So the park is handling the case? I was wondering why this UID seemed to have gotten "lost" when so many other UIDs in the county are in NamUs and other websites, but if the park does it own thing, then maybe they just haven't entered anything into any databases. Which makes me wonder if they also have other unlisted UIDs and/or missing persons.
The autopsy report is interesting. I wish they had an estimated height or a more detailed postmortem interval, but there is some other important info:
1. It was definitely a homicide and she was likely shot with a .25 caliber bullet
2. She had dental amalgams/fillings in teeth 2, 3, 5, 14 and 15. So if you're looking for potential matches, definitely look out for missing women who have had dental care, particularly fillings in the upper teeth. The mandible wasn't present though, so don't rule anyone out based on their lower teeth.
Some of the other bones were missing (wrists, hands, feet, etc) but the report doesn't suggest they were cut off, and it says there were signs of gnawing. What kind of animals are in the park?
(Btw, Ice190, thanks for all the work you've been doing for this poor girl. You're awesome)
Thank YOU for posting this! I tried to months ago, I was a long time lurker and then found this.
Obviously the gunshot on the side of the head at an upwards but direct angle is interesting, but I'm assuming that a lack of a gun at the scene is the only true evidence of a murder (which I believe). Can a gun enthusiast tell us what kind of gun would have used a .25, and who would typically own one and for what back then?
The dental work would be valuable for sure; that, DNA, and isotope testing on those teeth are probably the best bet. It'd be really awesome to get a facial reconstruction. If you didn't notice, the skull was transferred to the
Case Western Reserve University Dental School. Don't know what happened after that, whether it was reunited before the burial or not.
I am not sure of the natural ranges of animals especially 40 years ago, but deer, rodents, racoons, skunks, coyotes, foxes, and maybe otters live in these urban parks. Best bet on the gnawing is probably coyotes, foxes, and racoons.
The lack of height annoys me to pieces. The coroner was Dr. Sam Gerber, he'd been at it for at least 40 years by then. He was able to do the Torso Victims, why not this Jane Doe?
As for my prior uncertainties; I found a 1973 copy of a Lorain-Medina Counties atlas, and by cross referencing Google maps that is most definitely the B&O railroad, as mentioned in the article. According to the
Metroparks website, that is the Eastern branch of the Rocky River, and mentioned by Irish_Eyes this took place within the Mill Stream Run Reservation, and Valley Parkway is definitely Eastland Road. Verifying this makes those to screen captures in the original post correct locations. An exact location from there can be determined from the autopsy report.
All this makes me want to check the status of the unidentified male that is listed directly below her in the cemetery index...
The head judge of the Cuyahoga County Probate Court is de-facto head of the Metroparks. Really though the parks is mainly controlled and operated by the Board of Park Commissioners - who are appointed by the Judge. The Board hires the Executive Director of the Parks (and I think maybe the legal counsel also), and the Exec Director is in charge of all the Department directors - the heads of all the reservations, the Rangers, the Zoo, Golf, etc., and on down the chain. (I guess I paid more attention in new employee orientation than I thought, lol. I worked for the parks for a few years.) 
