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

[Onfortuneswheel]

I remember a theory about her being a girl named "Kitty", featured on a documentary titled "Runaways", bearing a striking resemblance to the Jane Doe. I wonder if anyone has a copy or has screen shot this "Kitty" girl for reference.

The only surviving copy that we're aware of is held at Muhlenberg College Trexler Library and isn't eligible for interlibrary loan. Skepticalbear posted the clearest image awhile back.

 

[carbuff]

I remember a theory about her being a girl named "Kitty", featured on a documentary titled "Runaways", bearing a striking resemblance to the Jane Doe. I wonder if anyone has a copy or has screen shot this "Kitty" girl for reference.

Hi and welcome to Websleuths.

If you read back through the thread, we discussed that possibility a lot. I think it starts at #1508 TX - TX - Huntsville, 'Walker County Jane Doe' WhtFem 91UFTX, 14-16, Nov'80 *GRAPHIC*

 

[Hector702]

The bit about the culvert was incorrect. Someone must have been confusing her for Orange Socks, who was in a culvert.

I verified this with Detective Bean. He says that the exact spot where she was found is unknown because the topography and foliage has changed significantly since 1980. She was fairly close to highway, but the highway was only one lane in each direction in 1980. It has been widened to two lanes in each direction, so the spot where she was found is likely now covered by the pavement of the right-hand northbound lane.

He says his crime scene photos show no culvert, or any other landmarks that can reference her exact location to the highway as it appears today.

Thank you!

A few have found it suspicious how the driver (who called the police) found WCJD's body.

But it wasn't hard to miss, since her body was close to the highway?

I wonder if there any photos of the highway from 1980.

 

[rosesfromangels]

All these cases are sad, but this one really tugs at my heart. Her post mortem pics really speak loudly to her last moments, and her youth is so disturbing.

I speculate she came from a broken home that could have cared less where she was, and she was most likely going to see an older sibling in jail. Maybe the only person who had ever cared about her in her short life.

Perhaps none of the prisoners recognized her because she had the wrong facility? What if the prisoner had been moved? I think that might be an angle to pursue.

 

[carbuff]

I think whoever she was going to visit likely lied about it to keep from getting into trouble.

 

[Alleykins]

I think whoever she was going to visit likely lied about it to keep from getting into trouble.

I agree, especially if she were meeting someone who worked there. That's what I'm leaning toward for two reasons:
1. If she were going to see a prisoner, he'd have nothing to lose by admitting he was expecting her, he obviously didn't kill her. Unless she was making a surprise visit and/or had never met the prisoner in person so he wouldn't recognize her, she would be missed by him. A prisoner would really have no reason to lie that I can think of, unless he lured her there, never expecting her to follow through.
2. She arrived in the area terribly late in the day to be expecting to visit a prisoner. I don't know for sure, but I'm thinking even back then you just couldn't show up any time to visit, that you had to have clearance and be on a list, and show up during visiting hours.
But if she were meeting someone who worked the graveyard shift, that could explain the timing and would give whoever she was going to visit a reason to lie.

 

[rosesfromangels]

Btw, was pregnancy eliminated? It makes sense that some prisoner wouldn’t claim knowing her if she were underage and pregnant.

 

[bringherhome]

I have always thought the same thing.

Yeah, she knew she had a long way to go and it was already dark. I have 2 theories.

After getting the map drawn by the waitress, she walked out of the restaurant and asked a truck driver if she could sleep in his truck. Which ended up being her killer.

Or

The truck driver overheard Walker County Jane Doe and the waitress conversation inside the restaurant. (Maybe he was eating at a table and overheard their conversation). He knew she was lost and he probably followed her and offered her to sleep in his truck. And ended up murdering her.

 

[daisy6441]

This case has been linked to Orange Socks in Williamson County with happened on Halloween in 1979. There was a girl found dead on Oct. 29, 1981 in Iola, Grimes County, Texas. The Iola girls estimated age is 13-19 and was also wearing only jewelry (a gold ring made from a coin), however, a towel and pink bikini bottoms were found near her. It is estimated she could have been killed up to 5 years prior to her discovery. A Conroe 12 year old was found raped and strangled with no clothing on but still wearing her necklace. She was found on Sept 7, 1979 three days after she disappeared. Conroe is south of Huntsville on 45. If you take the 1696 exit (the area WCJD was found) it goes to hwy 39 near Iola. The girl in Conroe was killed in a subdivision so she wasn't found off a well traveled road like the others.

 

[rosesfromangels]

This case has been linked to Orange Socks in Williamson County with happened on Halloween in 1979. There was a girl found dead on Oct. 29, 1981 in Iola, Grimes County, Texas. The Iola girls estimated age is 13-19 and was also wearing only jewelry (a gold ring made from a coin), however, a towel and pink bikini bottoms were found near her. It is estimated she could have been killed up to 5 years prior to her discovery. A Conroe 12 year old was found raped and strangled with no clothing on but still wearing her necklace. She was found on Sept 7, 1979 three days after she disappeared. Conroe is south of Huntsville on 45. If you take the 1696 exit (the area WCJD was found) it goes to hwy 39 near Iola. The girl in Conroe was killed in a subdivision so she wasn't found off a well traveled road like the others.

Were the necklaces religious medals or crucifixes? Do we know?

 

[Two for the road]

Were the necklaces religious medals or crucifixes? Do we know?

Authorities aren't releasing details of WCJD's necklace but from reports it doesn't appear to be a religious type of necklace.

 

[Alleykins]

Authorities aren't releasing details of WCJD's necklace but from reports it doesn't appear to be a religious type of necklace.

IIRC the necklace was a square pendant and I believe CarlK said it was lost.

 

[Jdart14]

Hello all. With the anniversary of our girls fateful night approaching. Would anyone locally be interested in meeting up to tidy up, place flowers, say a prayer? Possibly have lunch or coffee and share thoughts and ideas as a group? God Bless.

 

[Hector702]

Hello all. With the anniversary of our girls fateful night approaching. Would anyone locally be interested in meeting up to tidy up, place flowers, say a prayer? Possibly have lunch or coffee and share thoughts and ideas as a group? God Bless.

I would love to! But I'm all the way in Las Vegas, Nevada

I have always wanted to visit her grave

 

[Jdart14]

That’s a long trip. Would be glad to document and take pics for anyone interested who cannot make it as well.

 

[Hector702]

That’s a long trip. Would be glad to document and take pics for anyone interested who cannot make it as well.

That would be amazing!

 

[Hector702]

This article says WCJD was seen by 3 witness. 1 from the Gas Station. And 2 from Hitching Post.

Walker County Jane Doe


I have always thought she was only seen by 2 witnesses. The owner of the gas station and the waitress from Hitching Post. The 3rd witness was from the Hitching Post as well. I'm curious to know what kind of interaction did they have with her.

 

[daisy6441]

This article says WCJD was seen by 3 witness. 1 from the Gas Station. And 2 from Hitching Post.

Walker County Jane Doe


I have always thought she was only seen by 2 witnesses. The owner of the gas station and the waitress from Hitching Post. The 3rd witness was from the Hitching Post as well. I'm curious to know what kind of interaction did they have with her.

The other was the Roach man. He passed away.

 

[daisy6441]

Were the necklaces religious medals or crucifixes? Do we know?

I don't believe anything was religious. WCJD was a square stone. Not sure of Orange Socks. The Iola girl had a coin ring and the Conroe girl had a butterfly necklace. The family said the Conroe girl also had a butterfly ring that wasn't found with her.

 

[Jdart14]

The bit about the culvert was incorrect. Someone must have been confusing her for Orange Socks, who was in a culvert.

I verified this with Detective Bean. He says that the exact spot where she was found is unknown because the topography and foliage has changed significantly since 1980. She was fairly close to highway, but the highway was only one lane in each direction in 1980. It has been widened to two lanes in each direction, so the spot where she was found is likely now covered by the pavement of the right-hand northbound lane.

He says his crime scene photos show no culvert, or any other landmarks that can reference her exact location to the highway as it appears today.

Carl,

I thought I remember seeing some coordinates of her location at some point within one of the published articles. Were these official as being published by authorities or was that just approximate location? I will try to find where I saw this. Regardless it gave a pretty good idea of where she was located and it has no doubt changed a lot between now and then. I have been unsuccessful in finding any mapping or arial images from that time frame of I45 and surrounding roads. Would love to see them if anyone does.

- Tx