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

[sevengirl]

One more thought I've been having: It has been almost 34 years since our Doe was found murdered. I read Mia G's posts about going to Walker County and meeting with the detective, and how the box of evidence was within arms reach and she so wanted to be able to look in that box. After 34 years, why doesn't LE just publish all evidence they have?? Why not do that? It wouldn't compromise the case. After so many years have passed, possible witnesses/suspect are dying off. Why not release the autopsy report at the very least? I've seen autopsies released on other unsolved cases. There are critical clues missing from this case which can be found in the autopsy etc.

 

[L8dedy]

I have been searching blogs/message boards regarding New Bethany in Louisiana and Rebekah house in Corpus. Looking for anyone who talked about a runaway who never came back. Nothing yet. I did find one post mentioning a runaway who they staff didn't bother to look for because she was "of age", meaning not a minor. Apparently, TX was sending kids from juvie to New Bethany in Louisiana. The sheriff in Acadia said when he picked up runaways from there, he refused to return them to New Bethany because he heard horror stories about that place. There is a FB page for the survivors of Rebekah house, maybe it would be helpful to post there, see if anyone remembers our Doe? It's a shot in the dark but you never know.

One other thing that I really really want to look into is the names of inmates that were released from TDC in Hunstville on Oct 30/31. IMO that would be a list of suspects right there.

sevingirl I think those are great ideas...I will help out and see what I can find with regard to those types of facilities in Texas.

 

[bringherhome]

I have been searching blogs/message boards regarding New Bethany in Louisiana and Rebekah house in Corpus. Looking for anyone who talked about a runaway who never came back. Nothing yet. I did find one post mentioning a runaway who they staff didn't bother to look for because she was "of age", meaning not a minor. Apparently, TX was sending kids from juvie to New Bethany in Louisiana. The sheriff in Acadia said when he picked up runaways from there, he refused to return them to New Bethany because he heard horror stories about that place. There is a FB page for the survivors of Rebekah house, maybe it would be helpful to post there, see if anyone remembers our Doe? It's a shot in the dark but you never know.

One other thing that I really really want to look into is the names of inmates that were released from TDC in Hunstville on Oct 30/31. IMO that would be a list of suspects right there.

Sevengirl I live in Corpus I have never heard of the Rebekah home.Do you have any info on it so I can call them?

 

[sevengirl]

Here are just a few of the websites about Rebekah home and New Bethany. Lots and lots of them if you google:

http://www.motherjones.com/slideshows/2011/08/abusive-religious-reform-homes/new-bethany-residents

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2011/08/new-bethany-ifb-teen-homes-abuse?page=2

http://rebekahhomeforgirls.blogspot.com/2005/08/im-writing-about-my-experiences-at.html

 

[BaxterDE42]

One more thought I've been having: It has been almost 34 years since our Doe was found murdered. I read Mia G's posts about going to Walker County and meeting with the detective, and how the box of evidence was within arms reach and she so wanted to be able to look in that box. After 34 years, why doesn't LE just publish all evidence they have?? Why not do that? It wouldn't compromise the case. After so many years have passed, possible witnesses/suspect are dying off. Why not release the autopsy report at the very least? I've seen autopsies released on other unsolved cases. There are critical clues missing from this case which can be found in the autopsy etc.

sevengirl,

I think you answered your own question with your last statement which I bolded. There are generally "critical clues" in all the evidence obtained, including and sometimes predominately the autopsy - assuming all things equal and professional. These "clues" could very well compromise the case for a conviction shouldd it ever come to trial. Time frame is of no consequence. There are things only the murderer and involved agencies would know.

I too get frustrated at the lack of information available in these cases but for different reasons. For the most part, what is made public is misinformation, completely false information, human error in recording or entering in data systems. I detest the "sunshine law" because it affords perps to rearange their alibis, their stories and manipulate otherwise pure evidence. When we have agencies pleading with the public to call in information and tips, know we are already in trouble with professional investigating. Many agencies are sitting on potential "clues" or real evidence which they do not know how to interpret.

I think the waters have been mudied beyond purification in this case. Kudos to those forging ahead with waht is available.

 

[sevengirl]

Have y'all seen this?? Of all the research I've done, this is the first time I've seen this composite "painting" of WCJD, I know there's several out there. I think it really looks like her!

http://www.missingkids.com/poster/NCMU/1104365/1

 

[carbuff]

By the way guys here is Walker County Jane Doe new facebook page:

facebook.com/walkercounty.janedoe

Please feel free to go on and like the page,spread the word.I also encourage other Jane or John Doe cases to be added as well.

The picture gallery includes PM photos as well as several different reconstructions. It uses Carl's lovely recon as her cover photo

 

[sevengirl]

The picture gallery includes PM photos as well as several different reconstructions. It uses Carl's lovely recon as her cover photo

Whoever maintains this FB page may want to add this new sketch. I sent them a FB message, but of course it will go to their "other" folder.

http://www.missingkids.com/poster/NCMU/1104365/1

 

[L8dedy]

Have y'all seen this?? Of all the research I've done, this is the first time I've seen this composite "painting" of WCJD, I know there's several out there. I think it really looks like her!

http://www.missingkids.com/poster/NCMU/1104365/1

Wow...this is a whole new version of what she may have looked like. I would like to know if this is the one LE will be using from now on when distributing the case information. I will try to find out.

Seven girl, I am with you....this one looks different from the others and could be the best likeness.

 

[sevengirl]

Ok I'm going to throw something out here and see what y'all think. Ever since I saw the new sketch of our Doe last night, something has been bugging me. She really looks like Michelle Meredith Mulcahy.

There is little/no info on Mulcahy. Just a couple of pics. I know that her DNA and WCJD's DNA are both in Namus (meaning they have been cross-checked), but sorry, this looks like the same person to me. I've attached a side by side comparison of MM's pics with the new WCJD sketch; when I saw the top left pic, I gasped. This is exactly how I imagined our Doe would look in real life. I know that the investigator said it's not likely that our Doe is Mulcahy, but would it hurt to compare them??? I've made some notes using only the info from Namus:

Doe: 14-18 yoa MM: 17 at time of disappearance (so maybe a little old; MM turned 19 in Sept 1980)
Doe weight: 108 estimated MM: 118
Both had brown hair.
Doe had hazel eyes, MM blue.
Doe was 5'4", MM 5'8" (not enough of a difference to bother me, either could be wrong)
Now, MM went missing July 7, 1979, more than a year before our Doe was murdered. Quite enough time to acquire a scar near her eyebrow. I know the height/age is off but I figure it's worth looking at anyway.
This is the 1st time I've ever submitted a comparison for y'all, so please be kind! lease:

 

[CarlK90245]

Have y'all seen this?? Of all the research I've done, this is the first time I've seen this composite "painting" of WCJD, I know there's several out there. I think it really looks like her!

http://www.missingkids.com/poster/NCMU/1104365/1

Thanks for posting that. I don't think this one is better than the other official recons that have been done of WCJD. I think WCJD's hair was longer (i.e., past the shoulders), and I have a feeling though that they make her look a little older than she actually looked.

I don't think a girl who looked like that would have been asked if her parents knew where she was.

 

[bringherhome]

Whoever maintains this FB page may want to add this new sketch. I sent them a FB message, but of course it will go to their "other" folder.

http://www.missingkids.com/poster/NCMU/1104365/1

I maintain it Sevengirl,thanks I will add the sketch.

 

[bringherhome]

Our Jane Doe is now 5'6,last I checked she was 5'1?

 

[sevengirl]

Our Jane Doe is now 5'6,last I checked she was 5'1?

Thanks for pointing that out bringerhome. Namus says 66 inches which is 5'5". I made a typo above when I said 5'4". Sorry!

 

[sevengirl]

Thanks for posting that. I do think this one is better than the other official recons that have been done of WCJD. I think WCJD's hair was longer (i.e., past the shoulders), and I have a feeling though that they make her look a little older than she actually looked.

I don't think a girl who looked like that would have been asked if her parents knew where she was.

Carl, I totally agree with you about the hair and age. I also think that Doe's hair was darker and longer, just like your sketches. I think she looks a little older in the new sketch too. In order to not have tunnel vision, I do try to keep in mind that our Doe may not be the same gal that was asking for directions to the prison, which is really hard to do since it's our only clue as to who she was so I really want it to be the same person!!! This is just my opinion, by looking at Doe's autopsy pics, I think our Doe was closer to 16-18. Namus says 14-18.

The new sketch does not show the weak/delicate chin but one thing has always bothered me: the autopsy photos of Doe's profile appear to show a thick upper lip protruding out past the chin. I know for a fact, from personal experience, that when a face gets a beating like that, the lips and the area around the mouth will swell more that you would think. Blows to the jaw will also distort the face shape. I'm stating the obvious here, I know, but IMO, our Doe's top lip and face was so swollen that it made the chin look small. But I do think she had a thick upper lip. I know because I received a beating like this, not as bad, but looking back at the photos taken of me, I didn't even look like me; my features were all out of proportion. So I look at the post mortem photos of our Doe with that in mind.

These are just my silly musings though, I could be totally wrong as I'm not trained in this stuff! :blushing:

Carl, I want to thank you for the sketches you did of our Doe. I really admire your talent, I can't even draw a stick figure!!

 

[carbuff]

Ok I'm going to throw something out here and see what y'all think. Ever since I saw the new sketch of our Doe last night, something has been bugging me. She really looks like Michelle Meredith Mulcahy.

There is little/no info on Mulcahy. Just a couple of pics. I know that her DNA and WCJD's DNA are both in Namus (meaning they have been cross-checked), but sorry, this looks like the same person to me. I've attached a side by side comparison of MM's pics with the new WCJD sketch; when I saw the top left pic, I gasped. This is exactly how I imagined our Doe would look in real life. I know that the investigator said it's not likely that our Doe is Mulcahy, but would it hurt to compare them??? I've made some notes using only the info from Namus:

Doe: 14-18 yoa MM: 17 at time of disappearance (so maybe a little old; MM turned 19 in Sept 1980)
Doe weight: 108 estimated MM: 118
Both had brown hair.
Doe had hazel eyes, MM blue.
Doe was 5'4", MM 5'8" (not enough of a difference to bother me, either could be wrong)
Now, MM went missing July 7, 1979, more than a year before our Doe was murdered. Quite enough time to acquire a scar near her eyebrow. I know the height/age is off but I figure it's worth looking at anyway.
This is the 1st time I've ever submitted a comparison for y'all, so please be kind! lease:

I dunno. It sure looks possible. Mulcahy is the only photo I've seen that has that delicate pointed nose that didn't seem to be touched by the beating at all. (If you can stand to look at postmortem photos, you should look at hers -- I don't think any of the sketches come close to capturing how delicate her face was.)

Assuming that's an up-to-date photo of Mulcahy, she looks younger than her age. I thought she was about 14.

 

[CarlK90245]

Our Jane Doe is now 5'6,last I checked she was 5'1?

Dr. Derrick told me directly that the stats in Namus and DoeNet were wrong, and that her true height was 5'6".

 

[Houston Mom]

Her post mortem pictures are on NamUs:

https://identifyus.org/en/cases/4630

 

[DrDMike]

Could she have been meeting a prisoner who was just released from prison? I could see why some prisoners would hesitate to identify her out of fear of being labeled as a snitch.

 

[elliha]

Her post mortem pictures are on NamUs:

https://identifyus.org/en/cases/4630

I keep going back to thinking she is Tina Kemp. There is just something with the eyebrows that make me go there.