Jane Doe 1976 From Nashville, Found Near Harpeth River

[Amy]

On March 24, 1976 the female victim was found in the Harpeth River in Davidson County, TN. The decedent had been deceased less than 24 hours. According to police, the cause of death was drowning.

She is a Caucasian, Hispanic or Native American female between the ages of 14 to 17 years old. She had long black hair and stood about 5’02” tall. She was found wearing a choker style necklace with beads and a white dove on it.

She had a mole on her left temple and old scars on both arms which may have come from cigarette burns.

Prior to her death the victim was hitchhiking with another Caucasian female. The girls stated that they were heading to Haines City, FL to visit the companion’s family. The female companion was described to be around the same age with sandy blonde hair and wore wire rim glasses, but was never located or interviewed regarding this decedent. The girls mentioned that they had just ran away from an institution up north that would have treated substance abuse and mental health problems. The unidentified female’s name may be Sherry or Cheryl.

The images are a facial reconstruction completed by a NCMEC Forensic Artist and depicts what the female may have looked like in life. The necklace shown is an artistic representation of what the necklace may have looked like but is not an exact replica.

Details About Jane Doe 1976

• Date Found: Mar 24, 1976
• Location Found: Nashville, TN
• Estimated Age: 14-17
• Sex: Female
• Race: White
• Hair: Black
• Eye: Brown
• Estimated Height 5'2"
• Estimated Weight 120 to 130 lbs

It was just after 5 p.m. on March 24, 1976, in a far different Nashville from the one we know today. There was a swift current that day along the Harpeth River just yards away from the McCrory Lane Bridge, but not even the current could hide the gruesome scene that a local fisherman would soon discover.

"Her body was intact," said Jill Weaver, Metro detective. "She hadn't been deceased for very long when she was found, so the photographs that we had are the best way to identify her at this point."

"I believe they did a rape kit or what they had available for a rape kit at the time, and it looked like she had had intercourse within a close time frame of when this happened," she said.

Nearly 40 years later, Metro police are no closer to finding out who that girl was. The medical examiner ruled she died from drowning, but even today, detectives can't rule out foul play.

A picture of a little boy was found in her back jean pocket. Detectives hoped it would lead them to her worried family or even catch the person responsible for her death.

"It said 'Little Charlie' and had a phone number on it," Weaver said. "We were able to locate a local resident who recalled seeing this young lady earlier that week and said him and his brother-in-law had given her and an unknown friend a ride."

Possible Related Information:

Two people were questioned by the police. Both admitted to having picked up this female as she was hitching a ride along Interstate 24 on March 15. They both stated that this female was traveling with another female white with blond hair. They alleged to have driven both of the females to the Manchester/Winchester, Tennessee exit and dropped them off. According to them this young lady said her name was "Sherry" or "Cheryl" and that she had escaped or runaway from some type of institution up for alcoholism.

Contact Information:

• Tennessee Medical Examiners Office Nashville & Davidson County 850 Rs Gass Blvd, Nashville, TN 37216 (615) 743-1800

[Megamel29]

Originally Posted by Amy

A picture of a little boy was found in her back jean pocket. Detectives hoped it would lead them to her worried family or even catch the person responsible for her death.[/LIST]

Does this mean that the guys who claimed to have given her and the other girl a ride gave her the picture of the kid? That is odd.

Could have been an accidental drowning. Either way it's sad she hasn't been identified yet. This is too long.

[Amy]

Originally Posted by Megamel29

Does this mean that the guys who claimed to have given her and the other girl a ride gave her the picture of the kid? That is odd.

Could have been an accidental drowning. Either way it's sad she hasn't been identified yet. This is too long.

No it was her traveling companions kid. That was all she could find for them to write their number on.

[Megamel29]

Originally Posted by Amy

No it was her traveling companions kid. That was all she could find for them to write their number on.

Ah I see. I wonder if the other girl is still alive or if something bad happened to her too and they just never found her body.

[Ninjavandal]

What assholes.

[K53]

Rest in Peace

[avery]

Originally Posted by Simone

5. Date Body Found: March 24, 1976
Location Found: Nashville, Tennessee
Estimated Age Range: 14-17 Years
Sex: Female
Race / Ethnicity: White / Caucasian, Hispanic / Latino
Height: 5' 2"(62 inches) , Estimated
Weight: 120 lbs, Estimated
Circumstances of Recovery: Victim was found in the Harpeth River by a fisherman.
Hair Color: Brown
Head Hair Description: Shoulder length
Left Eye Color: Brown
Right Eye Color: Brown
Scar/mark: Mole on left temple area. Her left "fang" tooth was oddly positioned and may heighten the chance of positive identification. Two surgical type scars on her abdomen area and old scars (possibly cigarette burns) on both arms.
Other distinctive physical characteristic: very large breasts for her estimated age
Accessories: Black comb and 1 nickel. A small photograph of a male white child. On the rear of the photograph, "Little Charlie" was written.
Clothing: Blue jeans, bra,
Additional clothing* A blue blouse was discovered in the river the day after the victim's body was discovered, but it is unclear if it belonged to the victim.
Jewelry: A choker type necklace with beads and a white dove. A rawhide bracelet.