1973 Virginia Jane Doe: Remains Located On A Local Farm In Lincoln
A detective within the Sheriff's Office shared this case with OurBlackGirls.
This case was submitted to me by Cold Case Det. Garcia in Loudoun County, Virginia. It centers on a Jane Doe who has gone unidentified since 1973, after being located on May 28.
According to the report, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office was alerted that human remains were located at a local farm on Rt. 723 in Lincoln, VA. Farm workers were checking on the cattle when the body was discovered.
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A Cause Of Death Was Determined
The Medical Examiner ruled Jane Doe’s death as a homicide after learning she had been shot. However, how long her remains had been at the farm couldn’t be accurately determined, but it was estimated that she died around two days prior, May 26, 1973.
This case went untouched until 2018, when a detective assigned to cold cases came across a folder titled “Historical Homicides.” Inside, the detective located a lab form describing 1973 Virginia Jane Doe’s case, and while additional forms were in the file, no reports or crime scene photos have ever been found.
Additionally, the whereabouts of the victim’s remains were also unknown, and she was listed as a Jane Doe. That changed on January 10, 2023, when the investigation uncovered Doe’s remains and they were exhumed. Extensive genetic genealogy work has been conducted, but the identity of Jane Doe is still unknown.
Later, a forensic sculpture of her skull was completed.
1973 Virginia Jane Doe: What To Know
It was determined that the woman was Black and estimated to be between 20 and 25 years old. She was said to be 5 feet 7.5 inches tall and weighed 145 pounds. Her eye color was unknown, and her hair was black.
When found, 1973 Virginia Jane Doe was wearing an orange blouse, orange knit pants, and an orange, blue, and white plaid jacket. She was also wearing a ring with a blue, clear-in-color stone. She had no identification, and the location where she was found was not visible from the road.
Anyone with any information about this case to help identify 1973 Virginia Jane Doe is urged to contact Cold Case Det. Garcia at the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office at 571-627-9370. The agency case number is 1973-000528.
Please share this story about 1973 Virginia Jane Doe to help not only bring resolution to this case but also restore her name. She is our sister, and her life matters.
Case Number: 1973-000528
Agency: Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office
Phone: 571-627-9370
Email:
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