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

[i'm someone]

I do not think this child was a prostitute, as nothing about her appearance or the description of her clothing would suggest that. You are right, the sandals were very popular back then, and a somewhat coveted piece of footwear for a young woman.

I'm holding on her last words (that we know of); "who cares" when asked about parents. That response seems to align with the perceived lack of interest in her disappearance. Maybe no-one did care. I could see this as a situation where maybe she was living with a mother who moved from one boyfriend to the next, and had a slew of personal problems. This child might have been extra baggage.

I predict when we do eventually learn WCJD's identity, she will be the product of a single mother who had too many of her own problems to much notice what was going on with her daughter.

Amateur speculation and opinion

We only have the witnesses to go by, but the report I read said her yellow top was "dirty". I was not implying she was a prostitute, but possibly someone might have tried preying on her and buying her shoes. It's sad that none of the items are photographed. And that some of them have gone "missing" from evidence.

And to me it's weird they have such a wide range for how tall she was. Didn't they measure people for autopsies back then?

 

[daisy6441]

I have some speculation on that. I think if you Google Cherokee Platform Sandals, those were still being worn in 1980. I also think that because she was carrying them and not wearing them, they could have been either A. Not hers, but borrowed or B. A hand me down from an older sibling or friend. Also, 3-4 inch platforms are not comfy, but the wedge or platforms with the solid heel were at least walkable. My step mom had quite a few pairs of them, and she walked 5 miles to work in them. I was given a pair of Candies sandals and was not allowed to wear them, but that was another brand that year. So I think judging by this girl's age, she was either not supposed to be wearing them or someone gave them to her. Depending on how long she had been gone from her parent's home(if she had one), she also could have been preyed upon by a pimp who got them for her. And she might have been in the foster care system, which would explain not being missed. I can't believe anyone, no matter how dysfunctional of a family, would just never pass the word around that "Jane" never came home at one point. Totally moo.

I thought maybe she took them from an older relative so she would look older.

 

[daisy6441]

We only have the witnesses to go by, but the report I read said her yellow top was "dirty". I was not implying she was a prostitute, but possibly someone might have tried preying on her and buying her shoes. It's sad that none of the items are photographed. And that some of them have gone "missing" from evidence.

And to me it's weird they have such a wide range for how tall she was. Didn't they measure people for autopsies back then?

As far as I understood the only items they had of hers were the necklace and the shoes. The necklace was somehow lost which is strange. Maybe it was just misplaced and got stuck in the wrong box. I haven't seen that the clothes she was wearing ever turned up.

 

[folieadeuxnola]

Something says she was residing within a 100 miles or closer from where she was found. If she was a traveling runaway she would have a lot more items in hand than what she had.

 

[daisy6441]

Something says she was residing within a 100 miles or closer from where she was found. If she was a traveling runaway she would have a lot more items in hand than what she had.

Aransas Pass is about 4 hours from Huntsville. Its possible she was mugged or lost a bag along the way. Perhaps it was left in the car she was seen getting out of.

 

[folieadeuxnola]

Aransas Pass is about 4 hours from Huntsville. Its possible she was mugged or lost a bag along the way. Perhaps it was left in the car she was seen getting out of.

That is 4 hours straight driving time if you are hitching that time frame could potentially double to 8 or more. Waiting to catch a ride can take time sometimes the ride maybe going the opposite direction you need to go. All thou it could get you to the next truck stop where you could potentially find another ride in direction you want to go.

Even a day trip I would think she would still have essential things with her like a purse ... I never leave the house without my purse on an extremely rare occassion I may just have my pocketbook but that is a quick trip to the corner store.

Was her belongings in the car that dropped her off, was that person suppose to come back later and pick her up ... these are a few things that has been in my thoughts lately.

A new Media blitz mentioned upthread is a very good idea ... would also consider getting it out to the trucking industry

 

[daisy6441]

I found another prisoner with ties to Rockport and Port Aransas. He was 16 in 1978 when he murdered an elderly woman and was arrested. I found a comment on a Port Aransas site that claims he had been arrested with some of his friends (sounds like he hung around with him) not long before the murder for stealing a car. He was tried as an adult and sentenced to life. It doesn't say he was at the Ellis Unit but the trial was held in Huntsville. His younger sister would have been around the age of WCJD but she seems to be accounted for. Its possible he could have had a girlfriend that wanted to visit him.

 

[Alleykins]

I found another prisoner with ties to Rockport and Port Aransas. He was 16 in 1978 when he murdered an elderly woman and was arrested. I found a comment on a Port Aransas site that claims he had been arrested with some of his friends (sounds like he hung around with him) not long before the murder for stealing a car. He was tried as an adult and sentenced to life. It doesn't say he was at the Ellis Unit but the trial was held in Huntsville. His younger sister would have been around the age of WCJD but she seems to be accounted for. Its possible he could have had a girlfriend that wanted to visit him.

Interesting possibility.

 

[ClockworkLemon]

Where did you find crime scene photos?

Sorry for the late reply, I’m on vacation! I apologize, I’m thinking of the crime scene photo of “Orange Socks”. Forgive me. I still think WCJD is more like 16 from PM photos and description.

 

[daisy6441]

I was reading other threads regarding events in Texas and I came across the name Jonathan David Drew. He was arrested in 1998 when a traffic stop revealed a nearly naked, bloody woman in the truck cab with him. He had raped her, beat her, and it appeared that he had tried to strangle her. She died a few days later from the head injuries. They searched his home and found women's clothing, a bat stained with an unknown substance, and human teeth. It immediately made me think of WCJD but he was only 25 in 1998 so he would have been 7 when she was killed. I was curious if the person who killed her kept her clothes or disposed of them. It could be they knew about hair comparison or like Drew they wanted to keep them.

 

[Nancy Drew RN]

I was reading other threads regarding events in Texas and I came across the name Jonathan David Drew. He was arrested in 1998 when a traffic stop revealed a nearly naked, bloody woman in the truck cab with him. He had raped her, beat her, and it appeared that he had tried to strangle her. She died a few days later from the head injuries. They searched his home and found women's clothing, a bat stained with an unknown substance, and human teeth. It immediately made me think of WCJD but he was only 25 in 1998 so he would have been 7 when she was killed. I was curious if the person who killed her kept her clothes or disposed of them. It could be they knew about hair comparison or like Drew they wanted to keep them.

I've seen it referenced that serial killers will often dispose of clothing to delay or prevent identification of the body. If she hadn't been seen by other people, we would have no idea what she was wearing. It's also possible that there was forensic evidence on the clothing that would point to his own identity. Finally, there's many who would be gratified by leaving her nude, but this could also be satisfied by leaving the clothing at the scene, so I feel it must be some combination of the above.

 

[daisy6441]

I've seen it referenced that serial killers will often dispose of clothing to delay or prevent identification of the body. If she hadn't been seen by other people, we would have no idea what she was wearing. It's also possible that there was forensic evidence on the clothing that would point to his own identity. Finally, there's many who would be gratified by leaving her nude, but this could also be satisfied by leaving the clothing at the scene, so I feel it must be some combination of the above.

I'm curious because it could give a clue to who killed her. Although finding her killer won't necessarily lead to her identity it would be nice to know he didn't get away. If he did it once he probably did it again, especially if she was a stranger to him.

 

[Finders]

I have almost zero doubt that she is not the killers only victim. This seems like the calling card of a SK.

 

[daisy6441]

He left her where she would definitely be found. I'm wondering how he wasn't seen on the side of the road while he took her body from the vehicle. Unless he was parked on a side road and came toward the highway from that way.

 

[Paul B.]

Someone with the brass balls to leave their murdered girl/woman where she will be found, is a man brave or stupid enough to think they won't be caught. TV has left people with the belief that SKs are evil geniuses with deep-seated psychoses. In real life, they are usually just evil jerks.

 

[Jdart14]

He left her where she would definitely be found. I'm wondering how he wasn't seen on the side of the road while he took her body from the vehicle. Unless he was parked on a side road and came toward the highway from that way.

That area of 45 is pretty remote would have been dark and not much traffic I would imagine. Especially considering the short time he was there to leave her.

 

[daisy6441]

That area of 45 is pretty remote would have been dark and not much traffic I would imagine. Especially considering the short time he was there to leave her.

When did they start regulating how long truck drivers could drive in a stretch? Since it wasn't that far from a truck stop I would imagine a big rig could come by at any time. Also it was Halloween night so kids might have been running around anywhere.
Did all those side roads next to 45 exist at that time? I think most of them are still two way.

 

[Jdart14]

When did they start regulating how long truck drivers could drive in a stretch? Since it wasn't that far from a truck stop I would imagine a big rig could come by at any time. Also it was Halloween night so kids might have been running around anywhere.
Did all those side roads next to 45 exist at that time? I think most of them are still two way.

I think you’re correct about them being two way. I am not sure about the side roads or what the population north of town looked like at that time. The area where she was found is a little north of Huntsville. I’m guessing there was not much there. And he felt pretty safe not being caught dropping her there. He obviously wanted her to be found though. Anything indicator of SK I would think. Otherwise why but try harder to conceal or hide her so that she wouldn’t be Found.

 

[Finders]

That area of 45 is pretty remote would have been dark and not much traffic I would imagine. Especially considering the short time he was there to leave her.

It was also the middle of the night. Lots of trucks pullover on the shoulder during the night.

 

[daisy6441]

I think you’re correct about them being two way. I am not sure about the side roads or what the population north of town looked like at that time. The area where she was found is a little north of Huntsville. I’m guessing there was not much there. And he felt pretty safe not being caught dropping her there. He obviously wanted her to be found though. Anything indicator of SK I would think. Otherwise why but try harder to conceal or hide her so that she wouldn’t be Found.

Unless he felt some kind of remorse afterward. Put her somewhere she is sure to be found so she can be taken care of. Or he was leaving her there to brag about the power he had, that he could do something like that and not be caught.
Reading about Jonathan David Drew they said he didn't have the build up like most killers. He was reported as violently attacking girls when he was as young as 8 or 9. Usually they start with petty things like peeping or exposing themselves before they work up to actually attacking a live person.