DISCOVERY:
On May 28, 1973 (some sources say the 26th), farmers checking on cattle at Foundry and Taylor roads in Lincoln, Loudon County, Virginia, came across the body of a deceased female. She was found in an embankment that had been created for a railroad during the American Civil War, which had never been built.
AUTOPSY:
The decedent’s remains were transported to the medical examiner’s office, where it was determined she’d been dead for around two days. Her cause of death was homicide, with it noted she had traumatic wounds across her body. The fatal injury had been a gunshot.
DETAILS:
Jane Doe is described as an African-American female between the ages of 20 and 25, with it possible she was as young as 18. She stood at 5’7″, weighed 145 pounds and had black hair. Her eye colour isn’t known.
When found, the decedent was wearing an orange blouse; a plaid orange, blue and white seersucker-type jacket; red/orange knit slacks; underwear; and a brassiere. Her shoes were missing. On her right ring finger, she had an 18-karat yellow-gold ring with a blue square Swarovski stone in the centre, size 5.5.
Of note was Jane Doe’s nails, which were manicured with purple and red polish.
In 2023, a team from the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office exhumed Jane Doe’s remains from Mount Olive Baptist Church Cemetery and transported them to the coroner’s office for DNA analysis. While a profile was create, they’ve been unable to find any family members that are close enough to the decedent to identify her.
That being said, investigators have been able to provide more specifics through this genealogical work. It’s likely that, along with Virginia, Jane Doe had connections to Georgia, Mississippi or Michigan, and her distant relatives have the surnames Shepherd, Booker and Loving.
CASE CONTACT INFORMATION:
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office at (703) 777-1021 or the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner – Northern District at (703) 530-2600. Tips can also be called into Loudon County Crime Solvers at (703) 777-1919.
Image Credit: Loudon County Sheriff’s Office
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