Another interesting article I stumbled upon during some research. Carol of course is not WCJD but I found some uncanny similarities in their disappearances, not so much discovery or murder.
- Carol was living in San Antonio/Austin areas in 79/80
- Carol had ties to at least two institutions for girls that have been largely suspected in WCJD’s case (and a new one that I hadn’t heard of specifically) All in the same region of Texas or their sister location(s) in Louisiana, also in 79/80
- Carol was also suspected to have been recognized in a photograph of the girls’ group
- Carol came from a ‘broken’ home but didn’t seem to abused or suffer from any type of blatant neglect, as I suspect might be the case of WCJD
- Carol left the PDAP in October 1980; same month WCJD was discovered
- Carol also had recently painted fingernails (WCJD had painted toenails but that detail has always stood out to me)
As I stated, their discovery and deaths are not similar in any way I can see, but aside from that there are quite a few similarities. In fact, the man who discovered Carol, John R. Chesson who was convicted in an unrelated murder, has remained a suspect in her death. My thinking was that possibly they had been at PDAP before or during October 1980 and both decided to run away at the same time? Maybe headed to different places or arriving at a relative’s of Carol and after a short stay decided to part ways? WCJD making her way south and Carol en route to Louisiana. That would explain WCJD’s late October murder and discovery and Carol’s subsequent murder in December 1980. WCJD could also have traveled to Louisiana with Carol and then relatively easily made her way back west by way of the gulf coast cities
Just some thoughts. Maybe they had cross paths at one of the girls’ homes. I’ve read so many blogs about the different institutions and they seem to have been pretty tight knit, some ‘survivors’ even recalled being transferred from one state to the other without notice to them or their parents. For disciplinary reasons or undisclosed (I can only imagine) reasons. There may be something in the names written in Carol’s shoes. They led nowhere in her case, I know, but if two girls could be connected to one place it might open up the possibility for new leads?
This is just a WikiPedia link, as it is what I came across in the first place. I have not done further digging to see if their could possibly be more evidence of a connection...
Murder of Carol Cole - Wikipedia
Carol Ann Cole AKA ‘Bossier’s Doe’17y/o
Found in Bellevue, Bossier Parish, Louisiana on January 28, 1981 (ETD: December 1980)
“Cole and her sister Linda "Jeanie" Phelps lived in Kalamazoo, Michigan, primarily under the care of their grandmother after their mother and father divorced. Later in life,
Carol decided to leave Kalamazoo to accompany her mother, Sue to San Antonio, Texas in 1979 at age 15 but remained in contact with her sister by telephone.
Cole was at a girl's home run by the Palmer Drug Abuse Program, also called PDAP, on West 23rd St. Austin, Texas from May to October 1980. She continued to call and mail letters to her family, which eventually ceased in late December 1980. A location that Cole had stayed after leaving PDAP was traced by her grandmother in Kalamazoo to a home Shreveport, Louisiana. Her grandmother called the residence where she was informed that Cole had departed to attend a party but she had never returned. Linda Phelps and her friend Patty Thorington continued to search for her, but were unsuccessful.
Cole had been previously excluded as a possible identity of the victim by a medical examiner for unknown reasons. Some sources state that
Cole may have spent time at a religious institution known as the New Bethany School for Girls, which was located in Arcadia, Louisiana.
Her sister noted that an image taken around the time of Cole's disappearance at the school depicted a group of girls sitting in pews, one of whom bore a strong resemblance to her sister. Investigators have followed such leads. A woman claimed to have spent time with a girl that bore likeness to Cole but was unable to recall her name. Some also believe that
the explanation for the names written on the victim's shoes as well as the style of clothing may have been due to a dress code set in place by the New Bethany School for Girls.”
“...shoes with the names "Michael Brisco", "David", "Resha", and "D. Davies"”
•I’m also including a few links regarding the “Rebekah House” in Texas and “New Bethany” in Louisiana. Ironically, I see most are related to Carol Ann, that since finding them I had forgotten about (a few I added after following other links on these). Some of these links may have been found on this thread, so forgive me ahead of time. Some of you may not have seen them though so in any case, here are the ones I have remembered to save!
REBEKAH HOUSE:
The Night Wind: PSA UPDATE: REBEKAH HOUSE ALUMNI PLEASE READ
The Night Wind: THANKSGIVING PSA UPDATE: PLEASE READ AND SHARE
Rebekah home for girls survivors
NEW BETHANY:
Survivor Snapshots from Teen-Home Hell
A family's three-decade search for missing Michigan teen turns to Louisiana - nola.com
The mystery of Carol Ann Cole – 1980
New Bethany Home for Girls endured 30 years of controversy, leaving former residents wondering why - nola.com
Friendship propelled 3-decade search for missing teen Carol Ann Cole - nola.com
Homicide detectives refocus on the man who found body of 'Bossier Doe' 34 years ago - nola.com
^^the girl thought to be Carol bears a slight resemblance to WCJD as well, FWIW^^
•MMcG•
