DISCOVERY:
On September 13, 1975, a motorist driving in the 700 block of Artesia Boulevard on Compton, Los Angeles County, California noticed the nude body of an unidentified female near a curb on the side of the road. Immediately, he drove to a nearby business and notified the security guard on duty, who contacted the authorities.
The area in which Jane Doe was found is also located near Wilmington Avenue. Her body was surrounded by blood, and it appeared as though she had been dumped from a moving vehicle.
AUTOPSY:
An autopsy was performed not long after Jane Doe’s discovery, which found she had died hours prior. While she had sustained two gunshots to the head, they were not the cause of death and had likely only rendered her unconscious. Her cause of death was blunt-force trauma, the result of her head striking the road after being thrown out of a vehicle. Her face showed severe injuries.
While Jane Doe was unclothed, there were no signs of sexual assault or rape. As well, toxicology tests showed there were no drugs or alcohol in her system at the time of her death.
DETAILS:
Jane Doe is described as African American, and is believed to have been between 14 and 17 years of age. She stood anywhere from 4’11” to 5’2″ and weighed approximately 90 to 110 pounds. Her black hair was short and curly, and she had brown eyes. She also had a 1-1/2″ scar on the instep of her left foot.
While nude when found, Jane Doe was wearing a wide array of jewelry, which included the following: a silver or white metal ring with a white stone and six green stones; a gold bracelet; a gold ring with a large black stone that featured a gold-coloured flower in the middle; a silver or white metal keychain; and a white metal or silver bracelet.
Police are currently unsure of the motive behind Jane Doe’s murder. As the location where her body was found is near a freeway, it’s believed she could have possibly been a hitchhiker from either a different city or state.
Also known to investigators as Jane Doe No. 51, she was cremated in 1975.
CASE CONTACT INFORMATION:
Jane Doe’s DNA, dentals and fingerprints are currently available for comparison.
Those with information regarding the identity of Jane Doe are being asked to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at 323-533-1004 or 323-890-5500. Tips can also be called into the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office at 323-343-0754 or 323-343-0512, or anonymously via Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Image Credit: NCMEC/Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department
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