UK UK - Christina “Licorice” McKechnie, 45, 1990

[MontanaMan]

Licorice would've been within the age range of the UID in 1997 so that's promising, however i wouldn't put too much weight on the note. Only a tiny minority of Scots know gaelic and they are mostly from the western isles. Licorice is from Edinburgh which is a very lowlands city. She may have learnt it later on in life of course. Jmo

I could swear I remember Licorice singing in Gaelic on a number of songs by the Incredible String Band. Maybe she learned it somewhere along the way. It was that and the note in her notebook, that caught my attention. I only want to ID her and give her her name back, and make sure her remaining family is notified, if the ID is correct. That's pretty much what I care about. Either way, I will have tried. It's the least I can do. Thanks for your reply and your opinion is much appreciated.

 

[iamshadow21]

I could swear I remember Licorice singing in Gaelic on a number of songs by the Incredible String Band. Maybe she learned it somewhere along the way. It was that and the note in her notebook, that caught my attention. I only want to ID her and give her her name back, and make sure her remaining family is notified, if the ID is correct. That's pretty much what I care about. Either way, I will have tried. It's the least I can do. Thanks for your reply and your opinion is much appreciated.

It's entirely possible she did learn it, my grandmother (English, living in Australia) taught herself Scots Gaelic (she was something of a languages savant) and had records that she loved to listen to that were traditional folk songs in Gaelic.

It doesn't seem out there to me that a musician of that time period would at least sing or perform in Gaelic, even if she didn't speak it as a first or primary language.

MOO

 

[MontanaMan]

It's entirely possible she did learn it, my grandmother (English, living in Australia) taught herself Scots Gaelic (she was something of a languages savant) and had records that she loved to listen to that were traditional folk songs in Gaelic.

It doesn't seem out there to me that a musician of that time period would at least sing or perform in Gaelic, even if she didn't speak it as a first or primary language.

MOO

Hey iamshadow,
I think Likky just may have learnt Gaelic, and particularly Scottish Gaelic, somewhere in her travels. The band did travel all over and they certainly met all kinds of different people. Also, I don't know much about her ex-husband, but I kept thinking that it may have been possible that the 'love letter' poem or song in her notebook, IF this is indeed she, that it may have been meant for him. The 'Oh Love of my Heart' in Scottish Gaelic, seems very appropriate to me, especially if this IS Licorice. I don't even know what Licorice's relationship with her ex was like, whether it was cordial or not. I was hoping he may still be around and still have some of Christina's belongings that may still have her DNA on them. Just thinking ahead, I guess!

I am just trying to imagine anyone else in the United States that would have known how to speak Scottish Gaelic and who would be camped out in some secluded spot outside of Palm Desert, California. That is also why this unidentified female jumps out at me. Granted, as you stated in your reply, your own grandmother taught herself Scots Gaelic, so there may have been a number of Americans who did the same and this unidentified female may have been one of them. But that's where I get hung up. I can't imagine too many Americans learning Scots Gaelic unless they are descended from Scottish ancestry, possibly. I mean, I am of Scottish descent and my family comes from Coldingham, in Berwickshire. It's not that far from Edinburgh and the place where Licorice was born and raised.

It would be so bizarre for me, if I ended up identifying a fellow Scot. I am being somewhat maudlin when I say that I think this ID was meant to be. But then, maybe it really was. I will have to just stay patient and wait for the results from Doe. I certainly don't want to get too excited or too sure of myself, but this really does seem like it might be a fit. More than anything, I would just like to give Ms. McKechnie her name back and be sure that her remaining family is notified asap, if the ID turns out to be correct. I sure appreciate your reply and opinion, iamshadow. Thanks!

 

[Robin of Mystic Mountain]

I will share my tentative ID of Christina 'Licorice' McKechnie with everyone here in the WS community, so you can take a look as well and see what you think. The unidentified person I found on DoeNetwork, is 551UFCA, discovered on 10 Feb 1997, in Palm Desert, Riverside, California. This unidentified woman was found by construction workers in 1997. Her death appears to be a natural one, from heart disease possibly. Found with this unidentified woman was a notebook, in which there was supposedly a 'love letter' that was written in Scottish Gaelic. The only person I can think of off hand, who would have known how to speak and write in Scottish Gaelic, is Christina McKechnie. That was the major clue for me. I also do not think that was a 'love letter', though it may have been. I think it is more like a poem or even song lyrics. It makes more logical sense, to me. Everything else seems to fit.

I ran this by the DoeNetwork representative for Southern California, and she told me to submit it, asap. I did so and the reply was, that they have not received this match before, and will be working on it, since it appears to be a possible match. I can only wait with baited breath, I suppose. As I stated above, I am so conflicted. I do and don't want my tentative ID to be correct! I would rather that Christina McKechnie be with us still. She was a very talented musician and poet, and I remember listening to her band, The Incredible String Band in the late 1960's and 1970's, when I was young. On the other hand, I want more than anything, to give her surviving family the answers they have been looking for. I never put much stock into the rumour that Christina was last seen 'hitch-hiking across the Arizona desert'. It's a lovely and romantic rumour, but I think it is just that. If my ID is correct, we can finally solve the mystery of what happened to Christina 'Licorice' McKechnie.

I dont think it is her, because like many other people I have been absolutely consumed by her case, did a deep dive and came up with some promising results. According to a number of find-a-person websites, she's alive and living in Sacramento, CA. It comes up with her exact address, and this was found using her full name "Christina Lambert" and her date of birth. Also her sister, according to some article I read she's passed away, but I dont know when or why. I believe her sister's name is Frances, but I can't confirm that.
And here's the thing: People who have known Licorice have said that she would never do something as dangerous as hitch-hiking across a desert alone. So I would assume either that never happened or she was not in her right mind- possibly high on drugs or something -that would dampen her common sense or ability to think straight. Unless, of course, as many say, she went crazy from Scientology and that drove her to leaving everything behind and breaking off contact with her family. I don't doubt that Scientology did come into play- there's an interview with her ex-husband Brian Lambert with David Miscaviage on YouTube and they talk about how Likky did mess around with Scientology and stuff. Besides, as there are no known records of her family (her parents, sister, etc) I have no idea if we could even reach out to them if we did find her. If her sister is truly no longer in this world then it's a long shot.
Whatever the real truth is, I strongly believe Likky is alive. And whether she actually is or isn't, I still want to find her.

DISCLAIMER
I'm only sharing what I have found of Likky, the information I have mentioned might not be completely accurate and I have no confirmation of all of it.

 

[Richard]

I dont think it is her, because like many other people I have been absolutely consumed by her case, did a deep dive and came up with some promising results. According to a number of find-a-person websites, she's alive and living in Sacramento, CA. It comes up with her exact address, and this was found using her full name "Christina Lambert" and her date of birth...
...DISCLAIMER
I'm only sharing what I have found of Likky, the information I have mentioned might not be completely accurate and I have no confirmation of all of it.

I have seen some websites that incorrectly list persons known to be dead as still living and residing at a certain address. These are mostly real estate focused sites which simply list the name of the property owner or family members who resided there, and do not cross check their information with other sources. I have seen instances where they list someone who is supposedly 116 years old that died years ago.

I am not saying that this is the case here, but like anything you see on the web, you have to question it.