CA CA - Los Angeles, WhtFem UP4332, 30-40, died in hospital, Aug'81

[carbuff]

The LA Coroner says "she does not have any upper teeth." So probably either a longtime transient / drug addict who lost them due to lack of dental care or maybe they were knocked out during whatever happened to her that she ending up lying in the hallway.

Probably lack of care. The circumstances kind of point that way. They would have been able to tell if the tooth loss was recent, or due to violence, and you'd think they would have mentioned that. Yeah I know.

Also, dental care was not nearly as good in the 60s and 70s as we take for granted since then. It was pretty common for people to either not care for their teeth or only see a dentist when they needed to have a tooth pulled. It's still fairly common for people with tooth problems to have them all pulled and get a denture instead (my sister-in-law chose that path) just so they don't have to deal with the pain and problems any more.

 

[houndpounder]

Therefore she was actually found on August 6th, 1981 as per the coroner report and died on August 21, 1981. NAMUS and Doe Network state she was found and died August 21st, 1981.

 

[houndpounder]

Went missing in Los Angeles, would have 28 in 1981. Had all upper false teeth. All is a match except eye color? Entry mistakes happen.
Wilma Rae Vermaas
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[Moonwalker9]

877UFCA
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Recognizable face, no photo
Date of Discovery: August 6, 1981
Location of Discovery: Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
Date of Death: August 21, 1981
State of Remains: Recognizable face
Cause of Death: Unknown

Physical Description
Estimated Age: 30-40 years old
Race: White
Sex: Female
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 104 lbs.
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Blue
Distinguishing Marks/Features: 2 inch scar right lower abdomen and a 2 inch scar right arm

Identifiers
Dentals: Available. No upper teeth.
Fingerprints: Available.
DNA: Not available.

Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: Unknown
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown

Circumstances of Discovery
The decedent was located unresponsive in the hallway of a hotel at 323 E. 5th St. in Los Angeles, California on August 6, 1981. She later died on August 21 after treatment at a local hospital, where she underwent a craniotomy.

Some agencies list her height as being 76". It has been verified (July 2012) through the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office that the correct height is 64" or 5'4".

Investigating Agency(s)
Agency Name: Los Angeles County Coroner's Office
Agency Contact Person: Daniel Machian
Agency Phone Number: 323-343-0512
Agency E-Mail: dmachian@coroner.lacounty.gov
Agency Case Number: 8110751

NCIC Case Number: U046121804
NamUs Case Number: 4332
Former Hot Case Number: 1588

Information Source(s)

Street view

This is Skid Row, was she homeless?

Google Maps

 

[iulia]

There is also this thread open for this UID: CA - CA - Los Angeles, WhtFem UP4332, 30-40, died in hospital, Aug'81

 

[carbuff]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

No updates, no exclusions.

Did anybody ever submit Wilma Vermaas? She looks close.

 

[houndpounder]

I did carbuff but I will gain tonight.

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Quick B&W reconstruction.

 

[digitective]

View attachment 390149
Quick B&W reconstruction.

This is great, thank you. I wonder if she actually had short hair like this or if she just has short bits of hair in the post-mortem photo on NamUs because they had to shave her head for the craniotomy... might be worth mocking up some different hairstyles, as well (if it's not too difficult).

 

[digitective]

Did anyone ever respond about Wilma? She and this Jane Doe aren't listed as ruleouts on each other's NamUs profiles...

 

[digitective]

Thoughts on Gail Deann Skelton?



Gail's face is rounder than the composite but her photo is from 1972, so she could have lost weight and "baby fat" in her cheeks over the next 9 years...especially if she was homeless and/or using substances.