Identified! TN - Cheatham Co, WhtFem 14-20, 566UFTN, poss hitchhiker, cross bite, poor dental care, Oct'81 - Linda Sue Karnes

[MadMcGoo]

I too think she looks very much like the NCMEC reconstruction. Such a sweet smile. @Nancy Drew RN good finds! I think it's possible Linda could have been one of the runaways. The timing certainly fits.

I'm glad she finally has her name back. Rest peacefully now Linda.

 

[sasha17]

While looking for articles on the Girls Home, I found this police blotter report from April 1981. Someone has reported four 15 year old runaways from the home, on April 4, 1981, who left in a red Buick. Linda would have been 15 then (turning 15 in August). Could she have been one of these girls?

15 year old runaways from Montgomery County Girls Home 6 April 1981

Clipping found in The Leaf-Chronicle published in Clarksville, Tennessee on 4/6/1981. 15 year old runaways from Montgomery County Girls Home 6 April 1981

www.newspapers.com

Some further digging suggests that the child paired with her in the earlier articles was a slightly (1964) younger brother. He unfortunately passed away in 2001 in the Tampa area. Linda is not mentioned as surviving or predeceasing him in his obituary, but neither are their parents or various other relatives.

I’m no longer able to edit it, but several of my links are fluky above—the copy function on Newspapers was acting up. I’ll try to fix later on a proper computer.

Great find. I wonder what became of the other runaways?

I also thought it was interesting that so much of the history shows she lived in Ohio and then Tennessee, right? Her Doe Network page says: "Chemical isotope testing indicated the female was not native to Tennessee and had not spent a significant amount of time in the state. She most likely was born in southern Florida or central Texas and later spent several years preceding her death in the Midwest." She was not native to TN and did spend time in the midwest, but I wonder why the chemical tests showed Florida and Texas?

 

[AliceInPain]

"Chemical isotope testing indicated the female was not native to Tennessee and had not spent a significant amount of time in the state. She most likely was born in southern Florida or central Texas and later spent several years preceding her death in the Midwest."

sbm bbm I just read that too. Looks like she was in fact born in Ohio and grew up in Tennessee until her death.
I don't trust isotope test results for UIDs. How can you see from someone's diet/water intake where someone is from when millions of people today only eat imported food bought in supermarkets and don't drink water. imo.

RIP Linda

 

[Nancy Drew RN]

sbm bbm I just read that too. Looks like she was in fact born in Ohio and grew up in Tennessee until her death.
I don't trust isotope test results for UIDs. How can you see from someone's diet/water intake where someone is from when millions of people today only eat imported food bought in supermarkets and don't drink water. imo.

RIP Linda

I realize that without seeing the mapping, we are often only told of the most likely places someone could be from, without listing every other little place that could have a similar distribution of minerals. But I have to say, more often than not, the isotopes are off enough to not be helpful. She was found about 39 miles from the Montgomery County Girls Home, and a similar distance to other locations associated with her family (Cunningham, Shiloh, etc.), where she had been living since she was two years old.

 

[chaddylex]

I am so glad she finally got her name back. It makes me sad that another one of my "pet cases" - didn't officially have a missing persons report made.(Seems like many that have been solved through forensic genetic genealogy testing.) I tracked this case in NamUs for many years.. It hasn't been modified since 2021, but so glad @othram did their magic yet once again. RIP Linda

 

[othram]

I am so glad she finally got her name back. It makes me sad that another one of my "pet cases" - didn't officially have a missing persons report made.(Seems like many that have been solved through forensic genetic genealogy testing.) I tracked this case in NamUs for many years.. It hasn't been modified since 2021, but so glad @othram did their magic yet once again. RIP Linda

We are happy we could help. Looks like investigators are now tracking down what happened to her. She deserves justice.

 

[chaddylex]

We happy we could help. Looks like investigators are now tracking down what happened to her. She deserves justice.

That is great news! Thanks again for giving all these Doe's their names back.

 

[AliceInPain]

We are happy we could help. Looks like investigators are now tracking down what happened to her. She deserves justice.

You did a great job here (as usual).
I guess there was no other DNA but Linda's found?

I hope it can be solved, sounds like she was a "lost girl" and whoever the perp was took advantage of that.

 

[arielilane]

Honored to share that Othram was able to assist the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation in identifying 15-year-old murder victim Linda Sue Karnes, whose remains were found in 1981. An investigation into her murder continues.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1691949471511237014

https://twitter.com/OthramTech

After 41 years, Cheatham County Jane Doe (1981) is Identified

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Teams with Othram to Identify 1981 Homicide Victim

dnasolves.com

 

[Nancy Drew RN]

Going through Classmates, the photo they're using is her seventh grade class photo from Montgomery Central Junior/Senior High School in 1978, when she would have been 12-13. She doesn't appear after that.

 

[arielilane]

Teenage Jane Doe identified 40 years later, hunt for killer continues

Linda Sue Karnes was believed to be 15 years old when her remains were discovered in a Tennessee landfill in 1981.

www.courttv.com

last updated 7:24 AM, August 18, 2023

ASHLAND CITY, Tenn. (Scripps News Nashville) — After over four decades of being known as “Jane Doe,” the identity of a teenage girl whose skeletal remains were discovered in a landfill in 1981 has finally been revealed. [...]

As the investigation proceeds, authorities are reaching out to the public for any information related to this homicide, particularly regarding individuals who may have been associated with Linda before her tragic demise.

Anyone with pertinent details is encouraged to contact the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND or via email at [email protected].

 

[Aurora90]

Great find. I wonder what became of the other runaways?

I also thought it was interesting that so much of the history shows she lived in Ohio and then Tennessee, right? Her Doe Network page says: "Chemical isotope testing indicated the female was not native to Tennessee and had not spent a significant amount of time in the state. She most likely was born in southern Florida or central Texas and later spent several years preceding her death in the Midwest." She was not native to TN and did spend time in the midwest, but I wonder why the chemical tests showed Florida and Texas?

I also wonder what happened to the other runaways...

 

[theshadow45]

Linda was found 42 years ago today.

 

[iamshadow21]

Sleep well, Linda.

 

[masquerading]

So glad Linda has her name back! She looks like such a sweet girl. It breaks my heart that she had such a tumultuous time when her grandmother got sick, and then was able to just disappear from wherever she was staying and slip through the cracks at 15. Rest easy, Linda.

 

[theshadow45]

Bumping, today is Linda’s birthday.

 

[theshadow45]

Linda was found 43 years ago today.

 

[theshadow45]

Today is Linda’s birthday.

 

[Friday Fan]

Looking on ancestry, Linda’s dad was from Tennessee, while her mom was from Pennsylvania. They married in 1963. Their marriage notice lists his dad as being the son of someone who has the same last name as Elsie’s son, and being from Shiloh, so I’m fairly certain this is the right person. At the time, her dad was stationed at Fort Riley in Kansas, although Linda was born in Ohio. I notice that Linda’s name is often paired with another male name, which is a variation on her dad’s name—possibly a brother?

In 1967, a picnic in honor of Elsie (woman listed as great-grandmother in above article) and some others’ birthdays was attended by a Linda Karnes.

Linda Karnes (Cheatham County Jane Doe) 14 August 1967

Clipping found in The Leaf-Chronicle published in Clarksville, Tennessee on 8/14/1967. Linda Karnes (Cheatham County Jane Doe) 14 August 1967

www.newspapers.com

In 1967, out of state family (Detroit) visited Elsie and other relatives, with Elsie, Linda, and another presumed relative returning the visit.

Linda Karnes (Cheatham County Jane Doe) 11 July 1967

Clipping found in The Leaf-Chronicle published in Clarksville, Tennessee on 7/11/1967. Linda Karnes (Cheatham County Jane Doe) 11 July 1967

www.newspapers.com

In 1968, a Linda Karnes traveled with Elsie to visit what was presumably another relative (Julian Karnes) in a hospital in Nashville.

Linda Sue Karnes (Cheatham County Jane Doe) 21 November 1968

Clipping found in The Leaf-Chronicle published in Clarksville, Tennessee on 11/21/1968. Linda Sue Karnes (Cheatham County Jane Doe) 21 November 1968

www.newspapers.com

Also in 1968, Linda and Elsie visited a man listed in one of the above articles who was convalescing.

Linda Karnes (Cheatham County Jane Doe) 5 May 1968

Clipping found in The Leaf-Chronicle published in Clarksville, Tennessee on 5/5/1968. Linda Karnes (Cheatham County Jane Doe) 5 May 1968

www.newspapers.com

In 1970, Elsie and Linda were dinner guests, listed as living in Shiloh.

Linda Karnes (Cheatham County Jane Doe) 30 July 1970

Clipping found in The Leaf-Chronicle published in Clarksville, Tennessee on 7/30/1970. Linda Karnes (Cheatham County Jane Doe) 30 July 1970

www.newspapers.com

In 1971, Linda Karnes of Shiloh had chicken pox.

Linda Karnes (Cheatham County Jane Doe) 2 April 1973

Clipping found in The Leaf-Chronicle published in Clarksville, Tennessee on 4/2/1973. Linda Karnes (Cheatham County Jane Doe) 2 April 1973

www.newspapers.com

In 1971, Elsie and Linda traveled to visit a woman listed in the first article.

Linda Sue Karnes (Cheatham County Jane Doe) 10 March 1971

Clipping found in The Leaf-Chronicle published in Clarksville, Tennessee on 3/10/1971. Linda Sue Karnes (Cheatham County Jane Doe) 10 March 1971

www.newspapers.com

In 1973, Linda and Elsie attended church services at Cumberland Heights Baptist Church.

Linda Karnes (Cheatham County Jane Doe) 2 April 1973

Clipping found in The Leaf-Chronicle published in Clarksville, Tennessee on 4/2/1973. Linda Karnes (Cheatham County Jane Doe) 2 April 1973

www.newspapers.com

In 1975, Linda was on the mend after being on the sick list for several days, still in Shiloh.

Linda Karnes (Cheatham County Jane Doe) 24 February 1975

Clipping found in The Leaf-Chronicle published in Clarksville, Tennessee on 2/24/1975. Linda Karnes (Cheatham County Jane Doe) 24 February 1975

www.newspapers.com

In 1977, Linda participated in the 4-H pullet show.

Linda Karnes (Cheatham County Jane Doe) 24 February 1975

Clipping found in The Leaf-Chronicle published in Clarksville, Tennessee on 2/24/1975. Linda Karnes (Cheatham County Jane Doe) 24 February 1975

www.newspapers.com

In 1978, Linda is on the hospital list.

Linda Karnes (Cheatham County Jane Doe) 24 February 1975

Clipping found in The Leaf-Chronicle published in Clarksville, Tennessee on 2/24/1975. Linda Karnes (Cheatham County Jane Doe) 24 February 1975

www.newspapers.com

This is the last mention of Linda I can find.

In August 1978, Elsie is on the hospital list. She’s there again in May 1979, with another newspaper specifying Trinity Hospital. This, coinciding with the last mentions of Linda, makes me think that Elsie was no longer in a position to take care of Linda.

In 1980, Elsie is listed in a relative’s obituary as now residing in Cumberland Furnace.

In April 1980, two women are listed as visiting Elsie in Palmyra Nursing Home. There’s a similar listing in March, August, and December 1981. This is listed as happenings for Cunningham.

In May 1981, Elsie sold land to a previously listed presumed relative. Linda would have died somewhere around November of 1980 to May of 1981.

In June 1981, Elsie’s brother passed away. In the survivor list, Elsie is listed as residing in Palmyra Nursing Home.

In May 1985, Elsie passed away at age 87. She was survived by 22 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, and 20 great-great grandchildren.

Talk about small-timie news!
Good find!


My 1968 piano recital, (along with everyone else in the recital) 1974 HS graduation (along with 500 plus names), and 1975 Dean's List made the small-time paper. But never a relative's visit. I thought our paper was small-timie!

 

[Friday Fan]

I also wonder what happened to the other runaways...

They probably were found. However, I wonder if they knew her?