MS MS - Bay St Louis, WhtFem 37-42, UP2841, no teeth, 'black lung', emphysema, chron bronchitis, May'98

[Reality Orlando]

Coal worker's pneumoconiosis is a lung disease that results from breathing in dust from coal, graphite, or man-made carbon over a long period of time.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Coal worker's pneumoconiosis occurs in two forms: simple and complicated (also called progressive massive fibrosis, or PMF).

Your risk of getting coal worker's pneumoconiosis depends on how long you have been around coal dust. Most people with this disease are older than 50. Smoking does not increase your risk of developing this disease, but it may have an additional harmful effect on the lungs.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001187/

 

[Cubby]

Do you have a link? I don't see anything on this in DoeNet, other than that her casefile is no longer accessible.

From the namus link for Debra Jean Wade:

Permission Error - Case Access Denied

This missing person has been found. Therefore this case is restricted to authorized persons ONLY.
Please log in to view the case. ​

 

[Irish_Eyes]

Well, you learn something new everyday, I guess. I live in northern Ohio, and I know there are plenty of old coal towns in the southeast portion of the state, and throughout the Alleghenies. However, this link shows major coal mines in the U.S., and I was suprised
to see Wyoming, Texas, and North Dakota among other places where coal mines are located:
http://205.254.135.24/cneaf/coal/page/acr/table9.html

 

[bessie]

Black lung pneumoconiosis can be caused from working with man-made carbon, or carbon black. There are quite a few carbon black plants in south Louisiana. Locations of some of the largest plants in Louisiana are Addis, Centerville, Franklin, Ville Platte, Krotz Springs, and New Iberia.

Also, silicosis is also referred to as "black lung" and is a common occupational hazard for sandblasters in Louisiana from inhaling the silica in river sand.

The accident happened just a few miles outside of Louisiana. I know the site. There is a large rest area in the eastbound lane, and Stennis Space Center is just to the west of the I-10. At that time there was also a McDonald's or Burder King near the exit on 607. It sounds like she was living in the rest area and feeding from food left behind by tourists.

 

[bessie]

What about Tina Ledet, missing from Gretna, LA since December 18, 1993. Of all the open missing female cases in Louisiana for the time frame, Tina Ledet, missing from Gretna, LA since December 18, 1993 is a possible match. The height is off a couple of inches, though, and it looks like she might have a widow's peak, but I can't tell if it's a shadow or not. The Jane Doe does not.

https://www.findthemissing.org/cases/show/4152

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/963dfla.html

 

[webrocket]

all of these cases are sad where someone is dead and remains unidentified. this woman's case is so incredibly sad.

here was a woman who was the mother of at least two children, had major health problems, a presumably occupationally related black lung condition, no teeth, wandering about possibly foraging for food in dumpsters (given the parasite issue).

it was almost as like there was no pity for this woman in her life.

despite being described as having "uniquely colored gray eyes" she remains a Jane Doe.

 

[pearly]

What about this potential match?

https://www.findthemissing.org/cases/1088/17 - Anita Gunn (details at link)

 

[Angie4b1g]

Very similar appearance! The 8 year time gap is a bit unsettling, though.

 

[pearly]

Another potential match?

Doe Network 2261DFOR
http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/2261dfor.html
Catherine Ann Wallace
Missing since February 1, 1998 from Grants Pass, Oregon
Classification: Endangered Missing

Vital Statistics

Date Of Birth: October 26, 1947
Age at Time of Disappearance: 42 years old
Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 5'5"; 130-140 lbs.
Distinguishing Characteristics: White female. Brown long hair; blue eyes.
AKA: Catherine Ann Mc Carthy; Catherine Ann Bond
Dentals: Not available
Circumstances of Disappearance
Catherine was last seen February 1, 1998 in Grants Pass, OR. Left from home and spouse, no purse or clothes taken. Husband did not report her missing, father from another state reported her missing 4 months after last speaking with her.

She left behind 30 years of pictures that she always kept with her. Her driver's license was found in husband's wallet with the photo cut out. He also had her SSN card.
A van was both spouse's, but after the disappearance of Catherine, the van was found abandoned in Redding, California.
The van was checked for blood. Two guns were missing from the van.
Foul play is suspected.

Investigators
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:

Grants Pass Police Department
Det. Sgt Dennis Ward
541-474-6370

Agency Case Number:
98-11863

NCIC Number:
M-167235547
Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.

 

[pearly]

What about this lady as another potential match?

Case File 2456DFAZ


Tina Lynn D'Ambrosio
Missing since June 11, 1996 from Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona
Classification: Endangered Missing

Vital Statistics

Date Of Birth: August 24, 1961
Age at Time of Disappearance: 34 years old
Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 67"; 123 lbs.
Distinguishing Characteristics: White female. Auburn hair; blue eyes.
Marks, Scars: Light colored birthmark on back, unknown shape or size.
Dentals: Full set of dentures.
DNA: Available.
Fingerprints: Available.
Circumstances of Disappearance
Tina last had phone contact with a family member at approximately 20:00, while at her residence in the vicinity of 19th Avenue and Northern Avenue in Phoenix, AZ.
Tina was to call again on June 14, 1996 but was not heard from or seen again. Foul play is suspected.

Investigators
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:

Phoenix Police Department
602-261-8042

Agency Case Number: 60978399

 

[Cncxch]

Hi,
This is my first post so sorry if I'm doing it wrong. This is one of the cases that haunts me because it is so close to my home town so it is an appropriate first post. I don't have anything new to add that hasn't already been said, but I do have a few ideas for context.

In the 80s and 90s when I lived there, there weren't jobs down there unless you are military, the casinos were really only starting to pick up steam. So there are a lot of regional economic migrants, including in my family, who kept using the Gulfport/Bay St Louis area as a base while its members moved out to California, Louisiana (to work offshore), metro Dallas, metro Atlanta...where the jobs are. The job market in south Mississippi is ok when the economy is ok (it isn't Detroit or anything), but when it is down there is nothing. The weird thing is a lot of Mississippians are attached to Mississippi, so- as was the case with my family- you had this accordion effect where people leave and come back depending on the economy and jobs.

Two things make me think is that she is from east Tennessee/north Alabama :

1. the grey eyes. i don't know how to explain it right but my stepmom has those random eyes like that. you see these light light ice blue and light grey eyes a lot in the rural inland south. In the late 1880s and 1890s the inland areas (a rectangle stretching from Memphis into north Mississippi to Chattanooga stretching into north Georgia and Alabama) had a lot of Scottish migrants who didn't really intermarry for several generations, so you had people keep these unique eye and pale skin colors that would be typical of Scottish and Nordic people for several generations into the 60s. I'll try to find a book I read on the topic.

2. the black lung. If you were going to work in Louisiana or from Louisiana, you would try working offshore before mining (much more money and women do do so as cooks).

JMO I think she grew up in mining in the north Georgia-east Tennessee-north Alabama area and married into a local coast family with one of these regional economic migrants in the 80s and came back to MS in the 90s when things were getting better on the coast. She fell on hard times (a lot of people unemployed in the late 90s), fell out with her in laws, and didn't have enough money to stay or to leave, and maybe her man and kids left town to go look for work elsewhere. Dallas? Atlanta?

The fact that she has kids makes me so sad, but there are so many people, even more so since Katrina, who are just trying to survive down there and they probably don't even know where to start looking if they are even on the coast or knew where she was. It's just so sad.

 

[CherBearSTL]

I think that the "black lung" detail is the key to solving this. I'm fairly certain that black lung is only present in people that work IN mines. Can someone confirm that?

It's sad to say, but a lot of people that are homeless have mental illness. Especially those that are longtime homeless people. In other words, there are lots of homeless people that are homeless by choice. The ones that aren't, generally find shelters and assistance and work their way back into society. I recently heard the story of 2 families that were homeless...they were living in their cars with their children. They contacted a social service organization in our area who helped them find shelter and food, and then assisted them until they found permenant housing. Some people like living "off the grid" and stay that way intentionally.

Here is what I believe this woman's story is: She was a young mother with no family to help her. She started working in a mine to support her family. Mental illness took over in her 20s and then she lost custody of her children but was able to maintain her job. Her children were, most likely, put into foster care at an age when they weren't able to remember their previous life. She eventually lost her job and then her home, benefits, etc. I would bet that her black lung and other illnesses were never diagnosed.

I found this information to be interesting and helpful (from WebMD) BBM:

Occupational history is very important to the diagnosis of CWP-if a person has not been exposed to coal dust, he or she cannot have CWP. The occupational history should include not only recent and past full-time employment, but also summer jobs, student jobs, military history, and short-term jobs.

The diagnosis of CWP has legal public health implications, since some states require that all cases be reported.

More info from The Huffington Post:

From 1995 to 2004, more than three-fourths of all CWP deaths were in the coal-mining states of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, and Kentucky. Pennsylvania alone accounted for nearly half of all CWP deaths, the institute said.

Ok, enough of my rambling. JMHO

 

[annemc2]

The hydatid cysts are unusual as well. Infection suggests she worked or lived in close proximity to sheep, cattle, or (as implicated most in transmission to human hosts) dogs. Perhaps she worked at a kennel or other dog-boarding facility at one point in her life?

 

[pearly]

Do any of these women look like potential matches to anyone?

Re: the black lung disease, I also agree it is the key to solving this one. Basically from research I have learnt that her bronchitis and emphysema are a result of the black lung disease.

Basically she has either worked around mines either directly or as a cook etc. or possibly lived in a mining area. I was considering sending her photo to the mining businesses around Mississippi area BUT if she is not from there than this may be useless.

The cysts according to the Doe Network are due to eating unsanitary food which I take to mean she may have been homeless/transient?

P

 

[ebbie]

I'd like to know if she truly had black colored lungs w/ carbon actually present. There are other diseases which can cause similar symptoms. The likelihood that she was a miner is slim....but "industrial bronchitis" of some sort is much more believable.

I am also questioning the type of cysts found in her oviducts. There are benign cysts of this area which are frequently found but most of the parasite induced hydatid cysts I read about are of the digestive system which makes sense. Its essentially a part of a tapeworm lifecycle and you get them from eating something infected.....something with dog poop from a dog w/ worms, for example.

Although its possible the black lung and parasitic oviduct cysts are true, it would be nice to have a second opinion of the pathology.

As for matching with MPs...the biggest clues are:
No pierced ears
Full head of hair with no bangs
Thin eyebrows
Relatively pretty face (surprising for the description)

Some of the suggested matches clearly have earrings on. Although you can get clip earrings its doubtful this UID would have been careful enough to keep them on. Judging from her condition, it was difficult for her to care for herself.

Other interesting points to note...
The pills in her pocket seem to be diet pills or allergy pills.
Why no underwear or socks...But blue slippers? (can't get far on those)

 

[cj327]

Probably obvious, but her last meal of pickles and fries (no burger) indicates she was eating someone's leftovers who picked the pickles off their hamburger and didn't eat them. Also the person didn't eat all their fries before discarding the meal.

One thing I have not heard discussed on here is the type of mining that leads to black lung. There are different types of coal mines including strip mines and shaft mines. I grew up in east TN, and most of what I remember seeing there were strip mines, although I know there were also other types of mines in the region that were not as obvious. I imagine the exposure to coal dust would be far higher if you were inside a mine shaft than out on the surface somewhere. Also, I find it hard to believe that just by living in a mining town you could already contract a full case of black lung by your late 30s!! Do we have any confirmation that this would be possible? If not, then she must have been working inside a mine or in some other industrial setting with coal dust.

Article about women in coal mines:
http://cwcs.ysu.edu/about/current-projects/journalism/articles/female-coalminer

By the way, when I think about underground coal mines, I think of West Virginia, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania..

 

[pearly]

Good point cj327 re exposure just by living in the area! Apparently you need to have at least 10 years exposure to develop black lung meaning she was working in mines for a while!

Regarding her stomach contents I hadn't even thought that it would be leftovers but makes so much sense seeing as she was presumably homeless! Good work!

I was thinking of doing a flyer up and sending to mining companies in the area as she would have had to be with them for a while!

P

 

[pearly]

I also think tina d'ambrosio resembles this uid though.....just my opinion. Would like to know others thoughts

 

[cj327]

I also think tina d'ambrosio resembles this uid though.....just my opinion. Would like to know others thoughts

Hmm, the height is off by a few inches and Tina seems to be wearing earrings in one of the pictures. Not a lot of info on Tina's past, she is from Virginia though so it is possible she could have a history of working in a mine. The 'foul play' part is pretty vague too.

 

[bessie]

I also think tina d'ambrosio resembles this uid though.....just my opinion. Would like to know others thoughts

Pearly, have you seen the post mortems? She looks very different from the sketches to me. I think she probably was rather attractive in life. D'ambrosio was, too, but I don't see much resemblance to the Doe.

We discussed the food in earlier posts. I think she might've eaten discarded food from visitors at the rest stop. I wonder if the person who left her stranded at the rest area was someone she knew or a stranger who was giving her a ride.

Her hair was dyed with a "touch of gray" at the temples. I don't think she had been wandering around homeless for long.