The Appalling Death of Loudoun County Jane Doe(1961)
In the early morning of December 16th, 1961, two county sheriffs found a grim sight — a teenage girl’s body. She was found lying in a honeysuckle bush in a ditch, off the side of a rural highway near Hillsboro, Virginia, United States.
She was believed to have been thrown there out of a car, and to have been dead for around 2 hours when she was found. She had been savagely beaten on her back, sides, and legs.
The autopsy found that her cause of death was subdural hematoma and brain hemorrhaging. Strangely, Commonwealths’ Attorney Stirling Harrison reported that the victim’s killer was “unquestionably” a “sex fiend”.
However, Dr. Earl Vitts, the deputy county medical examiner, stated that there was no evidence of sexual assault. The “sex fiend” claims were likely an attempt to sensationalize the case.
The young girl was white, and estimated to have been 15–18 years old at her time of death. She stood at 5’ 0”- 5’1” tall, and weighed 95–100 pounds. She had dark brown wavy hair, cut short, and brown eyes.
She was wearing a navy blue pullover shirt, with the name “Jamie” written on the neck band, a white brassiere with a safety pin on the back near the elastic hooks, labeled “Habson Creation, 100% cotton, Sanforized, size 36-B”, and blue corduroy pedal-pusher pants.
A white coat with a belt with 2 white socks in the pockets was found near her body.
Her fingerprints were taken and sent to the FBI, but no matches were found. Law enforcement agencies in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC were all contacted without any luck in identifying the young girl.
It is unknown if her DNA or dental x-rays were taken. Unfortunately, she is still unidentified to this day.
This case is incredibly sad. This young girl’s life was taken far too soon. Modern technology presents hope of her eventual identification, perhaps through genetic genealogy.
Regardless, this case should not have even happened. May she rest in peace.
Sources:
Newspaper clips shown in this article
https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/84926
https://www.loudoun.gov/FormCenter/Sheriffs-Office-6/Jane-Doe-1961-Homicide-Victim-275
