some thoughts.

 

[jexpar]

I haven't had a chance to read through this entire thread, so this may have already been mentioned, but she looks very Russian/Ukrainian to me. Wondering if she came from another country and her family lost track of her, so she hasn't been reported missing. JMO

 

[Filly]

I'm from Philly so came across this case. Her body was found in the Delaware River off of an area of the city that is extremely ridden with opioid addiction. The waterfront is industrial and in decay, probably not a great place for a run (though of course she could have been carried by the river, but I doubt too far considering her state – it's still Northeast Philly for miles up).

Here is a 2018 New York Times feature on the Kensington area & its open-air narcotics market: Trapped by the 'Walmart of Heroin.' It is well known as a heroin hotspot so it attracts transients from all over the U.S. My guess is that this woman's presence in the area and her death is related.

I think she could be from Philadelphia or really anywhere from around the country. I also would not be surprised if she has not been reported missing because of drug problems and/or associating with addicts. And unfortunately from being in the area I know that not all transient addicts look like the stereotypical 'junkie.' They come from all walks of life.

Just some thoughts.

Welcome sandydanny. Philly girl too. Thank you for posting the K&A information.

Also there's the Kensington Beach Facebook that is updated each day and I believe a Twitter by the same name.

People that do not go to the police will post photos and messages for help looking for loved ones "out there" just asking to know they are alive. You won't find hardly any on PPD missing persons.

Going to read through the thread as well. Again, welcome.

 

[Filly]

So, she has a high-end boutique store bag "tied" to her, and is wearing upscale clothing. The bag is describled as a lunch bag, would that be large enough to actually weigh someone down in the water? NamUs doesn't mention foul-play or cause of death so every possibility is still possible. I'm stuck on why the bag was tied to her. It has to mean something...

JMO well I see it alot. More with homeless/transient people. They'll tie anything to them they can. Keep whatever they have on their person.

The bag? That's weird in itself. Transients don't thrift shop. Hardly ever. We do have good folks, and organizations here that hand out decent clothing, and essentials.

Younger homeless if addicts or not go the backpack root or those bags in the supermarkets are plastic for a buck. I've seen them tied on belt loops etc. So if they're high on tranq dope they don't get it stolen.

This poor lady. Could have been from another country. Got here, and took up a job like housecleaning. Client gave her the upscale stuff? Fishtown is gentrified, and by the river? Kind people with loot.

Sorry thinking out loud.

 

[sandydanny]

Welcome sandydanny. Philly girl too. Thank you for posting the K&A information.

Also there's the Kensington Beach Facebook that is updated each day and I believe a Twitter by the same name.

People that do not go to the police will post photos and messages for help looking for loved ones "out there" just asking to know they are alive. You won't find hardly any on PPD missing persons.

Going to read through the thread as well. Again, welcome.

.

Thanks for the welcome! I know the Kensington Beach Instagram (will check out the other presences) and was actually thinking some searches on there 2019 and before might offer a small chance of featuring this woman. Or at least something to keep an eye on in case someone does come around inquiring.

I'm assuming there was a toxicology report on her just not available publicly ...

The bag perplexes me too. And my first thought went to Fishtown as well and the gentrification that is creeping up in Kensington. Maybe a find? I have left stuff I don't need out on my stoop for passersby (I'm far from K&A though). I think you're right about why she might have it securely attached to her.

 

[sandydanny]

I haven't had a chance to read through this entire thread, so this may have already been mentioned, but she looks very Russian/Ukrainian to me. Wondering if she came from another country and her family lost track of her, so she hasn't been reported missing. JMO

She was found in the Delaware right off of a Polish neighborhood (Port Richmond) and there is a large Russian immigrant population in the neighborhoods just north so a possibility for sure.

 

[Filly]

If she was hiking or collecting something, such as shells or mushrooms I can see why she would tie the bag to her person. Those are just examples. What would someone collect nearby?

By the Delaware? Anything salvageable. Unless you're one of them city foragers even they wouldn't gather and eat anything there.

There's nasty stuff up on them banks from used needles etc. Except IF she was by Penn Treaty Park looking for arrowheads or anything Native American. Alot has been dug up there. The Leni Lenape were gatherers. It was actually a beautiful river.

Hope that helps a little.

 

[Filly]

She was found in the Delaware right off of a Polish neighborhood (Port Richmond) and there is a large Russian immigrant population in the neighborhoods just north so a possibility for sure.

Oh like by The Betsy Ross Bridge? Or closer to Bridesburg maybe.

You're right! Alot of the Polish, Yukranians etc. take up cleaning jobs when they get here.

Sorry I was thinking more Fishtown. You're on to something.

Port Richmond really changed. I enjoy Czwerski's (sic), and Stocks. Just saying. Thanks for the good lookouts!

 

[Filly]

Sorry for busting into thread. I'm nowhere near as good as you all with The Unidentified.

Our new member sandyanddanny I believe is on to something. Port Richmond was our Polish Neighborhood. Alot of folks have moved, but if you didn't come out everyday with your broom and clean your sidewalk you got the evil eye. Meaning everyone knew everyone.

This woman was possibly sent for like old time mail order brides? Hired for housekeeping? My own Ukranian neighbors do this. If done illegal or some guy sent for her from another country and hurt her then who would ID her?

Sadly, the only other thing I can think of is prostitution but the girls down by K&A or Lehigh Avenue wouldn't be in jogging outfits.

The gentrification is crazy moving up in places you couldn't get off the El stops there. Could she have went with the tide, and is from out of the country and stopped in California thus the bag? And thought it safe to jog from a gentrifying hood she moved to?

Everyone thank you for caring about this woman!

 

[BethAnn777]

Can someone please post the rule-outs listed please? I don’t have access to look for myself.