Is there an online database of former Does?

[Hank36]

I'm looking at a 1987 police report which cites details of an unidentified black female whose remains were found in Broward County, Florida on April 24, 1972. The victim had been raped and strangled with a rope, and apparently in a state of advanced decomposition. (Somewhere in my notes I've jotted down a more precise location, but it is not in front of me at present; suffice to say that while there was no precise street address, she was found in the northwest section of Fort Lauderdale.) The only truly distinguishing detail about the case is that "numerous pornographic magazines were found near the victim's body".

I've not managed to find any mention of this victim on sites such as the Doe Network or NAMUS; my knee-jerk presumption is that this is indication that positive identification was obtained at some point within the past 33 years. However, I've not yet any newspaper articles concerning an identification of this victim (or, for that matter, 1972 articles about her discovery.)

Is there a database or similar resource which compiles information on--for want of a better phrase--former Does? (And is there a better label to describe "since-identified people whose remains were unidentified for significant periods of time"?)

 

[Laughing]

Have you tried a newspaper archive for Florida, starting at the April 1972 date to find jurisdiction, and follow forward?

I'm basically a genealogist, that's a tried & true method for finding family members.

JMHO YMMV LRR

 

[Hank36]

Have you tried a newspaper archive for Florida, starting at the April 1972 date to find jurisdiction, and follow forward?

I'm basically a genealogist, that's a tried & true method for finding family members.

JMHO YMMV LRR

Yes, but got nowhere, beyond 1987 articles referencing the police report I mentioned. The problem is that I don't have a name to enter as a search term, and south Florida newspapers have never been known to fall all over themselves providing coverage of black female homicide victims.

 

[Laughing]

@Hank36 , consider contacting the prosecutor's office in the jurisdiction for more information. They may say "open case no info" or at least tell you what was turned over to them.

Consider the area's genealogical society &/or historical society. Participants are generally curious and can have bulldog determination in finding information & making connections. (Some of us are perceived as nosy, too, so set your personal boundaries beforehand.)

I've never lived in Florida, or a large Southern metropolitan area. Would this area have had an African-American focus newspaper in this era? News and obituaries could be helpful.

Not my area, but others have started Facebook pages for missing/deceased people. If there is a page for Missing in Florida, that might be something to try.

If you have an article published in 1987 about a 1971/1972 homicide, was the lady still unidentified at that time?

I"ll keep thinking about the problem. Maybe we'll hook another local with more experience in newspaper archives.

Could you go the newspaper archive & charm a librarian???

Best, Laughing

JMHO YMMV LRR

 

[Hank36]

Knowing what I know about the matter (essentially this victim was once considered a possible victim of a serial killer active in that neighborhood), I would have to believe that the victim was likely identified at some point in the 90's, likely the early part of the decade, before online databases such as the Doe Network began consolidating such data. Probably the simplest solution is to very politely ask people associated with the case if they can recall why this victim was apparently later removed from these lists.

I guess I'm surprised to come up so empty-handed, given that I at least have a year and a location.

 

[YaYa_521]

@Hank36 I'm sorry I don't have much in the way of answers to offer as help. I would like to point you to the WS Serial Killers forum. I'd encourage you to re-post this message as there will undoubtedly be numerous WS members who may know intricate details of SKs and their victims. Their answers may help find the identity of this young lady. Good luck!

 

[Hank36]

A quick follow-up (if anybody cares): I contacted, via e-mail, the detective who wrote this report back in 1987, mentioning that I couldn't find the case on NamUs. The detective (now an inspector) emailed me back; he remembered the case, but didn't know if it had ever been resolved. He felt the most likely scenario is simply that nobody ever submitted her case to NamUs. Thus, he is going to contact Carrie Sutherland, give her the original case number, and see what happens.