u/Iorazepam

A white female estimated to be 16–19 years old was discovered on March 5, 1979, washed onto rocks beneath the south end of the Bahia Honda Bridge in Bahia Honda State Park. Investigators estimated she had died about 3 hours earlier from accidental drowning or possible suicide. Her face remained recognizable, and there were no signs of trauma.

She was approximately 5’5”, weighed 110–115 pounds, and had curly shoulder-length auburn or brown hair with brown eyes. She had a healed scar on her right index fingernail, well-manicured nails, and appeared generally healthy, although she may have had smoking-related emphysema.

Dental records were available and noted a porcelain/metal crown on an upper front tooth, several fillings, and healed extraction sites. Fingerprints were also available, but DNA was not.

She was wearing blue Lee jeans (30x32A) and a black Eclipse tank top (size small, made in Korea). No jewelry or other personal belongings were documented.

Key identifying points:

• White female
• Estimated 16–19 years old
• Height 5’5”, weight 110–115 lbs
• Auburn/brown curly shoulder-length hair, thin eyebrows
• Brown eyes
• Healed scar on right index fingernail
• Well-maintained nails
• Dental work: porcelain/metal crown on upper front tooth, multiple fillings, some teeth previously extracted with healed sockets
• Possible history of smoking-related respiratory issues (emphysema signs)
• Clothing: blue Lee jeans (30x32A) and black Eclipse tank top (size small, made in Korea)
• Fingerprints available, but no DNA profile available

NAMUS
https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/6251

It’s important to remember that incomplete or inaccurate descriptions of unidentified people can delay identification and leave families waiting longer for answers.

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A B.C. coroner’s inquest heard that “human error” led to major mistakes in the sketch and description of 20-year-old Indigenous woman Tatyanna Harrison after her body was found on a boat in Richmond on May 2, 2022.

After losing contact with her daughter, Tatyanna’s mother reported her missing to the Vancouver Police Department on May 3, unaware that her daughter’s body had been found the day before. When police released a sketch and description of the unidentified woman, she didn’t think it could be Tatyanna because it was so inaccurate.

Police initially described the victim as a Caucasian woman between 30 and 40 years old who was 5’5” and weighed 90 pounds. In reality, Tatyanna was a 20-year-old Indigenous woman who was about 5’1” and weighed at least 100 pounds. Her mother also testified that the sketch looked nothing like her daughter.

An RCMP officer testified that the errors resulted from officers relying on memory instead of taking proper measurements at the scene. Tatyanna’s family believes the inaccurate sketch and description delayed her identification for months while they desperately searched for answers.

The inquest is continuing as her family seeks answers about what happened and why it took so long for Tatyanna to be identified.

CBC News
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/coroners-inquest-indigenous-womans-death-9.7258071

BC Gov News
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2026PSSG0048-000650

On October 8, 1978, the nude body of an unidentified Black/African American female was recovered from Lake Harris, about one-tenth of a mile north of the south end of Howey Bridge in Leesburg, Florida.

She was believed to be 16–18 years old, stood 5’5”, weighed approximately 110 pounds, and had cropped black hair and brown eyes. Her face was still recognizable when she was found.

She appeared to have been the victim of a homicide. She was bound with white wire coat hangers and gagged with two bandanas, one blue and white and the other yellow and blue.

She had pierced ears, extremely short fingernails, and red nail polish on both her fingernails and toenails.

She has never been identified.

Sex: Female
Race/Ethnicity: Black / African American
Estimated Age: 16–18 years old
Height: 5’5” (65 inches)
Weight: Approximately 110 lbs
Hair: Cropped black hair
Eyes: Brown

Distinguishing Features:
• Pierced ears
• Extremely short fingernails
• Red nail polish on both fingernails and toenails

NamUs
https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/6029

On September 14, 1984, the body of an unidentified young Black woman was discovered near 77 Eppirt Street in East Orange, New Jersey. Investigators believe she had died only hours before she was found. She was estimated to be between 15 and 20 years old, stood 5’5”–5’9”, and weighed 135–155 pounds. She had black hair, brown eyes, pierced ears, and had received dental care.

She had several distinctive identifying features, including a dark scar beneath her left eye, a lighter scar on the left side of her neck, a scar above her right eyebrow, multiple horizontal scars on the insides of her forearms, and possibly a long scar on her left thigh. Her fingernails had been bitten very short, suggesting she may have been a habitual nail biter.

She was wearing jeans, a gray sweater, socks, and a white bra. She also wore four rings on her left hand: a silver-colored ring with the letter “Y,” a gold-colored ring with 21 small white stones, a plain gold-colored ring, and a simple black rubber ring.

Investigators have fingerprints, dental records, and postmortem photographs available for comparison, but DNA has not been publicly listed as available. Despite facial reconstructions and decades of investigation, she has never been identified.

Unverified reports have suggested she may have gone by names such as “Laronda,” “Laranda,” “L.A.,” or had a surname similar to Anderson or Sharpcheck (Phonetic), but none of this information has ever been officially confirmed.

More than 40 years later, the East Orange Jane Doe remains unidentified.
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Date Found: September 14, 1984
Location: Near 77 Eppirt Street, East Orange, New Jersey
Estimated Age: 15–20 years
Physical Description: Black female, 5’5”–5’9”, 135–155 lbs, black hair, brown eyes, pierced ears, and evidence of prior dental care.

Distinctive Features
• Dark scar beneath left eye
• Scar on left side of neck
• Scar above right eyebrow
• Multiple old scars on inner forearms
• Possible long scar on left thigh
• Fingernails bitten very short

Clothing & Jewelry
• Gray sweater, jeans, white bra, and socks
• Silver-colored ring with the letter “Y”
• Gold-colored ring with 21 white stones
• Plain gold-colored ring
• Black rubber ring

NamUs ⚠️**⚠**️ NSFW POST-MORTEM PHOTOS ON NAMUS
https://namus.nij.ojp.gov/case/UP1608

On February 3, 1981, the body of an unidentified Black/African American female was discovered lying on a grassy access road in the Japanese Gardens on Watson Island in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

Investigators determined that she had died after being struck and run over by a vehicle in a hit-and-run. Evidence at the scene indicated that the driver ran over her twice, crushing her skull and causing extensive drag injuries. The amount of blood at the scene suggested the collision occurred where she was found.

She was barefoot and partially clothed from the waist down. Her blue “Chic” jeans, which had the words “Wet Dreams” bleached onto a back pocket, and her black-and-brown Town & Country high heels were recovered separately elsewhere on Watson Island, suggesting they may have been thrown from the vehicle.

Complicating the investigation, the original case file has reportedly been lost.

A newspaper article published the day after the discovery reported that an autopsy suggested she may have been beaten before the collision, but this has never been confirmed in later official records and may have been difficult to determine because of the catastrophic head injuries.

Physical Description
• Black/African American female.
• Estimated age has varied over the years:
Initially: 15–20 years
Later: 12–26 years
Most recent estimate (2016): 14–16 years
NCMEC currently estimates 12–18 years.
• Approximately 5’2” (157 cm) tall.
• Approximately 90 lbs (41 kg).
• Brown eyes.
• Medium-length black/brown kinky or curly hair with bleached blonde streaks.
• Gap between her front teeth.
• Arched or styled eyebrows, possibly penciled in.
• Scars on her neck.

Clothing
• A white bra.
• Bikini-style underwear printed with the phrase “Rest Area Visitors Welcome.”

Recovered nearby but not on her body:
• A white or beige blouse.
• Blue Chic jeans with “Wet Dreams” bleached onto a back pocket.
• Black-and-brown Town & Country high heels.

More than four decades later, despite the unusual circumstances and distinctive clothing, her identity remains unknown.

NamUs
https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/7963/details?nav

On July 30, 1985, Los Angeles City Maintenance workers located the body of an unidentified Black female in an alley behind 211 W. Imperial Highway in Los Angeles, California. She was found under trash and debris, and investigators believe she may have been deceased for several months.

Investigators estimate she was between 14 and 17 years old, standing approximately 5’0” to 5’4” tall with black curly hair. Her weight and eye color are unknown. Her toenails were painted orange.

She was found wearing a sweatshirt with illegible lettering and a white bra. A black purse and a black shoe were also recovered.

More than 40 years later, she remains unidentified.

Race / Ethnicity: Black / African American
Biological Sex: Female
Estimated Age Range: 14-17
Estimated Height: 5' 0"-5' 4"(60-64 inches)
Hair: Black/Curly
Eyes: Unknown

NamUs #: UP4198
NCMEC #: 1184160
Date Found: July 30, 1985
Location: Los Angeles, California

NCMEC
https://www.missingkids.org/poster/ncmu/1184160/1

NamUs
https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/4198

On August 2, 1993, the body of an unidentified White male was recovered from the East River near the 34th Street Heliport in Manhattan, New York.

• Estimated age: 50–70 years old
• Sex: Male
• Race: White/Caucasian
• Height: 5’10”
• Weight: Approximately 130 pounds
• Eyes: Brown
• Hair Color: Unknown
• Facial hair: Stubble
• Estimated postmortem interval: Several weeks
• Condition: Decomposed and not recognizable

Clothing and personal items:

• Blue jeans
• Black underwear
• Black socks
• Black leather belt
• Blue and white low-cut Reebok sneakers

The man was recovered from the East River near the 34th Street Heliport in Manhattan. Despite more than 30 years having passed, he remains unidentified.

https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/7998/

https://unidentified-awareness.fandom.com/wiki/New_York_John_Doe_(August_2,_1993)

On April 17, 1985, an unidentified young man was found in the parking lot of the Chiquita Bar in Bell Gardens, California. More than 40 years later, he remains unidentified.

Physical Description

Sex: Male
Race: White
Estimated Age: 18–25 years
Height: 5’7” (170 cm)
Weight: 130 lbs (59 kg)
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown

Case Details

Location Found: Bell Gardens, California
Date Found: April 17, 1985
Body Condition: Recognizable face
Cause of Death: Not publicly stated

Despite having a recognizable face and available physical characteristics, his identity has never been determined.

NamUs #UP4202
https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/4202/details?nav

On June 20, 2000, the body of an unidentified Hispanic/Latino male was discovered outside the Bronx Zoo in Bronx, New York. More than two decades later, he remains unidentified.

He was estimated to be between 25 and 40 years old, stood approximately 5’1” tall, and weighed about 185 pounds. He had wavy black hair about three inches long and a black mustache.

At the time he was found, he was wearing:
• Tan-brown collared button-up shirt
• Corduroy pants
• Brown belt
• Gray socks with white tips

His remains were in an advanced state of decomposition, and investigators have released very little information regarding the circumstances surrounding his death.

NamUs #UP54617
https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/54617/details?nav

City: Atlanta, Georgia
County: Fulton County
Body Found: September 9, 2020
ME/C Case Number: 2020-01913

Circumstances
On September 9, 2020 Skeletal remains were found in Fulton County in a wooded area off an abandoned paved road no longer in use.

Demographics
Sex: Female
Race / Ethnicity: Black / African American
Estimated Age Group: Adult (pre 40 years old)
Estimated Age Range: Not determined
Height: 5’3” – 5’7” (estimated)
Weight: Not listed
Hair / Eyes: Unknown
Estimated Year of Death: Not listed
PMI (Postmortem Interval): Unknown

Distinctive Features
Tattoo: Located on back “Only God Can Judge M”

Clothing and Personal Effects
• Extra-large Nike shorts
• Short-sleeved T-shirt labeled “Victorious” (size medium) with lightning emblem
• Right boot: Polo Sport, brown leather
• Left shoe: White and orange Nike sneaker (size 9.5)
• Gray underwear
• Yellow-metal ring with a lion’s head design

NamUs #UP154161
https://namus.nij.ojp.gov/unidentified-person-namus-up154161