Identified! TX - Huntsville, 'Walker County Jane Doe', WhtFem 14-16, 91UFTX, 1 November 1980 - id'd November 2021 - Sherri Ann Jarvis (14)

[Paul B.]

I still think she looks closer to a child in the PM pix. Why the urgent need to prove she was older?

 

[Jdart14]

I still think she looks closer to a child in the PM pix. Why the urgent need to prove she was older?

I agree. There is an established range..which was further confirmed back in 1999? That is sufficient for any comparison as potential matches come up. I think it happens though, we are short on evidence...we don't have a lot current leads to go on so the mind begins to pick apart what IS there. Which is ok....keeps the sleuthing alive and keeps us all digging. Still the most productive thing we can do is get the word out.

I do again wish that we had a good synopsis of what is known and fact.. Also what we know to be true or not true as far as notable leads to this point.

Lets as a group start a list of ideas that we would like to see further investigated...maybe this would provide us all some direction as to where go next.

Starters:
- What is the possibility that WCJD's destination was not Ellis Unit but Ellis Co. Jail further north? The jail was well established and had recently had a juvenile addition established.
- The possibility that WCJD was not visiting someone at Ellis Unit but someone that lived near the prison. Has there been any searches to identify land/home owners around the prison at the time?
- ???

 

[Spindlebrook]

I agree. There is an established range..which was

Starters:
- What is the possibility that WCJD's destination was not Ellis Unit but Ellis Co. Jail further north? The jail was well established and had recently had a juvenile addition established.
- The possibility that WCJD was not visiting someone at Ellis Unit but someone that lived near the prison. Has there been any searches to identify land/home owners around the prison at the time?
- ???

I disagree with any theory that she wasn’t intending to go to the prison but rather visit somebody “near” the prison. Every prison I’ve seen, and a Google Maps image of the Ellis Unit is no exception, is situated in a place where there are no houses/neighborhoods around it, just farm fields and desolation.

Which makes sense. It’s a matter of public safety. I mean, would you buy a house near a prison?

 

[Jdart14]

I disagree with any theory that she wasn’t intending to go to the prison but rather visit somebody “near” the prison. Every prison I’ve seen, and a Google Maps image of the Ellis Unit is no exception, is situated in a place where there are no houses/neighborhoods around it, just farm fields and desolation.

Which makes sense. It’s a matter of public safety. I mean, would you buy a house near a prison?

Not suggesting someone living next door to the prison....I think we may be missing the point a little. I agree with what yours saying but there are homes and I believe some RV parks out 980...the road that the prison is on. there is NOTHING else out that way so it would make sense as a reference point.

I guess I should have stated that a little more clearly...

 

[Paul B.]

@Jdart14 I have to agree with earlier - both WCJD and her family were likely happy to be rid of each other... but what about elementary/middle school friends? Why didn't they bother in four decades?

 

[Jdart14]

@Jdart14 I have to agree with earlier - both WCJD and her family were likely happy to be rid of each other... but what about elementary/middle school friends? Why didn't they bother in four decades?

I wish I knew the answer to that @Paul B. Ive thought about it before though. This may not be the best example but my family moved when I was in fourth grade. My closest friends I kept in touch with for a little while via phone or we mailed letters. But others who were not "best friends" became memories. Sure you may think about them from time to time but for me it was pretty late in life before I thought about tracking some of those people down to see how they were doing and that was really only made possible by Facebook or some other type of social media. If her family traveled with work or she had not really established any close friends I could see how it would be the case. Its sad, but again there are reasons that she hasn't been ID'd.

 

[carbuff]

I disagree with any theory that she wasn’t intending to go to the prison but rather visit somebody “near” the prison. Every prison I’ve seen, and a Google Maps image of the Ellis Unit is no exception, is situated in a place where there are no houses/neighborhoods around it, just farm fields and desolation.

Which makes sense. It’s a matter of public safety. I mean, would you buy a house near a prison?

Many prisons include on-site or nearby housing for the prison administrators and staff.

 

[AmonAmarther]

In my country it was really popular in the 80's that inmates would write on newspaper ads their info so other people would visit them and befriend them... I was wondering if WCJD didn't know the person yet, it was the first time they were going to meet and that's why none of the inmates recognized her. Was that a thing in the USA back then?

 

[daisy6441]

In my country it was really popular in the 80's that inmates would write on newspaper ads their info so other people would visit them and befriend them... I was wondering if WCJD didn't know the person yet, it was the first time they were going to meet and that's why none of the inmates recognized her. Was that a thing in the USA back then?

Yes. People still have prison pen pals. I know a lady that married hers when he was released.

 

[daisy6441]

A thought occurred to me. Is it possible she wore glasses? We are thinking the shoes indicate the person she wanted to see could be a possible romantic interest so its also likely she could have left her glasses behind. I know people who need glasses but wont wear them unless they have to.

 

[FireOwl9]

A thought occurred to me. Is it possible she wore glasses? We are thinking the shoes indicate the person she wanted to see could be a possible romantic interest so its also likely she could have left her glasses behind. I know people who need glasses but wont wear them unless they have to.

That could be possible, considering that wearing glasses could be perhaps considered as 'dorky' for someone her age.

 

[Finders]

@Jdart14 I have to agree with earlier - both WCJD and her family were likely happy to be rid of each other... but what about elementary/middle school friends? Why didn't they bother in four decades?

I imagine a transient lifestyle. No real connections to elementary/middle school friends.

 

[daisy6441]

I imagine a transient lifestyle. No real connections to elementary/middle school friends.

She could have been home schooled or a dropout.

 

[Paul B.]

it was a lot more difficult to homeschool in 1980. Even in 1988, my Mum had to go through many hoops to get me and my (full) brother homeschooled.

 

[daisy6441]

it was a lot more difficult to homeschool in 1980. Even in 1988, my Mum had to go through many hoops to get me and my (full) brother homeschooled.

Difficult but not impossible? They went down there to the schools and questioned people even went so far as to check yearbooks. I am curious how old they thought she was initially. Did they also check middle schools? Do we know which schools they went to?

I have also been thinking about that one sketch that was done. It looks nothing like the others. It also makes her look older (closer to 17 or 18) and hair longer and more reddish.

 

[SoulfulSerenade]

Is it plausible that she might've not gone at all?

 

[Jdart14]

I would think it would make more sense to turn back the clock a little to middle school or elementary when there may be a stronger chance of her being enrolled. If she ran away she may have dropped out when she got older. Has anyone looked at older books when she would have been that age ??

 

[MOTORUNNER]

I think the trouble with middle/elementary school is that yearbooks aren't as typical for the younger ages. My elementary school had kind of yearbooks... more like just little paper books with photos, not a REAL yearbook. And even in middle school the yearbooks were pretty pathetic lol I don't know if yearbooks from elementary/middle schools around that time would even still exist. I don't see any on classmates

 

[carbuff]

I think the trouble with middle/elementary school is that yearbooks aren't as typical for the younger ages. My elementary school had kind of yearbooks... more like just little paper books with photos, not a REAL yearbook. And even in middle school the yearbooks were pretty pathetic lol I don't know if yearbooks from elementary/middle schools around that time would even still exist. I don't see any on classmates

In 1980 it was quite unusual to have a yearbook for schools below high school. None of the younger Carbuffs had them (schools in NY, NH, MA). My cousin in Montana did, though. So while it's possible (and probably worth poking some more if you're inclined that way), I wouldn't be surprised to find nothing.

 

[Finders]

In my experience the yearbooks from younger ages were not individual pictures but class pictures and if you missed that day, you were not in the yearbook.