FL Palm Beach County- Female, Black/ African American- 46-60- Floating in the Atlantic- UP1163- May 4, 1991

[PatLaurel]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

1 Missing Person Exclusions

Missing Person / NamUs # MP13094 Detra McGuire, Female, Black / African American
Date of Last Contact November 2, 1988
State FL
County Columbia

 

[PatLaurel]

1461UFFL

Date of Discovery: May 4, 1991
Location of Discovery: West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida
Estimated Date of Death: 1991
State of Remains: Decomposed
Cause of Death: Unknown

Physical Description​

Estimated Age: 45-60 years old
Race: Black
Sex: Female
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 110 lbs.
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown

Identifiers​

Dentals: Available. No upper teeth.
Fingerprints: Available.
DNA: Unknown.

Clothing & Personal Items​

Clothing: Multicolored shirt and white blouse.
Jewelry: String with small white beads worn around abdomen.
Additional Personal Items: Unknown.

Circumstances of Discovery​

The body of this woman was found floating in the Atlantic Ocean, about nine miles off shore in West Palm Beach, Florida on May 4, 1991.

Investigating Agency(s)​

Agency Name: District 15 Medical Examiner's Office
Agency Contact Person: Michael Bell
Agency Phone Number: 561-688-4575 or 4465
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 1991-0415

Agency Name: Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office
Agency Contact Person: Sgt. Richard McAfee
Agency Phone Number: 561-688-4012
Agency E-Mail: mcafeer(at)pbso.org
Agency Case Number: Unknown

NCIC Case Number: Unknown
NamUs Case Number: 1163
Former Hot Case Number: 771

 

[PatLaurel]

1461UFFL - Newspapers.com

 

[PayrollNerd]

I wonder if they ever found the others who survived. Maybe she was traveling with family and they all perished.

 

[PatLaurel]

I wonder if they ever found the others who survived. Maybe she was traveling with family and they all perished.

1461UFFL - Newspapers.com

I found a list of Cubans who left the island during the month of April and were reported as "lost at sea during exit attempt" but, unfortunately, no women were reported missing. MOO JMO

 

[PayrollNerd]

1461UFFL - Newspapers.com

View attachment 428352

I found a list of Cubans who left the island during the month of April and were reported as "lost at sea during exit attempt" but, unfortunately, no women were reported missing. MOO JMO

Ok, so they were drifting for 17 days, so based on the April 16 date, does that mean they left March 31st? Margarita is a female name so that would explain why she wasn't on the April list.

 

[PatLaurel]

Ok, so they were drifting for 17 days, so based on the April 16 date, does that mean they left March 31st? Margarita is a female name so that would explain why she wasn't on the April list.

They left Cuba on April 16.
I'm not sure I understand your last sentence... The list contains the names of Cubans (rafters) who died at sea , and of course, were reported lost/missing by their relatives. Margarita is not on the April list, nor on any list, because she made it to the US.
My point is, if there were other women on that list (April 16), maybe one of them could be our JD. But, perhaps she didn't have family, or she did and they were afraid to talk or didn't want to talk, etc.

MOO JMO

ETA: April 16 list, assuming our JD was one of the 5 who left Cuba with Margarita and Rafael.

 

[PayrollNerd]

They left Cuba on April 16.
I'm not sure I understand your last sentence... The list contains the names of Cubans (rafters) who died at sea , and of course, were reported lost/missing by their relatives. Margarita is not on the April list, nor on any list, because she made it to the US.
My point is, if there were other women on that list (April 16), maybe one of them could be our JD. But, perhaps she didn't have family, or she did and they were afraid to talk or didn't want to talk, etc.

MOO JMO

Oh ok, I understand now. I was interpreting the timing wrong. But that is interesting that Margarita was the only woman on the boat? All the lost at sea were males, but she survived, so she's not listed. Or, if there were other females, they were not reported missing/lost at sea by anyone. I would think the 2 survivors would remember if there were other females aboard, even if they didn't know them.

 

[PatLaurel]

I would think the 2 survivors would remember if there were other females aboard, even if they didn't know them.

It's a traumatic experience... Especially when you see someone dying a slow death in front of your eyes. Dissociative amnesia may occur. Or, Margarita and Rafael didn't want to talk. MOO JMO

 

[PatLaurel]

Missing Cubans and the dates they left the island. - Newspapers.com

The women reported missing in March were between 20 and 31 years old.