CANADA Canada - Moose Jaw SK, WhtFem Skull HC2392, ~12, Died 50-75 Years Prior, Aug'97

Case Details
On August 20th, 1997, a man canoeing in the Moose Jaw River just south of Moose Jaw, discovered a human skull. The skull was taken to the University of Saskatchewan Department of Archaeology and determined to be that of a girl, about 12 years old, who had died fifty to a hundred years previous. The case is being investigated by both the RCMP, and the Coroner's Office.

Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Saskatoon RCMP
Historical Case Unit
(306) 975-5153
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Source Information
Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police

http://missingme.2007.angelfire.com/moose_jaw_jane.html

Maybe a longshot, but there's not much to go on here:

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/m/mccullough_betty.html

Betty McCullough
Missing Since June 21, 1941 from Silver Creek Falls, Oregon
Age: 10 years old
Caucasian female

Good catch Gina. I would say that she could be a definate possibility.

Also, Gina, did you submit her to have her checked out as a possible match?

FYI: Silver Creek Falls, Oregon to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan is 1200 miles, a very long distance.

Hoppy

Could be there is no crime here. maybe it's just a skull that was washed from the grave, dug out by critters.....

Good point, LisainWV. Wonder who homesteaded upstream on that creek? If the only marker was wood, then the grave location could have been lost a long time ago.

A small but possibly significant difference between the two listings - according to the police listing, "It was determined the skull had been exposed to the elements for 50 to 100 years. It was that of a 12 year old, possibly Caucasian, female."

So if they've only determined that the skull was out in the elements for 50 to 100 years, then basically the girl could have died in 1950...or maybe 1850? If she's not Caucasian, then what are the possibilities? Also, the police listing said that the skull was found on, not in, the river. If the site could be located, then it would be interesting to look around for erosion, which might point to a gravesite. According to Moose Jaw's town website, historically the area was a winter encampment for Cree and Assiniboine peoples, and they note that there are burial grounds in the vicinity. There were also winter cabins occupied by the Métis during the fur trade area (Métis are sort of like Creole in that they are the product of marriages between various First Nations peoples with incoming French, Scots and English settlers). If the girl was Métis (apparently many assimilated and so it is a very common heritage), it would explain the "may be Caucasian" comment. She could very likely have had Caucasian features.

Either way, I think this is likely a grave that has eroded open.

Gina_M said:

Maybe a longshot, but there's not much to go on here:

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/m/mccullough_betty.html

Betty McCullough
Missing Since June 21, 1941 from Silver Creek Falls, Oregon
Age: 10 years old
Caucasian female

Click to expand...

Thanks for posting this.
I sent this match in already, but the reply I received was that they "weren't sure they could confirm either way".

It is possible she was a burial, unearthed somehow from her grave before ending up in the river, but I got the feeling LE does not believe this is the case. I asked for the results of the Anthropologist's report, and was advised I couldn't have it, but would be updated if anything new arose.

Old thread, but I live in Moose Jaw, and in my opinion, this is probably a girl who died of natural causes back in the day. Many aboriginal people occupied what is now Moose Jaw, so it's possible.

http://doenetwork.org/hot/hotcase2392.html

EITHER 1897 OR 1947?

PFF said:

http://doenetwork.org/hot/hotcase2392.html

EITHER 1897 OR 1947?

Click to expand...

I'm thinking First Nation. Maybe collect some DNA from any settlements in area.

Bumping, although it seems like a difficult case to solve, but not impossible, imo.
Surely if the skull might be from the 1950s, someone might remember a 12 year old girl who was either buried, or disappeared,imo.
If the remains are older than that, there might be family stories about a female ancestor, white or otherwise.

http://doenetwork.org/hot/hotcase2392.html

The Doe Network:
Hot Case 2392

Unidentified White Female

• 
  [*]The victim was discovered on August 20, 1997 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada.
  [*]Estimated Date of Death: 50 to 100 years prior.
  [*]State of Remains: Skull only.
• Cause and Manner of Death: Unknown.

---

Vital Statistics

• 
  [*]Estimated Age: 12 years old.
  [*]Approximate Height and Weight: Unknown.
  [*]Distinguishing Characteristics: Unknown hair and eye color.
  [*]Dentals: Unknown.
  [*]DNA: Unknown.
• Fingerprints: Not available.

---

Case History
On August 20, 1997, a canoeist found a human skull on the Moose Jaw River, just south of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The skull
was examined by the University of Saskatchewan Department of Archaeology. It was determined the skull had been exposed to
the elements for 50 to 100 years. It was that of a 12 year old, possibly Caucasian, female. This case is being
investigated by the Office of the Chief Coroner and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

---

Investigators
If you have any information about this case please contact:
Investigating Agency:
Saskatoon RCMP
Historical Case Unit
1-306-975-5153

You may remain anonymous when submitting information.Agency Case Number: 1997-1055
NCIC Number: N/A

Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.Source Information:
Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police

Probably out of the timeframe ://www.doenetwork.org/cases/2782dfon.html

If they didn't die in the fire
2106DFWV - Martha Lee Sodder

Catherine Winters
HCGS - Catherine Winters

Rowena Thompson
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This Jane Doe was found 23 years ago today, her Doe Network page is now no longer available.