Identified! TX - Huntsville, 'Walker County Jane Doe', WhtFem 14-16, 91UFTX, Nov'80 #4 Sherry Ann Jarvis

[doyoulovemepfg]

Having one grandparent from Poland and the other from the USSR, and then anglicizing their names, makes me think of Jewish heritage. Also, the fact that both the Z and the B surnames can be Jewish.

I supposed it's not important now Sherri has her identity back. But then you never know, it could be relevant.

Could be, but doubt that would be relevant because Ashkenazi populations would be highly unlikely to be going to the specific area KLZ was raised - at that time and even now those areas are deeply, deeply antisemitic. Based off immigration dates and the census I highly doubt it. As someone who is half Sephardi and half Ashkenazi that's done way too much in public records research this is one that I think can be easily put to rest.

 

[doyoulovemepfg]

From my research, I can say her father (MLB) was from WI, german descendant. He never went TX or CO. He died at OR. Married KJZ and 6 years later had Sherri, then divorced (couldn't find any registry) and remarried with another woman (so did KJZ, with Mr. Jarvis, then divorced and remarried multiple times, at WI, MN and NE).

I have mixed memories about a data stating he was at CA at a certain point in his life (by a census, probably during or after enlistment, had a roommate as far as I remember), but I can't precisely recall it and couldn't find that source again, so I'd rather pass on this one

You are correct about most of what you are seeing about MLB - I do believe there was a census placing him in California but that would have been far before Sherri's birth. If she was indeed trying to see bio dad she would be going to northwest or north central WI, basically off the grid. The letter being postmarked from Denver and the fact she ended up in the Houston metro area makes me think that going off the grid may not be a route she would particularly want to take, especially going back(?) to relatives; it would be more likely she would be sent back to state custody in Minnesota.

 

[Friday Fan]

Having one grandparent from Poland and the other from the USSR, and then anglicizing their names, makes me think of Jewish heritage. Also, the fact that both the Z and the B surnames can be Jewish.

I supposed it's not important now Sherri has her identity back. But then you never know, it could be relevant.

I think they're Christian. Crosses on graves, common Christian first names. They just had some tongue twister names..LOL
The original spelling does not appear phonetic with English pronunciation.
It appears a good portion of extended family settled in this rural northern area, where polka music is the norm.
I'm from Wisconsin and well, now I wonder how many of my Polish friends had shortened names..LOL

 

[doyoulovemepfg]

I think they're Christian. Crosses on graves, common Christian first names. They just had some tongue twister names..LOL
It appears a good portion of extended family settled in this rural northern area, where polka music is the norm.
I'm from Wisconsin and well, now I wonder how many of my Polish friends had shortened names..LOL

Probably quite a lot. Zwierzynski does not roll off the tongue well at all. I don't blame them.

 

[Adrian_Almost_Sleuth]

It is also possible she was in Denver most of the time she was missing, and traveled to Texas days prior to being murdered. She might not have intended to stay in Texas. The theory about running a message or something else to Ellis could be correct, but maybe she did so from a greater distance?

This is a good point. I keep forgetting the Denver detail in her story, as fresh as it is. Colorado is really close to Texas so it wouldn't have taken that long to get there.

 

[Springrain]

This is a good point. I keep forgetting the Denver detail in her story, as fresh as it is. Colorado is really close to Texas so it wouldn't have taken that long to get there.

Denver, CO is just under 1000 miles from Huntsville, TX, so it would be quite a long journey, and probably a hassle for Sherri.

 

[CADwrest]

I’m thinking she did actually get down to Aransas Pass/Rockport and spent enough time there to claim it as a temporary home. But that would mean she “overshot” Huntsville from Denver and went back north later.
Is there any information about when the Denver letter was sent? That’d be a good way of narrowing the timeline down.

 

[yogasleuther]

Hi Websleuths!! I haven't been on here for a while. I am thrilled to death that Walker county Jane Doe was finally identified. They keep on being found far from their homes it seems. Guess nobody knew way back then she could be from Minnesota. Hopefully a killer can be found yeah. I think there was more than one killer from our other discussions.

 

[doyoulovemepfg]

I’m thinking she did actually get down to Aransas Pass/Rockport and spent enough time there to claim it as a temporary home. But that would mean she “overshot” Huntsville from Denver and went back north later.
Is there any information about when the Denver letter was sent? That’d be a good way of narrowing the timeline down.

From what I remember seeing Carl post from her brother, I believe she sent that letter in April 1980.

 

[haroldchasen]

I haven’t done a deep dive into this, but here’s a thought. It was said by her family that Sherry liked horses. So I go to an old newspapers site and look to see what was happening in the Huntsville area in October of 1980.
Apparently they had an annual Texas prison Rodeo held every Sunday throughout the entire month of October. It was held at a stadium at the Huntsville unit.
She was killed October 31 , supposedly looking for Ellis Prison and found dead within 24 hours in Huntsville.
Newspapers called it “ the wildest rodeo behind bars” that “always lives up to its rough and tumble reputation.” Bareback riding, pig sacking, convict bands, bull riding , inmate arts and crafts& more.
It started in 1931 and ran until 1986 to raise funds for inmates educational and recreational programs.
If Sherry was temporarily in the area I could see this being a big draw. Could she have met someone at the rodeo and was going at the end of October to say goodbye or just visit ? That is assuming Ellis Unit participated being they were a higher security death row prison. Surely at least some inmates from Ellis participated.
Just a thought.

 

[CarlK90245]

Just learned that the Sheriff was incorrect as to Sherri's hometown. She was from Forest Lake, Minnesota, not Stillwater.

 

[Springrain]

[Modedit: Made error correction pointed out by Springrain]

I haven’t done a deep dive into this, but here’s a thought. It was said by her family that Sherry liked horses. So I go to an old newspapers site and look to see what was happening in the Huntsville area in October of 1980.
Apparently they had an annual Texas prison Rodeo held every Sunday throughout the entire month of October. It was held at a stadium at the Huntsville unit.
She was killed October 31 , supposedly looking for Ellis Prison and found dead within 24 hours in Huntsville.
Newspapers called it “ the wildest rodeo behind bars” that “always lives up to its rough and tumble reputation.” Bareback riding, pig sacking, convict bands, bull riding , inmate arts and crafts& more.
It started in 1931 and ran until 1986 to raise funds for inmates educational and recreational programs.
If Sherry was temporarily in the area I could see this being a big draw. Could she have met someone at the rodeo and was going at the end of October to say goodbye or just visit ? That is assuming Ellis Unit participated being they were a higher security death row prison. Surely at least some inmates from Ellis participated.
Just a thought.

Great find! I am surprised nobody has found this out before! Very, very interesting possibility IMO. I wonder if she was meeting up a friend near the prison (who wasn't a prisoner or employee) to go see the prison rodeo?

 

[sunnynz]

I haven’t done a deep dive into this, but here’s a thought. It was said by her family that Sherry liked horses. So I go to an old newspapers site and look to see what was happening in the Huntsville area in October of 1980.
Apparently they had an annual Texas prison Rodeo held every Sunday throughout the entire month of October. It was held at a stadium at the Huntsville unit.
She was killed October 31 , supposedly looking for Ellis Prison and found dead within 24 hours in Huntsville.
Newspapers called it “ the wildest rodeo behind bars” that “always lives up to its rough and tumble reputation.” Bareback riding, pig sacking, convict bands, bull riding , inmate arts and crafts& more.
It started in 1931 and ran until 1986 to raise funds for inmates educational and recreational programs.
If Sherry was temporarily in the area I could see this being a big draw. Could she have met someone at the rodeo and was going at the end of October to say goodbye or just visit ? That is assuming Ellis Unit participated being they were a higher security death row prison. Surely at least some inmates from Ellis participated.
Just a thought.

Yes the rodeo was discussed on this thread maybe a year or two back. I’ll see if I can find the posts to bring them forward. Interesting to think about now that we know sherris love of horses!

 

[sunnynz]

Ok I have no idea how to link from closed threads but this one from 2017 (didn’t seem that long ago!) has some reference. I feel like there’s something more recent, I’ll keep looking TX - TX - Huntsville, 'Walker County Jane Doe', WhtFem 14-16, 91UFTX, Nov'80 *NAME NOT RELEASED*

 

[sunnynz]

Some more rodeo chat in this thread from 2019. Sorry guys, I am useless at being forward the actual posts. TX - TX - Huntsville, 'Walker County Jane Doe', WhtFem 14-16, 91UFTX, Nov'80 #2 *NAME NOT RELEASED*

 

[Springrain]

October 31st, 1980 was a Friday - was it possible Sherri was trying to get to Huntsville because she thought the prison rodeo was still going? Maybe she didn't realize that they stopped in November? Just a thought. I really think there is a very real possibility of her wanting to go to the rodeo since we know she loved horses. This suggestion makes much more sense, IMO, than a 14-year-old knowing a death row inmate.

 

[haroldchasen]

Thank you , I did see the posts you were talking about, would’ve never found them on my own lol.
I was 10 in 1980, so not much younger than Sherry. I had troubles and I was boy crazy. I went to a local Christian Rock Concert in 1985 ( age 15) and met 3 older boys who were in attendance and they were all living in a group home for wayward youths. I clicked with one of them and we wrote each other off and on for years with occasional calls. He even ended up briefly in prison for selling illegal guns when he was about 17 or 18. He hitch hiked several hours to my house once. I tried really hard to get a ride to see him in prison but never could. Anyway, he turned out to be an Army Ranger later in life and a good guy .
My point is, the world was small back then before the internet. I could see a runaway temporarily in the area attending a prison rodeo every Sunday for a month and
“ clicking” with an inmate . Then she goes to visit him at the end of the month and something went wrong.
BTW I read that any male inmate with a clean record for 1 year could participate. There was even a guy who participated that was an axe murderer.
It’s just a theory. I was trying to recreate what was happening in Huntsville in October of 1980 and that stuck out .

 

[Springrain]

My point is, the world was small back then before the internet. I could see a runaway temporarily in the area attending a prison rodeo every Sunday for a month and
“ clicking” with an inmate . Then she goes to visit him at the end of the month and something went wrong.
BTW I read that any male inmate with a clean record for 1 year could participate. There was even a guy who participated that was an axe murderer.
It’s just a theory. I was trying to recreate what was happening in Huntsville in October of 1980 and that stuck out .

RSBM...

I am really vibing with this theory. I don't think it even necessarily had to be an inmate that she "clicked with" - maybe it was someone that she met who was just another person attending the rodeo.

 

[branmuffin]

I feel there is a long haul trucker or two involved here. And I don't know that I necessarily believe that she was seen at the Hitchin' Post? Maybe someone that looked similar? I don't know.

I think a waitress accurately described the clothing the deceased had down to the red shoes.

 

[haroldchasen]

RSBM...

I am really vibing with this theory. I don't think it even necessarily had to be an inmate that she "clicked with" - maybe it was someone that she met who was just another person attending the rodeo.

It was a very big event. I read tens of thousands of people attended. She may have even gotten work there. I read that they hired people in the community for certain jobs. It would be a good way for a transient teen to make some money at a fun venue. But she was looking for directions to Ellis for some reason that last night in October.