GUILTY PA - Germantown/Philadelphia, skull & bones in sack, buried at Awbury Arboretum, Sep'19 - Rashid Young *Arrest*

[JerseyGirl]

A human skull and bones of a "partial body" were found inside a sack in East Germantown.

A groundskeeper made the discovery around 8:45 a.m. Monday at the Awbury Arboretum.

Police said the sack was partially buried behind the arboretum's Cope House.

Police: Human skull, bones found in East Germantown arboretum

 

[Gardener1850]

Both CBS and ABC have brief chopper videos above the scene:
Human skull, bag of bones found partially buried behind building at Awbury Arboretum

Human Skull, Bones Found Inside Partially Buried Sack At Awbury Arboretum, Philadelphia Police Say

 

[Gardener1850]

With no information to go on except the location, I wonder if this could be the remains of little Charley Ross who disappeared in 1874? His family lived on East Washington Lane, which is one of the streets surrounding the Arboretum: Google Maps

Charley's Thread: PA - PA - Charley Ross, 4, Germantown, 1 July 1874

According to the Arboretum's website the Cope House was built in 1860 (so it would have been there when Charley disappeared in 1874): Our History - Awbury Arboretum | Philadelphia & Historic Germantown

 

[JerseyGirl]

Investigators say the groundskeeper found the remains inside a sack that was partially buried behind Cope House on Awbury Road, just before 9 a.m.

Human Skull, Bones Found Inside Partially Buried Sack At Awbury Arboretum, Philadelphia Police Say

 

[Gardener1850]

I wonder what they mean when they say "sack"? The first thing I think of is a burlap potato sack. Any locals have insight on what else it could be? Would sack be used to describe a plastic bag or a duffel bag?

 

[Gardener1850]

There are currently 106 Philadelphia Missing Persons listed in NAMUS (and more on the Philly PD Missing blog that never get added to NAMUS). Very few cases mention of the Germantown area.

Jacqueline Santana went missing in Feb and is listed as a "runaway" who may be with her boyfriend in Germantown: PA - PA - Jacqueline Santana, 16, May be w/Boyfriend in Germantown, Philadelphia, 4 Feb 2019

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

I'm not sure if Feb is enough time for buried remains in Philadelphia to become skeletal, however. And with the circumstances listed, if accurate, it seems unlikely to be Jacqueline. JMO.

 

[Mysteries1974]

I’m wondering if this is Edna Thorne who has been missing since 1975 from Philadelphia. I also think it may be Charley Ross as Gardner said above as his abduction took place very close in proximity to the site of the remains. Edna is my second pet case and I want to see it solved soon.

The Doe Network: Case File 74DFPA

The Doe Network:
Case File 74DFPA

Left: Thorne, circa 1975; Right: Age-progressed to age 50 (circa 2011)

Edna Christine Thorne
Missing since June 24, 1975 from Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.
Classification: Non-Family Abduction




Vital Statistics

• • Date Of Birth: February 25, 1960
  • Age at Time of Disappearance: 15 years old
  • Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 5'1; 105 pounds
  • Distinguishing Characteristics: White female. Brown hair; brown eyes.
  • Dentals: Available
  • DNA: Available in CODIS.

Circumstances of Disappearance
Thorne was last seen at a relative's home in Philadelphia, PA on June 24, 1975. She was last seen leaving the horse stable.




Investigators
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Philadelphia Police Department
215-685-1180
Email Form
All information may be submitted on an anonymous basis.

Agency Case Number: 25-054798

NCMEC #: NCMC604667

NCIC Number: M-857652106
Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.

Source Information: The National Center For Missing and Exploited Children
NamUs



Return to the Unexplained Disappearances' Index

 

[Mysteries1974]

I also did note that Germantown is only 27 minutes away from where an unidentified man claimed he buried Edna after her disappearance. I’m unsure if this is true or not

 

[JerseyGirl]

Would a bag of any material buried in soil still be intact almost 150 years later?

 

[Gardener1850]

Would a bag of any material buried in soil still be intact almost 150 years later?

None that I know of. That is what has me doubting it could be Charley Ross. According to Google searches burlap starts to decompose after about 10 years outside. Plastic lasts much long but plastic would not have been around in 1874.

 

[Mysteries1974]

Would a bag of any material buried in soil still be intact almost 150 years later?

So does Edna Thorne have potential?

 

[Gardener1850]

So does Edna Thorne have potential?

Maybe. Everyday plastic bags take 10-20 years to decompose according to this: http://storage.neic.org/event/docs/1129/how_long_does_it_take_garbage_to_decompose.pdf
I'm assuming they mean plastic grocery bags or garbage bags. But if the "sack" found is made out of a thicker plastic perhaps it could last longer? I'm not sure.

 

[RememberingRyan]

A nylon or polyester bag could hold up for decades - and both have been common fabrics used in laundry, tent, gym, and other large bags for a long time.

 

[Mysteries1974]

Maybe. Everyday plastic bags take 10-20 years to decompose according to this: http://storage.neic.org/event/docs/1129/how_long_does_it_take_garbage_to_decompose.pdf
I'm assuming they mean plastic grocery bags or garbage bags. But if the "sack" found is made out of a thicker plastic perhaps it could last longer? I'm not sure.

A nylon or polyester bag could hold up for decades - and both have been common fabrics used in laundry, tent, gym, and other large bags for a long time.

Edna has been missing for 44 years so maybe it could hold up that long?

 

[Gardener1850]

Missing child Ke'Shaun Vanderhorst's mother was accused of murdering a man who lived about a mile from Awbury Arboretum: Google Maps
When Ke'Shaun went missing she lived about 6 miles from the Arboretum: Google Maps

Tina may have also lived in the same building as the man who was murdered according to this article: Woman accused of fatally stabbing man 77 times arrested in Mayfair

Ke'Shaun's thread says she was acquitted of the murder charges: PA - PA - Ke'Shaun Vanderhorst, 2, Philadelphia, 25 Sept 1995

 

[Mysteries1974]

Well here are all of the mentioned possible missing persons matches so we stay on track:

-Charles Brewster Ross (07/01/1874) Germantown aged 4
-Edna Christine Thorne (06/24/1975) Philadelphia aged 15
-Jaqueline Santana (02/04/2019) Germantown aged 16
-Ke’Shaun Vanderhorst (09/25/1995) Philadelphia aged 2

 

[Mysteries1974]

I’m hoping that it may be Edna, her sisters are still trying to find her. It’s believed that she was abducted by a non family member and possibly killed.

 

[Gardener1850]

Another one for consideration: Brenwanda Smith was last seen on Wissahickon Ave which is only about 2 miles from the Arboretum:
PA - PA - Brenwanda Smith, 24, Philadelphia, 18 Feb 1997

Also, her High School was Central High School which was in the same area (1.4 miles from the Arboretum): Google Maps

 

[JenNJ]

 

[JenNJ]

Philadelphia Police: Groundskeeper Finds Human Skull, Bones Inside Partially Buried Sack At Arboretum

Sorry new at posting links, the police say partially decomposed in the most recent articles for our local stations. You guys are amazing at finding and bringing attention to all these missing that are forgotten! Hopefully someone finds closure from this soon.