DISCOVERY:
On September 19, 1990, a three-man inmate work crew discovered the decomposing body of an unidentified female along I-40 in Hillsborough, North Carolina. The body was over a guardrail, approximately 15 feet down an embankment, just east of the New Hope Church Road exit.
AUTOPSY:
An autopsy was performed upon the body being brought to the medical examiner’s office, where it was learned that Jane Doe had died approximately three to six days prior to being found.
Her cause of death was deemed homicide by strangulation. Toxicology reports came back as negative.
DETAILS:
Jane Doe is described as white, and is believed to have been between 14 and 25 years old. She stood approximately 5’3″ to 5’5″ tall, and weighed anywhere from 105 to 115 pounds.
Her hair, which featured a shoulder-length layer cut, was dyed either brown or strawberry blonde and frosted. Given the level of decomposition, her eye colour could not be determined. She had a 3″ appendectomy scar on her lower right abdomen. There are numerous notes regarding her teeth. While she had three fillings, tooth decay was evident in three others. Four of her teeth had tilted to the lingual and one had a lingual crossbite. Her wisdom teeth had not yet erupted.
When found, Jane Doe was wearing a pink sportswear sweater with three rabbits on the front, two of which were on bikes, the other on a unicycle; a Warner bra, size 34; white anklet socks; a thin twisted metal bracelet on her left wrist; and a thin yellow ring on her left ring finger. Given her socks were clean, it’s believed her killer may have taken her shoes, which are believed to have been either a size 6 or 6 1/2, as a souvenir.
There were no signs that she’d ever given birth. It also didn’t appear as though she’d suffered any previous bone fractures or breaks.
Witnesses came forward to say they’d seen a woman matching her description walking near the Ramada Inn along I-85, near NC 62. She may have also been seen at a truck stop in Alamance County.
Police have stated they believe Jane Doe could have been a victim of a taxi driver who was known to have murdered in the months before she was found. He was arrested in Guilford County, but died by suicide after declining an interview with Orange County officers.
RULE OUTS:
1) Gina Brooks, who went missing from Fredericktown, Missouri on August 5, 1989.
2) Autumn Cox, who went missing from North Carolina.
3) Krista Dela Rosa, who went missing from Portland, Oregon on August 3, 1990.
4) Kimie Eddy, who went missing from West Virginia.
5) Janet Glover, who went missing from Virginia.
6) Brenda Green, who went missing from Brookwood, Alabama on July 2, 1988.
7) Billie Jean Hall, who went missing from Daytona Beach, Florida on February 2, 1985.
8) Diana Hall, who went missing from Oklahoma.
9) Gina Hall, who went missing from Radford, Virginia on June 28, 1980.
10) Angela Hamby, who went missing from Wilkesboro, North Carolina on October 29, 1982.
11) Frankie Horsley, who went missing from Fayetteville, North Carolina on March 10, 1983.
12) Michelle Jakaitis, who went missing from Massachusetts.
13) Patricia Kelley, who went missing from Cleveland, Tennessee on August 19, 1983.
14) Hazel Klug, who went missing from Richmond, Virginia on May 20, 1986.
15) Tracy Kroh, who went missing from Millersburg, Pennsylvania on August 5, 1989.
16) Alicia Markovich, who went missing from Blairsville, Pennsylvania on April 26, 1987.
17) Tammie McCormick, who went missing from Saratoga Springs, New York on April 19, 1986.
18) Helen Miltenberger, who went missing from Pennsylvania.
19) Victoria Owxczynsky, who went missing from Minneapolis, Minnesota on August 26, 1990.
20) Jennifer Pandos, who went missing from Williamsburg, Virginia on February 10, 1987.
21) Cynthia Perry, who went missing from Raleigh, North Carolina on June 21, 1985.
22) Joann Pogue, who went missing from Indiana.
23) Kristina Porco, who went missing from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina on November 29, 1986.
24) Shannon Potter, who went missing from Baltimore, Maryland on March 3, 1984.
25) Dean Peters, who went missing from Grand Rapids, Michigan on February 2, 1981.
26) Sandy Rea, who went missing from Shawnee, Oklahoma on September 19, 1984.
27) Patricia Schmidt, who went missing from Richmond, Virginia on June 4, 1985.
28) Tiffany Sessions, who went missing from Gainesville, Florida on February 9, 1989.
29) Stephanie Slater, who went missing from Florida.
30) Angela Smith, who went missing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana on November 13, 1989.
31) Karen Spencer, who went missing from Miami Township, Ohio on December 29, 1989.
32) Sally Stone, who went missing from Coeur d’Arlene, Idaho on May 16, 1986.
33) Susan Swedell, who went missing from Lake Elmo, Minnesota on January 19, 1988.
34) Charlene Villinger, who went missing from Virgina Beach, Virginia on September 4, 1989.
35) Joyce Walcott, who went missing from Reseda, California on April 29, 1986.
36) Paulette Webster, who went missing from Chester, Illinois on September 2, 1988.
37) Nancy Willis, who went missing from Bradley County, Tennessee on December 23, 1986.
38) Connie Royce, who went missing from Mount Clemens, Michigan on June 1, 1990.
39) Paige Renkoski, who went missing from Fowlerville, Michigan on May 24, 1990.
40) Meredith Medina, who went missing from Midwest City, Oklahoma on February 14, 1989.
41) Monique McClelland, who went missing from Levittown, Pennsylvania on August 21, 1983.
42) Penny Lease, who went missing from Urbana-Champaign, Illinois on June 2, 1989.
43) Andrea Durham, who went missing from Fort Walton Beach, Florida on February 1, 1990.
44) Stacey Chahorski, who went missing from Norton Shores, Michigan on September 15, 1988.
45) Veronica Blumhorst, who went missing from Mendota, Illinois on September 20, 1990.
CASE CONTACT INFORMATION:
Jane Doe’s DNA and dentals are available for comparison.
Those with information regarding the identity of Jane Doe are being asked to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at 919-245-2900. Tips can also be called into the North Carolina Office of the Medical Examiner at either 919-743-9000 or 1-800-672-7024.
Image Credit: NCMEC/Carl Koppelman
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