Description
On January 24, 1983 a gardener found a headless decomposing human body in Foss Creek behind a winery near Healdsburg, California. Searchers later found the cranium. On the body were blue jeans, one brown sock, JC Penny’s brand undergarments, and a brown ankle-length lace up boot. A number of personal items were located near/with the body, including a food stamp/voucher originally issued in June of 1982 out of Philadelphia, PA. Forensic anthropologists determined the remains belonged to a White/Caucasian female, 30-50 years old and about 5′ 5” tall. Despite suspicion that the deceased may have been connected to serial killer Joseph Naso, active in the area just prior to the date of the recovery of the remains, no link has since been confirmed. Law enforcement investigators at the time the remains were recovered concluded that the body has been washed out of a shallow grave further upstream from where it was discovered.
This case spent considerable time in the laboratory pipeline. It was ready to research just in time to be assigned to our latest cohort of interns from the University of New Haven’s Graduate Certificate Program in Forensic Genetic Genealogy.
NamUs ID: UP11808
Date Body Found: January 24, 1983
Race: White/Caucasian
Gender: Female
Estimated Age: 30-50
Estimated PMI: 4 Weeks
Location: Healdsburg, CA
Agency of Jurisdiction
Healdsburg Police Department
Craig Smith, Detective
707-431-3145
[email protected]
Link to More Information
https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/11808/
http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/961ufca.html
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120117/ARTICLES/120119515?p=all&tc=pgall
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/threads/ca-healdsburg-whtfem-961ufca-29-39-in-foss-creek-jan83.162938/
Status: Research in Progress
Last Updated: September 15, 2022
