DISCOVERY:
At around 7:00 AM on August 27, 1978, hunters Ron Swinger and Lee Parr discovered partial skeletal remains in a wooded area close to Finley Creek Cow Camp, near Elgin, Oregon. The remains, which had been scavenged by animals, were found beneath a log, about 100 feet from the road.
AUTOPSY:
An autopsy revealed Jane Doe had likely died between 1970-75, with the latest possible death date being 1976. While her cause of death couldn’t be determined, it’s believed to have been the result of a homicide, given the circumstances under which her remains were found. Along with being buried face down in a shallow grave, two lengthy cords were found nearby, indicating she may have been strangled.
Fetal remains were also found at the scene, meaning the decedent had been pregnant at the time of her death.
DETAILS:
Jane Doe was a female between 14 and 25 years old, and while her race couldn’t be confirmed, it’s believed she was White. She stood from 5’1″ and 5’4″, weighed 114-140 pounds, and had either light brown, blonde or sandy-blonde hair. Given the level of decomposition, her eye colour couldn’t be determined.
Several items of clothing were found near the body: size 15/16 Catalina-brand red pants that had possibly had the length modified; a halter-top or bra with a flower pattern; and pieces of red cloth, white cloth and zippers. Ankle-high, lace-up shoes, possibly from Red Wing, were found on the remains, and two cords (a four-foot-long nylon cord and a two-foot-long radio cord) were found nearby.
An analysis of the decedent’s remains found she’d had extensive dental work done while alive. She had amalgam fillings in all of her first two molars, with others noted on her third molars and premolars. Her right maxillary third molar was missing and the others were erupted.
The fetal bones found with Jane Doe indicate she had been pregnant at the time of her death, with it theorized she was likely in her 6th-8th month of pregnancy.
It’s believed the decedent wasn’t local to the area, given her description didn’t match any missing persons reports from the time. If she did reside in the region, she likely kept a low profile.
INVESTIGATION:
Between 1978-90, several leads were followed up on. One of them came in 1979, when members of the Oregon State Police and the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office visited an abandoned camp along Forest Road 241, approximately 25 minutes from where Jane Doe’s remains were found. The makeshift camp consisted of a lean-to made from wooden poles cut with either a hand or chainsaw.
A filled-in hole measuring 6′ x 6′ x 6′ was found at the site, with various items, clothing and toiletries found within, including 30-40 Stay Free mini pads, used during one’s menstrual cycle, a canteen with “TESE” written on it in marker, a dark blue nylon windbreaker with “NISQUALLY EAGLES” on it, and a pair of boots with the names “FOX, HOLMAN AND STEPETIN” written on the inside.
The “Stepetin” name was of particular interest to officers from Thurston County, Washington, as a relative of the family had reported his wife, Dana Lou Sanchez, missing years prior. She’d moved back home to Toledo, Ohio, at which point her husband, James “Jamie” Sanchez, had lost contact. Documents were later found that indicated the pair divorced in 1978, proving she was alive after the decedent’s remains were found.
In 1990, despite Jane Doe’s identity and manner of death remaining unknown, Union County District Attorney Russ West ordered the case closed and all evidence, including the skeletal remains, be destroyed. The decedent’s body was subsequently sent to Walla Walla, Washington, and cremated.
Fast-forward to 2019, when two researchers, Jason Futch and Mel Jederberg, created a volunteer task force to try and solve the case. They contacted Redgrave Research to develop a rendering of what Jane Doe possibly looked like when alive, and efforts got underway to try and locate her cremains. Unidentified cremains were found and subsequently sent to Lakehead University’s Paleo-DNA Lab in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, for testing.
Following the release of the artist’s rendering, Suzanne Timms, daughter of missing woman Patricia Lee “Patty” Otto, came forward to say she suspected her mother is the Finley Creek Jane Doe, despite her being ruled out. According to Timms, the decedent and her mother share similarities, including their height and hair colour, and Patty was last seen wearing clothing that appears to match that found at the scene: red pants, ankle-length boots and a white blouse.
Ralph Otto, Timms’ father, is believed to be the one responsible for Patty’s disappearance and presumed murder, and he was actually convicted of hiring a contract killer to take out the lead investigator in charge of the case less than a year after she went missing. The conviction, however, was overturned in 1981 over a technicality. Unfortunately, Otto can’t be questioned today, as he passed away on September 8, 1983.
In 2022, the Oregon State Police searched Finley Creek to try and uncover any evidence that may have been missed back in 1978. While bones were found, they were later proven to not be human.
Several theories have been brought up over the course of the investigation, with it believed Jane Doe could have possibly been a victim of Gary Ridgway (the Green River Killer) or the unknown perpetrator(s) of the Lewis Clark Valley Murders.
RULE OUTS:
- Benita Gay Chamberlin, who went missing from Eugene, Oregon, on February 23, 1978.
- Teresa Lyn Fittin, who went missing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on August 1, 1975.
- Laura Lee Asynithe Flink, who went missing from Pacific Beach, Washington, on February 21, 1969.
- Melanie Dee Flynn, who went missing from Lexington, Kentucky, on January 25, 1977.
- Jamie Rochelle Grisim, who went missing from Vancouver, Washington, on December 7, 1971.
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Wanda Ann Herr, who went missing from Gresham, Oregon, on June 1, 1976. Her remains were discovered in 1986, but not identified until 2020.
- Rita Lorraine Jolly, who went missing from West Linn, Oregon, on June 29, 1973.
- Patricia Lee “Patty” Otto, who went missing from Lewiston, Idaho, on September 2, 1976.
- Laurie Lynn Partridge, who went missing from Spokane, Washington, on December 4, 1974.
- Robyn Ann Pettinato, who went missing from Whitefish, Montana, on July 5, 1975.
- Sherry Jean “Sonny” Pickle, who went missing from Long Beach, California, on May 16, 1972.
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Dana Lou Sanchez, who was reported missing in 1976. She’s been ruled out via documents that prove she was alive beyond that date.
CASE CONTACT INFORMATION:
Jane Doe’s dentals are available for comparison. Crime Stoppers of Oregon is currently offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to a resolution in the case.
Anyone with information regarding the decedent’s identity or her manner of death is asked to contact the Oregon State Police at either +1 (800) 442-2068 or (503) 378-3720. Tips can also be called into the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office at (971) 673-8300 or (971) 673-8200.
Image Credit: Anthony Lukas Redgrave
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