TN TN - Nashville, Sulphur Creek Rd, Blk/Hisp Fem 20-40, UP52531, Vandy clothes, Sep'18

[Canaille]

I joined Websleuths to say this. I’ve been obsessed with missing people for a few years now but this one is in my “backyard” and something about it haunts me.

As Lanny said, I think the Vandy clothes are a distraction or she just needed new clothes. Maybe someone needed her to “blend in.” If she were a student of such a prestigious university, she would have been reported missing—even if she were an international student.

The familiarity with the rural setting of where she was dumped suggests the killer was local. Police have been unable to determine her cause of death but state no visible trauma, so possibly asphyxiation or drug overdose. My gut tells me she was a trafficking victim from somewhere other than TN.

It’s my understanding that the clothes she was wearing were not cheap. I read that the pants were a limited edition sold only in the. Vanderbilt store.

 

[Canaille]

Another thing that I recently learned is that the Italian is paternal and the African American being on the mother’s side. I also think the surname Hays is on the Italian side.

I came across an article the other night about how and where killers leave the bodies of their victims. It has me wondering if the perp lives on that road. Also, I’d like to think LE requested any footage from any security cameras along that area. How would the killer know or not know there could’ve been trail cams where her body was dumped? And just how did a neighbor know she wasn’t from that area? Lots of rentals on that road.

 

[redriverblues]

It should be at the top in this video. Interesting too her comment about criminal activity if you do a search on her.

North Nashville neighbors believe woman’s remains were 'dumped'

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Metro Police are still trying to identify the remains of a woman found on the side of the road in north Nashville. Saturday morning a driver found the remains on the 4400 block of Sulphur Creek Road, a shocking discovery for the normally peaceful and quiet area. "The most...

fox17.com

The fact that she wasn’t wearing shoes makes me

It’s my understanding that the clothes she was wearing were not cheap. I read that the pants were a limited edition sold only in the. Vanderbilt store.

True. And the likelihood of being able to find matching items secondhand is low. So she had to be trying to blend in. Perhaps she was staying with someone on campus or visiting them. I don’t know about Vandy’s rules regarding non-students attending parties or events.

 

[Canaille]

The fact that she wasn’t wearing shoes makes me


True. And the likelihood of being able to find matching items secondhand is low. So she had to be trying to blend in. Perhaps she was staying with someone on campus or visiting them. I don’t know about Vandy’s rules regarding non-students attending parties or events.

Is it just my phone or is the video on the news site no longer available? This quote has always left a mark in the back of my head. It’s a long road with lots of rental houses. How could she be so certain that Vandy wasn’t from that area???

"Somebody had to bring her to this area and dump her because she's not a neighbor, she's not a regular in this area at all, because we pretty much know everybody here," adds Britton.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

I joined Websleuths to say this....My gut tells me she was a trafficking victim from somewhere other than TN.

Welcome to Websleuths, @redriverblues!
I agree she might be a trafficking victim.

 

[MamaSleuth5]

I joined Websleuths to say this. I’ve been obsessed with missing people for a few years now but this one is in my “backyard” and something about it haunts me.

As Lanny said, I think the Vandy clothes are a distraction or she just needed new clothes. Maybe someone needed her to “blend in.” If she were a student of such a prestigious university, she would have been reported missing—even if she were an international student.

The familiarity with the rural setting of where she was dumped suggests the killer was local. Police have been unable to determine her cause of death but state no visible trauma, so possibly asphyxiation or drug overdose. My gut tells me she was a trafficking victim from somewhere other than TN.

Thank you for your thoughtful post! Welcome to Websleuths, @redriverblues !

 

[Aurora90]

What about Den'ya Shoharae Mills? #MP151047

Mills is a 7 year old female who was last seen April 20, 2018 in California. She was entered into NamUs in October.

 

[iamshadow21]

What about Den'ya Shoharae Mills? #MP151047

Mills is a 7 year old female who was last seen April 20, 2018 in California. She was entered into NamUs in October.
View attachment 627733View attachment 627734

I think you mean 17?

Good resemblance.

 

[Aurora90]

I think you mean 17?

Good resemblance.

Yes I do. Oops!

 

[jackornaught]

Has this been called in to the California City Police Department yet?

There is almost nothing on line about this missing person.

 

[Aurora90]

Has this been called in to the California City Police Department yet?

There is almost nothing on line about this missing person.

I haven’t but an interesting tidbit that I found when looking into her. She had family connections to Hayes, Butler, and Moore from her father’s side who is African American. I’m assuming they are on it. I might sent a tip to Tennessee but I haven’t had much luck when contacting law enforcement in California with the exception of Burlingame California.

And her father side side is from the Georgia/Texas/Mississippi. A family member on the paternal side is on Facebook and the entire Facebook friends list is filled with Moore, Butler and Mills last names. All from Southern USA area.

But at some point there was a move to California City by the Mills family if I am looking at this correctly.

I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that they’ve already figured out that is Jane Doe is her, but they are just doing their due diligence with DNA and enter entering her into NamUs.

Nevertheless, I have messaged Tennessee law enforcement with this information.

If this does in fact turn out to be Deny'a, in a strange case of coincidence, tragically her uncle was killed by being run over be a car a little over a year later. Jeffrey W. Mills.

 

[Aurora90]

What about Den'ya Shoharae Mills? #MP151047

Mills is a 7 year old female who was last seen April 20, 2018 in California. She was entered into NamUs in October.
View attachment 627733View attachment 627734

I also think her name is misspelled in NamUs. I found this which I believe might be her when she was in high school. Her father at one point was in St Louis. I believe she also lived in Texas before moving to California City. I believe her father passed away which might have prompted moving around. I am not sure.

Deny'a Mills' Vashon High School Career Home

Check out Deny'a Mills' high school sports timeline including updates while playing basketball at Vashon High School (St. Louis, MO).

www.maxpreps.com

 

[Bobban]

Deny'a looks to have an active profile account on Instagram as recently as April 2025 from what I can tell. The photo on namus is from her old facebook from 2018, a person who liked some of her old photos back then are also liking the new photos from the account in 2025. So I'm pretty sure its the same Deny'a

 

[jackornaught]

I haven’t but an interesting tidbit that I found when looking into her. She had family connections to Hayes, Butler, and Moore from her father’s side who is African American. I’m assuming they are on it. I might sent a tip to Tennessee but I haven’t had much luck when contacting law enforcement in California with the exception of Burlingame California.

And her father side side is from the Georgia/Texas/Mississippi. A family member on the paternal side is on Facebook and the entire Facebook friends list is filled with Moore, Butler and Mills last names. All from Southern USA area.

But at some point there was a move to California City by the Mills family if I am looking at this correctly.

I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that they’ve already figured out that is Jane Doe is her, but they are just doing their due diligence with DNA and enter entering her into NamUs.

Nevertheless, I have messaged Tennessee law enforcement with this information.

If this does in fact turn out to be Deny'a, in a strange case of coincidence, tragically her uncle was killed by being run over be a car a little over a year later. Jeffrey W. Mills.

Given those last names are in fact in her family history, I would say this is looking very good for a match. I wasn't able to find much information on her, but I hadn't started digging in either. Good work

 

[Bobban]

Im so sure she's alive and active on Instagram. Didn't take many searches to find her account.

 

[holidayhouse]

The account was made in November last year so I think you're right

 

[Bobban]

The account I found was created in 2016. With the first post from 2020.

 

[holidayhouse]

After some digging (along with evidence of social media accounts) I'm pretty sure she's alive, just living in another city.

 

[jackornaught]

Not a crime to dis-appear. I'm curious why she is in NAMUS?? If it's true that her geneology matches Jane Doe, does she have a sister? Seems like an awfully large coincidence.

 

[The4TierBridge]

Not a crime to dis-appear. I'm curious why she is in NAMUS?? If it's true that her geneology matches Jane Doe, does she have a sister? Seems like an awfully large coincidence.

Plenty of people are found (alive or dead) and authorities neglect to remove the profiles (the investigating agency has to initiate the process).