Could there be a connection between the February 13, 1983 discovery of the unidentified body of “Wetzel County, West Virginia Jane Doe” and criminal activity occurring at the Hare Krishna community at New Vrindaban at the time?
The body was found alongside Highway 250 near Littleton, WV, just 30 miles south of the Hare Krishna commune.
No member of the Hare Krishna community has ever been officially named as a suspect in the death of “Wetzel County Jane Doe.” However, this post offers an alternate theory to the prevailing idea that the Wetzel County Jane Doe is one of the “Readhead Murder” victims. A lot has been written elsewhere about the Redhead Murders, so no need to repeat it here.
The naked body of Jane Doe was found on the snowy morning of February 13, 1983 alongside Highway 250 near Littleton, West Virginia. (Wetzel County.) Littleton is near where the Hare Krishna community’s leader—Swami Kirtanananda (aka Keith Ham)—would later live in exile from about 1993 to 1996. The Swami was known to have certain devotees do his dirty work, which included quashing dissent, murdering a whistleblower, coercing marriages, separating children from families and running financial scams nationwide. Some Hare Krishna devotees eventually lived near Littleton itself, although probably not until the early 90s.
Jane Doe was killed in 1983 during the peak period of nefarious activities at the New Vrindaban community. One devotee is serving a life sentence for killing another devotee at the commune in 1983 and for killing a former New Vrindaban devotee in Santa Monica in 1986. The second devotee murdered was a whistleblower to the crimes and abuses at New Vrindaban and within the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). The devotee who committed the murders was not publicly named a suspect in the killing of Jane Doe nor in the dumping of her body. However, a local investigator has indicated that he could be named a suspect if the victim is identified. The events at the commune point to a criminal and violent enterprise operating in proximity at the same time as the dumping of Jane Doe.
Jane Doe was never confirmed to be a Hare Krishna devotee. However, a local investigator mentioned that the contents of her stomach were vegetarian in nature and possibly consistent with a vegan diet, a tenet of Hare Krishna living.
It was common for young women (and men) to drop out of society and join the Hare Krishna farm community at New Vrindaban. Some were coerced into joining. Sometimes they would not inform their family or friends of their whereabouts. Generally, they adopted spiritual or Vedic names. There are rumors that a fringe element of the Hare Krishna community ran prostitution and drugs in the Wheeling, WV and Pittsburgh, PA areas during this period, both within a 90 minute drive of the community. First person accounts from devotees of this period tell of near-continual scams where women were bussed across the region to panhandle and raise money for fake charities. Many devotee women were vulnerable to exploitation during this time.
The difficulty in identifying Jane Doe has led to speculation that she led a transient lifestyle and may have frequented truck stops and/or worked in prostitution or was trafficked.
JANE DOE’S BODY:
Estimated Age: 30-45 years old (most likely at the higher end of age range)
Race: White
Gender: Female
Height: 5'5" to 5'6"
Weight: 135 lbs.
Hair Color: Auburn, medium length.
Eye Color: Possibly brown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Scar on index finger. Caesarean scar. Double pierced ears. Orange painted toenails. Shaved legs and underarms. Blood type is B. Fitted with upper denture likely within eight weeks prior to death. Found nude.
Additional information can be found at The Doe Network.
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Highway 250 runs southeast into the foothills from the populated Ohio River communities of Moundsville and Wheeling, WV. The highway from either of those cities to the dumping ground would have passed near New Vrindaban, especially on the previous night when lesser roads may have been impassable due to snow. It seems reasonable to conclude that the perpetrator, had it not been for the snow, would have executed a better plan for disposing the body.
Many online communities speculate that Jane Doe is one of the “Redhead Murder” victims, but some members of area law enforcement have expressed skepticism.
It should be mentioned that New Vrindaban has long been home to a vast majority of good people and faithful devotees who live peacefully and in accordance with the precepts of their religion. Hare Krishna is an ancient religion that arrived in America in 1966. Today, New Vrindaban is full of welcoming devotees who contribute to the wider community and inhabit a thriving, transparent and sustainable religious community.
Contact the Paden City, WV State Police Detachment with information. 304-455-0913.
Or email me privately at
speak4thelost@gmail.com.
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