Resolved TX - Corrigan, off Hwy 59, WhtFem 17-21, UP10868, rectangular drop earring, Nov'77 - N/A

Looked in archived newspapers at newspapers.com. Couldn't find anything to do with this woman reported in Texas, however the archive didn't have any newspapers from Polk County that I could find.

I wonder if Corrigan Jane Doe is Carol Sue Skidmore, missing since April 9, 1977 from Rossville, GA?

Carol Sue Skidmore – The Charley Project
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

It seems like Carol was originally from Bellville, TX (around 140 miles away from Corrigan, TX). Carol, her husband, James, and her child from a previous marriage, Lynn, went to Rossville, GA (around 750 miles away from Corrigan), presumably around where she last contacted her parents on April 9. There's a time gap between then and May 5, when Lynn's body was found in a lake near Cleveland, TX (about 50 miles away from Corrigan). Jim's body was found in a hotel room in Harrison, AR (about 460 miles away from Corrigan); he had committed suicide.

While Carol technically went missing from GA, everything else suggests she had a strong connection to Texas and may have gotten there before passing away/being killed. The distance between where Lynn's body was found and Corrigan is very close, and it would not be out of the realm of possibility to say that 1) Lynn could have been murdered first near Cleveland and Carol murdered later and partially buried near Corrigan or 2) Both Lynn and Carol were murdered at the same time and left in different places.

There are no publicly listed rule-outs for Corrigan Jane Doe, and both Jane Doe and Carol Skidmore have brown hair. Information on height differs between sources; https://ifs.harriscountytx.gov/Missing Person/1977-11-25.pdf has height as 5'8"-5'10", while NamUs has height at 5'5". Skidmore's height is 5'5"-5'6", so more in line with the NamUs listed height. The above link has estimated age at 20-25, while NamUs has age at 17-21. Either way, Carol's age is pretty close IMO. There's no mention of earrings on Charley Project or NamUs for Skidmore, but I think the circumstances and most of the basic details are pretty close.

I've always had trouble making phone calls, but I finally worked up the courage to call HCME and submit Carol Sue Skidmore as a potential match for our Jane Doe (just got off the phone). Hoping for the best.

Eva Marie Ridall? She was from Florida, but last seen in Ohio and was heading for California. Depending on the route and mode of Transport, she could have gone close to or through Texas?
3586DFFL - Eva Marie Ridall

Nate_Bro said:

Eva Marie Ridall? She was from Florida, but last seen in Ohio and was heading for California. Depending on the route and mode of Transport, she could have gone close to or through Texas?
3586DFFL - Eva Marie Ridall

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Eva seems like a good possible, but the light brown hair (Eva) v. dark brown hair (Jane Doe) and the tattoo throw me off a bit. Though, of course, light and dark could be subjective and decomposition could have made the tattoo (which was already quite small) unrecognizable.

I'm still of the belief that Carol Sue Skidmore has a good chance of being Corrigan Jane Doe but I never got a call back. There's also no ruleouts on Corrigan Jane Doe's page still. I'll try again soon and see what happens.

Date Body Found: November 25, 1977
Location Found: Corrigan, Polk County, Texas
Location Found: Map
Estimated Age: Adult - Pre 30; 17-21
Estimated PMI: 3 Months
Estimated Height: 5' 5"
Weight: Cannot Estimate
Hair Color: Dark Brown up to 8" in length
Eye Color: Unknown
Jewelry: A single rectangular drop earring, yellow and white metal was found with the body.

Circumstances of Recovery: The decedent was partially buried in a rural area seven miles north of Corrigan, Texas.

Bump!

0 Missing Person Exclusions

I was born and raised in Corrigan, Tx. I grew up hearing stories about the Jane Doe buried in a local cemetery called Union Springs. I do know she was exhumed and sent off for DNA before being buried in the same plot. She was later exhumed a second time. Two forensic specialists took her remains to Houston for further testing and after that, none of the Corrigan officials were ever contacted or updated on her situation again. The longest running theory is she was a victim of Henry Lee Lucas named Stephanie Lee Smith. However, when Smith’s parents arrived they refused to accept it was their daughter or claim her remains. That’s what led to a local funeral home director giving her a proper burial, albeit as Jane Doe.

This article was written in 1985:

Will Describe More Killings

Although Lucas has not been charged in the murder of Stephanie Smith, 24, of New Orleans, he led deputies to the place where her body was found earlier this year near Corrigan, Texas. She disappeared on her way to a job interview in New Orleans in 1977.

I wonder if that was just an error, stating her body was found “earlier this year”. Meaning 1985, I assume?

MadMcGoo said:

This article was written in 1985:

Will Describe More Killings

Although Lucas has not been charged in the murder of Stephanie Smith, 24, of New Orleans, he led deputies to the place where her body was found earlier this year near Corrigan, Texas. She disappeared on her way to a job interview in New Orleans in 1977.

I wonder if that was just an error, stating her body was found “earlier this year”. Meaning 1985, I assume?

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The Jane Doe was found by hunters on November 1977.

AshleyM95 said:

The Jane Doe was found by hunters on November 1977.

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That’s right, so could Stephanie be another Doe found in the same County in 1985? I may be reading it incorrectly, but it sounds like Stephanie was found the same year the article was written; 1985 not 1977. Sorry if I’m confused or confusing.

MadMcGoo said:

That’s right, so could Stephanie be another Doe found in the same County in 1985? I may be reading it incorrectly, but it sounds like Stephanie was found the same year the article was written; 1985 not 1977. Sorry if I’m confused or confusing.

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It’s a confusing timeline/series of events so I’ll tell you what I know. The Polk County Jane Doe found in 1977 was beloved to be Stephanie Smith. Her father refused to verify her identity and never claimed her remains, leading to her status as Jane Doe. The 1985 thing, I know next to nothing regarding that.

I'm the one that added Stephanie to NAMUS when I came across her story in our local paper. Their was mention that their was a potential match that came up. Cannot remember the details ... right now will have to go back and refresh my memory. I believe it was something that may have not matched with dentals.

folieadeuxnola said:

I'm the one that added Stephanie to NAMUS when I came across her story in our local paper. Their was mention that their was a potential match that came up. Cannot remember the details ... right now will have to go back and refresh my memory. I believe it was something that may have not matched with dentals.

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I’d be very interested in that information if you do recall the source!

AshleyM95 said:

I’d be very interested in that information if you do recall the source!

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It was in our local newspaper I believe I had loaded all the articles on her NAMUS profile. Believe I also have them saved will go back and read through them

Unable to link right now but their in Stephanie's thread

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
I don't know how likely this is circumstantially, but Kathi McCurdy seems like she could be this doe.