TN TN-Nashville,2 BlkFem, UP113498,UP113496, bth 20-40.Poss sex workers poss aliasies, Little Bit and Sheila Cummings. Found buried in basement, Nov 1987

[DS2021]

UNIDENTIFIED
Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP113496
Female, Black / African American
Date Body Found
November 17, 1987
Location Found
Nashville, Tennessee
--
ME/C Case Number
87-2077
Demographics
Biological Sex
Female
Race / Ethnicity
Black / African American

Nickname/Alias
Little Bit
Estimated Age Range (Years)
20-40
Estimated Year of Death
1984
Estimated PMI
3 Years
Height
5' 6"-5' 7"(66-67 inches)
NamUs Case Created
December 21, 2023

Circumstances of Recovery
Body found buried in the basement of the house. James Shaffer confessed to murdering the victim and burying her in the basement.
Details of Recovery

Condition of Remains
Not recognizable - Near complete or complete skeleton

Physical Description
Hair Color
Black

Description
Deformity

Medical Examiner reported she had a broken nose which may have been noticeable when alive.

Finger and toe nails
Fingernails were painted pink.

Clothing
blue or black knit gym shorts with blue & white short sleeve shirt
On the Body
Jewelry
Grim Reaper ring- On the Body


Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP113498
Female, Black / African American
Date Body Found
November 17, 1987
Location Found
Nashville, Tennessee

ME/C Case Number
87-2078

Biological Sex
Female
Race / Ethnicity
Black / African American
Possible First Name
Sheila
Possible Middle Name
--
Possible Last Name
Cummings

Estimated Age Range (Years)
20-40
Estimated Year of Death
1985
Estimated PMI
2 Years
Height
5' 8"-5' 10"(68-70 inches) , Estimated

NamUs Case Created
December 21, 2023

Circumstances of Recovery

Victim was found buried in the basement of a house. James Shaffer confessed to murdering the victim and burying her in the basement.

Not recognizable - Near complete or complete skeleton

Hair Color
Black


Finger and toe nails
Fingernails were painted red and yellow.
Clothing and Accessories
Jewelry

Gold braided ring with amber stone, Elgin gold watch.On the Body

 

[DS2021]

UP113496's ring (photo from NamUs)

 

[DS2021]

James Shaffer confessed to both murders. He states they were both sex workers.

the victim JS claims went by "Sheila Cummings" was, according to JS, picked up on April 24th 1984.

She wearing a yellow wig when her body was recovered. The article below states she is believed to be around the age of 20

Efforts continue to identify two women brutally murdered in West Nashville

Thirty six years after a man confessed to killing two women and burying their remains, Metro Police are still working to identify the victims

www.newschannel5.com

 

[DS2021]

The victim, who JS claims went by "Little Bit" was, according to JS, picked up July 4th 1985. He claimed her last name may have been Johnson.

 

[DS2021]

JS has a history of violent crime.

He was given a life sentence in 1971 for a rape he commented, however he was paroled in 1984. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the kidnapping and rape of a teen boy in Kentucky. He was serving that sentence when LE found the girls buried under his former residence.

At one point he was accused of keeping a sex worker captive in his house for almost 24 hours, those charges were later dropped.

Im not sure if he was ever convicted of these 2 murders.

Unfortunately if he wasn't he may be a free man

James Shaffer

Clipping found in The Commercial Appeal published in Memphis, Tennessee on 11/19/1987. James Shaffer

www.newspapers.com

 

[DS2021]

At one point he was accused of keeping a sex worker captive in his house for almost 24 hours, those charges were later dropped.

This occurred towards the end of July 1985, not long after "little bit" was murdered. JS told her that he had kidnapped 7 other women, killing two. He told her he had a grave for her off the interstate if she didn't cooperate.

The charges were dropped when the victim didnt show up to court to prosecute.

James Shaffer 2

Clipping found in The Tennessean published in Nashville, Tennessee on 11/19/1987. James Shaffer 2

www.newspapers.com

 

[cheemsg]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
This woman went missing from OK in 1984 and used the nickname Little Bit

 

[John/Jane Doe]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
This woman went missing from OK in 1984 and used the nickname Little Bit

It's definitely a great find!

OK - OK - Naola Kearney, 30, Clinton, 15 May 1984

No Photo Custer County, Oklahoma 30 to 33 year old black/african american female Height (inches) 64.0 Weight (pounds) 100.0 to 110.0 Hair: Straight black hair with grease and shoulder...

www.websleuths.com

 

[DS2021]

James plead guilty to both murder charges in 1990

James Shaffer Pleads Guilty

Clipping found in The Tennessean published in Nashville, Tennessee on 2/21/1990. James Shaffer Pleads Guilty

www.newspapers.com

He was sentenced to 2 life sentences for the murders, plus 60 years for the kidnapping of the victim mentioned above.

He wouldn't have been able to serve those until after he served the life sentence for the 1971 rape, and the 35 year sentence for the rape of the teen boy in Kentucky.

If hes still alive, he will never see the light of day

 

[DS2021]

If hes still alive, he will never see the light of day

James died in October of 2004

 

[Deleted member 300796]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
This woman went missing from OK in 1984 and used the nickname Little Bit

Was OK Little Bit ruled out? She is a reasonable match.

 

[DS2021]

Was OK Little Bit ruled out? She is a reasonable match.

No she is not, but thank you for bumping this back up!

 

[DS2021]

James died in October of 2004

Felony Offender Information

James Mitchell Shaffer (1938-2004) - Find a Grave...

James Shaffer, 1938-2004 Published Thursday, October 14, 2004 James Mitchell Shaffer, 66, of Clifton, Tenn., passed away Monday, Oct. 11, 2004, at Nashville General Hospital. Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, at Robinson Funeral Home in Ashland. Burial will be at Liberty...

www.findagrave.com

 

[Aurora90]

Are we sure about the date? Surly there's a possibility James isn't being fully forthright.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

Alice Mae Sullivan?

 

[lightofmine99]

NamUs was modified today; still no public exclusions for either Jane Doe.

 

[CarlK90245]

I was asked by Metro Nashville PD to do a forensic reconstruction of Jane Doe UP113496 based on her skull.

Here is what I came up with.

They just uploaded the image to her NamUs page, so I am posting it here also.

 

[victoriarobinson642]

I was asked by Metro Nashville PD to do a forensic reconstruction of Jane Doe UP113496 based on her skull.

Here is what I came up with.

They just uploaded the image to her NamUs page, so I am posting it here also.

View attachment 577224

Nice work!

 

[The4TierBridge]

I was asked by Metro Nashville PD to do a forensic reconstruction of Jane Doe UP113496 based on her skull.

Here is what I came up with.

They just uploaded the image to her NamUs page, so I am posting it here also.

View attachment 577224

How exactly do you reconstruct a likeness from skeletal remains if you don't physically have the skull with you to mold around and make a 3D bust? It seems like a very complicated process!

 

[CarlK90245]

How exactly do you reconstruct a likeness from skeletal remains if you don't physically have the skull with you to mold around and make a 3D bust? It seems like a very complicated process!

I had several photos taken from different angles. I took the direct frontal image and built a face around it.

 

[Caring1]

Deborah Diane Rice (24) missing from Florida end of December 1986.

Doesn’t match the estimated 3 year PMI on JD but Deborah did have a scar across her nose and a gold tooth that looked like the letter “D”. Her height was 5’8” so off an inch.

Jane Doe (UP113496) had a broken nose in life and may have been noticeable. Her gold tooth pictured above in Carl’s recon sure looks like the letter “D”.

Anyone able to find a photo of Deborah Diane Rice?

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov