Jewelry/Clothing found with Princess Blue's remains

[Earthbound Misfit I]

Hi Malamute. Both great ideas. I'm not sure what Robert E. Lee High School's school colors are so not sure if the stone is a birthstone or one of the school colors or both.

Welcome to Websleuths.

Just wanted to toss out some more thoughts. The stone in a school ring is often the birthstone of the owner, at least that is how I recall it. And at my HS, the sides of the ring could be personalized to the individual (e.g. drama, band, cheerleading) so perhaps the sides of the ring will yield another clue to the original owner?

 

[SadieMae]

Things we know about the ring...correct me if it's wrong
1. Size 9 1/2, sized up twice
2. Female's ring
3. The letter "L" is for Lee High School
4. From Class of 1975.
5. Princess Blue is not the original owner of ring.

I think the blue stone if not one of the school's colors may represent the birthstone for September, Sapphire. I ordered my class ring in '73 with my birthstone (synthetic), as well as did many other females. Don't know how to check birthdates for this class, but I think looking for females with a September birthdate will lead to something.

Hi Raindrops and welcome to WS!! A good theory so I called a friend who has pawnshops to ask him. He said when they buy old class rings they don't resell them and melt them for the gold content. Most times they don't pay much for them because they are usually 10K gold, the stones are synthetic, many are personalized with owner's initials inscribed, and they just don't sell. He's been in business here over 30 years and said he remembers buying less than 10 class rings.

ETA: We were thinking and posting the same thing Malamute!!! Welcome to WS!!!

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

Sadie, sounds right to me. It is possible the blue stone in the REL (Houston) ring is the original owners birthstone. Maybe once MrsG gets the yearbook and we get the names of the females when can research each one individually and see if we can come up with when they were born (Month)

Things we know about the ring...correct me if it's wrong
1. Size 9 1/2, sized up twice
2. Female's ring
3. The letter "L" is for Lee High School
4. From Class of 1975.
5. Princess Blue is not the original owner of ring.

I think the blue stone if not one of the school's colors may represent the birthstone for September, Sapphire. I ordered my class ring in '73 with my birthstone (synthetic), as well as did many other females. Don't know how to check birthdates for this class, but I think looking for females with a September birthdate will lead to something.

Hi Raindrops and welcome to WS!! A good theory so I called a friend who has pawnshops to ask him. He said when they buy old class rings they don't resell them and melt them for the gold content. Most times they don't pay much for them because they are usually 10K gold, the stones are synthetic, many are personalized with owner's initials inscribed, and they just don't sell. He's been in business here over 30 years and said he remembers buying less than 10 class rings.

ETA: We were thinking and posting the same thing Malamute!!! Welcome to WS!!!

 

[LionRun]

I'm usually a reader, but wanted to make this comment. This may have already been said, but I missed it if it was.
It's a possibility that the original owner of the ring pawned it. Back then class rings were actually gold and had true stones, not synthetic (at least mine did, from '72), so it would have been worth pawning. If you do find the original owner and it was pawned, maybe the pawn shop has records that could be searched. I realize this is unlikely, but it is a possibility.
This is an interesting thread and you guys are doing great!

Thank you raindrops, and welcome to WS. I understand that you may usually be a reader and not a poster; but, your theory that the ring may have been pawned was excellent, and I hope you post more often. We could certainly use more of your spot on thoughts.

Lion

 

[SadieMae]

Some possibilities on the rings original owner:
1. Belonged to UID's sister/aunt. I don't really think one is plausible, unless the UID's sister/aunt was deceased. Then I could see a sister wearing her class ring. I don't see a reason for me to wear my younger sister's hs ring or any for her to wear mine. Along with having the yearbook, if we could get information on the 1990 (15th) class reunion's list of deceased female students.
2. The ring belonged to the UID's mother: I'm tending more towards this one. Mother may or may not be alive, but I'm swinging to she is also deceased. It's quite possible. Many students at my high school were having kids in their freshman year. From the other forums on Lee high, it sounds a lot like my old hs. Princess Blue could have born while mom was in high school. Same way to try to track her down, the yearbook, and the class list of deceased females. And wonder how many alumni remember who had a kid in hs. I just find it hard to believe a mother would not report a daughter missing if she is alive. I can see a daughter wearing her mother's class ring, even if the mom was still alive.

 

[LionRun]

Just wanted to toss out some more thoughts. The stone in a school ring is often the birthstone of the owner, at least that is how I recall it. And at my HS, the sides of the ring could be personalized to the individual (e.g. drama, band, cheerleading) so perhaps the sides of the ring will yield another clue to the original owner?

Welcome Malamute. BTW, do you have a Mal? Though I may be a lion I do love dogs dearly . Actually I have been training dogs since I was ten years old. And, I love all animals except for scorpions and centipedes, ticks, fleas and the like.

I think your thoughts are right on. Most girls back than would have chosen their birth stone to have set in their HS rings, I think. And, as a custom option they may have wanted to include additional writing(if available by the ring company at that time) on the metal portion of the ring.

I emailed the DET today asking him if there was evidence of any initials on the inside of the rings as well. The ring was, "well worn" so I wanted to know if was possible to use scientific methods to recover any writing on the inner side of the band--if it ever existed. I haven't heard back from him, yet.

Concerning the birthstone type and/or color there could be one zebra that I can think of. I never got an HS ring; but, I got so far as choosing one. And, my graduation year was 1977. We had the option of choosing any of the stones available that we wanted. Most chose their birthstones. However, my birthstone has a color best described as being in between puke green and urine yellow. That was not and will never happen for me. I would have ordered a pretty blue sapphire instead, for my favorite color is blue. But, along with the other zebras, I will place this though on hold until we explore all of the horses, the more likely possibilities.

That brings me to one more point. Is there anyone will to make a list of zebras and post them for us to have easy access to?

Lion

 

[LionRun]

Things we know about the ring...correct me if it's wrong
1. Size 9 1/2, sized up twice
2. Female's ring
3. The letter "L" is for Lee High School
4. From Class of 1975.
5. Princess Blue is not the original owner of ring.

I think the blue stone if not one of the school's colors may represent the birthstone for September, Sapphire. I ordered my class ring in '73 with my birthstone (synthetic), as well as did many other females. Don't know how to check birthdates for this class, but I think looking for females with a September birthdate will lead to something.

Hi Raindrops and welcome to WS!! A good theory so I called a friend who has pawnshops to ask him. He said when they buy old class rings they don't resell them and melt them for the gold content. Most times they don't pay much for them because they are usually 10K gold, the stones are synthetic, many are personalized with owner's initials inscribed, and they just don't sell. He's been in business here over 30 years and said he remembers buying less than 10 class rings.

ETA: We were thinking and posting the same thing Malamute!!! Welcome to WS!!!

Bedangit, SadieMae, you are good! Thank you for the info , your thoughts, and your research. Most helpful it tis', my friend

Lion

 

[Jaded]

I believe the class ring does say REL Houston on it. There's a pic posted here somewhere of the ring they found.

Edited to add photo:

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

MrsG,
Have you seen this view of the ring? One is the view we have all seen and the other is a side of (well one side anyhow) of the ring.

You can see the images here:
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/mpch/UnidentifiedDetails.asp?id=U0310014

Also, something about the ring company- Balfour and Jostens do a lot of rings, and I know they don't always keep records that far back. However, if we can just get a closer look at the sides of the ring.... since this picture has been posted, I've flipped my monitor over to look at the picture to see if we could see the emblems on the sides of the ring. NOTHING. How can we get in touch with LE to ask them to describe it for us? You'd think they'd be even more specific, considering that there are 2-3 articles on this case and it's fairly open to the public (even if the ring only says "the Lancets" and "1975" on the sides) Do we know this yet? :waitasec:


MG

 

[Jaded]

MrsG,
Have you seen this view of the ring? One is the view we have all seen and the other is a side of (well one side anyhow) of the ring.

You can see the images here:
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/mpch/UnidentifiedDetails.asp?id=U0310014

I wonder if there is any way we can find out what is on the other side of the ring - wondering if it is school club insignias. That would allow us to narrow down the owner.

 

[Aprilvic]

Dang , I wish they would show the other side as well. This side looks like General lee's face! I want to see the rest of it

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

Question here...

Does anyone know if Balfour does resizing of rings? If Balfour did do the class rings for the REL (Houston) class of 1975 is it possible someone could take the ring back there at a later date to have it resized? I know I've read that Balfour is close by REL High (Houston) so it would make sense that someone might take it back there to have it resized if they still lived in the area. I know it was said that the people who did the rings didn't have records from 1975 but is it possible they might have records of anyone bringing it back at a later time to be resized??

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

LOL..it is General Lee's face and I believe it says "Generals" under his likeness?

Dang , I wish they would show the other side as well. This side looks like General lee's face! I want to see the rest of it

 

[Jaded]

Question here...

Does anyone know if Balfour does resizing of rings? If Balfour did do the class rings for the REL (Houston) class of 1975 is it possible someone could take the ring back there at a later date to have it resized? I know I've read that Balfour is close by REL High (Houston) so it would make sense that someone might take it back there to have it resized if they still lived in the area. I know it was said that the people who did the rings didn't have records from 1975 but is it possible they might have records of anyone bringing it back at a later time to be resized??

http://www.balfour.com/CustomerService/LimitedLifetimeWarranty.aspx

Limited Lifetime Warranty

Your Balfour® class ring is special, and we have hand-crafted it especially for you to ensure years of enjoyment. That’s why we offer the following warranty services to be performed without charge for the original owner of the Balfour class ring:

- Repair defects in workmanship or materials at the time of original delivery*

- Resize ring (all rings can be resized up to two sizes)

Address
2930 Chimney Rock
Houston, TX 77056


(713) 784-4990

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

LionRun,
Who would we need to contact to find out what is on the other side of the ring?

Thank you

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

Thank you Jaded! I have had the Balfour website up all day but never had the chance to read through it. So it is very possible that's where the ring went for resizing.

http://www.balfour.com/CustomerService/LimitedLifetimeWarranty.aspx



Address
2930 Chimney Rock
Houston, TX 77056


(713) 784-4990

 

[LionRun]

Clothing: There was no clothing found on or near Princess Blue's remains.

Jewelry: Unfortunately, Princess Blue's weight was initially estimated to be at about 175 LB. back in 1990 based solely on the the Robert E. Lee, Houston ring, size 9 1/2 that was found on her skeletonized finger. However, a full forensics work-up by a team of forensics specialists was completed in 3/07, and she was estimated to have had a small to medium frame in life.

Estimated as a petite 4' 11" to 5' 3" tall, 175 LB. would have meant that in life she would have been considered to be obese. Because of this many of us all but ruled out small to medium framed missing girls/young women until we learned about the new, comprehensive forensics report. A complete forensics work up was never done until 3/07, although a forensics specialist did complete an autopsy in 1990. We have a copy of the 1990 autopsy report, and it has its own thread here in Princess's spotlight forum.

 

[sloane10]

I posted this once before (#108 in the general discussion forum), but it's been so long, I'll put it again here... upon further inspection, the "L" on her class ring is actually NOT inlaid under the stone, but rather it is etched into the top of it. One can feel the indention. It was probably painted in with the gold , but most of the gold is now gone. I doubt this makes much difference, but just thought I should mention it, for clarity's sake. thanks.

warmly, sloane

 

[Shylent]

For some reason this case has caught my eye and I not able to let it go ... This is my first time posting so go easy on me for repeating anything already known or just being a dunce in general :loser:

I just wanted to add, for what it is worth, that I had a unicorn ring /necklace set nearly identical to the unicorn ring when I was around 11 - Which interestingly enough was the same year her body was discovered. The turquoise bit inlay silver unicorn style was a staple at many flea markets here in the Kentucky area - they were pretty cheap at anywhere for 8 dollars for a ring up to 20 dollars for a set consisting of a ring,necklace and earrings.

Also , I am pretty sure the silver scroll design had a dome shaped clear stone with a mirrored background in it - also a super common cheap-o number ( had a few of those too )

With all the rings I wonder if she was like me and was a ring junkie ? I used to (and still do) pick up rings at flea markets etc super cheap just because I liked the color/style etc. If that is the case it is likely the class ring could have just been something she thought was pretty cool and decided to wear ?


Now- be gentle with me people :truce:

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

Hi Shylent! Thank you for your post. It is very possible that Princess Blue had a thing for rings such as you do. She may have picked up the class ring at a pawn shop or flea market, etc. and had no real attachment to it. It may not have been sentimental to her whatsoever. The class ring however has been our best clue to date.

Some of the things we have asked when sending out letters to the 1975 Robert E Lee (Houston) High School alumni are:

• Have you lost your class ring? If so, when? If known.
• Have you had your class ring stolen? If so, when? If known.
• Have you given away your class ring? If so, when? If known. ETA: and to whom?
• Have you pawned your class ring? If so, when? If known.

Then, of course, we have included the sketches of Princess Blue asking if she looks familiar, could she have attended class with them, etc.

The one thing we know for certain is that the class ring Princess Blue was found with belonged to one of the girls who was in the Class of 1975 at Robert E. Lee (Houston) High School.