DISCOVERY:
On the evening of October 22, 1975, two duck hunters found the body of a nude woman floating in a tributary of Mud Creek, in Salem Township, Ottawa County, Ohio. The location, near West Mud Creek Road, is approximately three or four miles southeast of the small village of Oak Harbor.
AUTOPSY:
The decedent’s body was recovered and brought in for examination, with it being determined she’d likely died between 48 and 72 hours prior to being found, as decomposition had begun.
While the cause of death was determined to be drowning, the case has been noted as suspicious, given Jane Doe wasn’t wearing any clothes. There were no signs of trauma found on her body.
DETAILS:
Jane Doe is described as a White female between the ages of 20 and 30, with it possible she was as old as 35. She stood around 5’4″ and 5’5″, weighed 140-150 pounds, and had medium-length reddish-brown hair and brown/hazel eyes. While nude, she was wearing a wire love knot ring (also known as Celtic knot ring) and her ears were pierced.
The autopsy revealed the decedent had poor dental health, with damage noted to her teeth and a gap between those in the front of her mouth. There were also signs she was a smoker and that she’d given birth within a year of her death, likely in late 1974.
While her identity remains unknown, one investigator who’s looked into the case believes Jane Doe may have been the victim of human trafficking or died from a drug-related incident.
CASE CONTACT INFORMATION:
Jane Doe’s DNA is currently available for comparison.
Anyone with information regarding the identity of Jane Doe or the circumstances surrounding her death is asked to contact the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office at (419) 734-4404. Tips can also be called into the FBI’s Toledo Office at (419) 243-6122.
Image Credit: The Doe Network
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