PA PERRY COUNTY JANE DOE: WF, 15-38, found near Newport, PA - 20 June 1979 *DORIS GIRTZ* (3 Viewers)

Perry County Jane Doe is also known as the "Girl with the Turquoise Jewelry". Her skeletal remains were found on Rt. 322 Eastbound, along the side of the Juniata River, near Newport. Police hoped her clothing and unique turquoise jewelry would help them to quickly identify her, but she has remained nameless. Recent testing has indicated that she may have visited the Southwest in the months prior to her death which seems to match her turquoise jewelry. It is believed she grew up in the Great Lakes region or possibly southern Canada. A cause of death could not be determined.

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[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Have you seen this child?

Missing From: WATTS TOWNSHIP, PA, US. Missing Date: June 20, 1979. An unidentified female was found on June 20, 1979 down an embankment between the Eastbound lanes of Route 22/322 and the Juniata River in Watts Township, Pennsylvania. She had been deceased for several months up to one year. She...

www.missingkids.org

 

[Akoya]

The victim had been buried shortly after her discovery, but was exhumed in 2008, following the reopening of her case.[1] Her DNA and dental records were recorded and are on file.


I am hoping her DNA will be a match and that she can be identified.

 

[Akoya]

CASE: SUSPICIOUS DEATH/UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE - WATTS TOWNSHIP, PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Case # 1726, Jane Doe/Suspicious Death/Unidentified Female - Watts Township, Perry County, PennsylvaniaThe Pennsylvania State Police, Troop H, Newport continues their investigation of a suspicious death of an unidentified female that was...

www.crimewatchpa.com

SUSPICIOUS DEATH/UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE - WATTS TOWNSHIP, PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MAY 31, 2013 TABS Case(active tab)

Location Attachments Case # 1726, Jane Doe/Suspicious Death/Unidentified Female - Watts Township, Perry County, Pennsylvania The Pennsylvania State Police, Troop H, Newport continues their investigation of a suspicious death of an unidentified female that was discovered June 20, 1979. The date of her death occurred between the Fall of 1978 and Spring 1979. The unidentified female was found on Route 322 East Bound, Watts Township, Perry County, Pennsylvania. -UPDATE- Midstate Mysteries: Smithsonian testing reveals new leads in ’79 cold case By Ali Lanyon Published: April 29, 2015 In the summer of 1979, a young woman’s skeletal remains were found along the side of the Juniata River near Newport. Police hoped her clothing and unique turquoise jewelry would help them to quickly identify her, but 36 years later they are no closer to answers. They still don’t know who she was, where she came from, or who left her on the side of the riverbank. But now, thanks to Dr. Christine France of the Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute in Suitland, Maryland, there are new leads in this long-time cold case. Dr. France tested a bone, tooth and hair samples from the girl with the turquoise jewelry. She was looking at hydrogen and oxygen isotopes, because those isotopes are unique to different geographical regions. “You are what you eat,” Dr. France said. “So anything you eat or drink is going to have a distinct chemical signature and that gets incorporated into your bones and your hair and your teeth and your skin and every part of your body basically.” Different parts of the body can tell scientists different things about the person. For example, the teeth tells them where the person spent their adolescence. The hair tells them where they were most recently. And the bone gives them a snapshot of about the past 15 years. In this case, Dr. France determined, based on her hair, the girl may have visited the Southwest in the months prior to her death. That matches a theory investigators had already formed, based on her Indian-style jewelry. “That was very rewarding to see maybe my data may actually confirm what they know and give them impetus to look in that area a little more strongly,” Dr. France said. And what’s more; based on her teeth, Dr. France believes the girl grew up in the Great Lakes region or possibly in southern Canada. Based on that information, new fliers were sent to Canadian authorities. “We’ve had a tough time identifying her so there was always the thought in the back of my mind that maybe she was a foreigner,” said Trooper Donald Chewning, who is leading the suspicious death investigation for the Pa. State Police. “We’ve had a couple calls, however the two missing women from that time period from Canada, I’ve already eliminated them, either by dental or DNA.” But Chewning said at this point he is grateful for any leads. He’s also grateful to Dr. France for doing the tests at no cost to the Pa. State Police. “We just need one piece of the puzzle to find out who she is,” Chewning said. “And we may never find out how she came to that area, but at least we’ll know who she is.” Dr. France said it’s rewarding, to take technology often used in archaeology and paleontology, and apply it to modern forensics. “I am a parent and when I think about missing children, that hits home,” Dr. France said. “I definitely think about who these people might have been and I would like to help them get home if I can.” But for now, the girl with the turquoise jewelry remains in the Perry County morgue; unidentified, unclaimed, but not uncared for. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Perry County Crimestoppers at 1-866-210-8477 or Trooper Donald Chewning at 717-567-3110. •Estimated age: 15-30 years old •Approximate Height and Weight: 5’2"-5’9" (5’6"); 105-125 lbs. •Distinguishing Characteristics: Light brown to blonde, medium-length, straight hair. Victim was a petite white female. Fractured left 9th rib which was partially healed at mid-shaft. •Clothing: Blue wool twill knit pants with red thread. White lace blouse. Dark blue ribbed tank-top. Tan “Mushroom black" label jacket/shirt with zipper on right upper pocket and button down front. White or tan bra, red and gray argyle type socks. White leather buckle-type shoes, inside leather stamped with “G48175 1973”, size estimated at 8 ¼ inches. •Jewelry: Silver, Avon Brand, buckle chain bracelet (right wrist). Sterling silver, Indian type, oblong ring with Turquoise and Onyx stone. Sterling silver, Indian type, Turquoise, oblong ring, with matching teardrop earrings and oblong necklace pendant. Sterling silver ring, with black Onyx stone. The skull and dentition showed good dental hygiene. No evidence of periodontal disease was noted and the posterior teeth were well aligned and not crowded. There was no direct evidence of orthodontic treatment, however it could not be ruled out. There was no evidence of maxillary or mandibular trauma or anatomical anomalies noted. The extraction of the maxillary right first molar, at some time in the teenage years of the decedent was noted. That determination was based on the partial mesial drifting of the maxillary right second molar into the area occupied by the extracted first molar. The extraction occurred approximately 3-4 years prior to death. The maxillary right third molar was impacted in the bone of the tuberosity and not visible externally. The 1979 dental examination thought that the maxillary right first and second molars had been extracted and that the remaining tooth was the third molar. This error undoubtedly occurred from the lack of a radiographic examination which would have revealed the impacted tooth. Anyone with information regarding the identification of this female contact Perry County Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-866-210-8477. WHAT YOU CAN DO: If you have information on this crime, any serious crime, or wanted person, call Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers Toll Free at 1-800-4PA-TIPS. All callers remain anonymous and could be eligible for a CASH REWARD. http://www.abc27.com/story/22040531/midstate-mysteries-the-girl-with-the-turquoise-jewelry Date: Friday, May 31, 2013 - 12:00am Case Status: Cold Case Region: Central Source: Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: CASE: SUSPICIOUS DEATH/UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE - WATTS TOWNSHIP, PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

 

[Akoya]

 

[Akoya]

11UFPA

11UFPA - Unidentified Female​

SUSPICIOUS DEATH/UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE - WATTS TOWNSHIP, PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Date of Discovery: June 20, 1979
Location of Discovery: Watts Township, Perry County, Pennsylvania
Estimated Date of Death: Months to a year prior
State of Remains: Skeletal
Cause of Death: Suspected homicide

Physical Description​

Estimated Age: 15-38 years old
Race: White
Sex: Female
Height: 5'2" to 5'9"
Weight: 105 to 170 lbs.
Hair Color: Light brown to blond, medium length, and possibly curly.
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Healed fracture to midshaft of ninth rib. Petite build.

Identifiers​

Dentals: Available. Good dental hygiene. No evidence of periodontal disease. Posterior teeth well aligned and not crowded. No evidence of orthodontic treatment, however, it could not be ruled out. No trauma or anatomical anomalies present on either set of teeth. Extraction of a maxillary right first molar occurred when the victim was a teenager, based on partial mesial drifting of maxillary right second molar into area occupied by extracted first molar; extraction occurred about 3-4 years prior to death. Maxillary right third molar impacted in bone of the tuberosity and not visible externally. The 1979 dental examination suggested that the maxillary right first and second molars had been extracted and that the remaining tooth was the third molar. This error occurred due to the lack of a radiographic examination, which would have revealed the impacted tooth.
Fingerprints: Not available.
DNA: Available.

Clothing & Personal Items​

Clothing: Blue, wool twill knit pants, red thread. White lace blouse. Dark blue, ribbed tank-top. Tan Mushroom Black jacket/shirt with zipper on right upper pocket, button-down front. White or tan bra, A-cup. Red and gray, argyle type socks. White leather buckle-type shoes, inside leather stamped with "G48175 1973," size estimated at 8 1/4 inches.
Jewelry: Silver Avon brand, buckle chain bracelet (right wrist). Sterling silver, Native American-style oblong ring, with turquoise and onyx stone. Sterling silver, Native American-style turquoise oblong ring, with matching teardrop earrings and oblong necklace pendant. Sterling silver ring, with black onyx stone.
Additional Personal Items: Unknown.

Circumstances of Discovery​

The victim was located on Route 322 Eastbound, over an embankment near the Juniata River, approximately 16 miles west of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Jewelry may be Navajo and Zuni, originating from the New Mexico - Arizona region.

Her remains were exhumed in 2008 for DNA extraction, which was successful.

Chemical isotope testing indicated the female was not originally from the area and had spent a significant amount of time in the Great Lakes region of the United States or Southern Canada.

There were indications in the months preceding her death, she had left that area and resided in the Southwestern part of the United States.

Investigating Agency(s)​

Agency Name: Pennsylvania State Police
Agency Contact Person: Lt. Donald Chewning or Trooper Scott Denisch
Agency Phone Number: 717-567-3110 (Chewning) or 717-671-7500 (Denisch)
Agency E-Mail: dchewning(at)state.pa.us
Agency Case Number: H05-0149355

Agency Name: Perry County Coroner
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 717-957-3451
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: A-29-79

Agency Name: FBI ViCap
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 800-634-4097
Agency E-Mail: vicap(at)leo.gov or online tip submission
Agency Case Number: 2011-03-04 / Jane Doe 23

Agency Name: Perry County Crimestoppers
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 1-866-210-8477 or 1-800-4PA-TIPS (Statewide)
Agency E-Mail: Online tip submission
Agency Case Number: 1726

NCIC Case Number: U853394087
NamUs Case Number: 5166
NCMEC Case Number: 1192091

Information Source(s)​

NamUs
NCMEC
Wikipedia
Crime Watch Pennsylvania
FBI
ABC 15
ABC 27 (5/29/13; archived)
Pennsylvania State Police

Admin Notes​

Added: 02/06/2008; Last Updated: 11/20/2020

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: CASE: SUSPICIOUS DEATH/UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE - WATTS TOWNSHIP, PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

The "Girl with the Turquoise Jewelry" is Now Identified

Pennsylvania State Police and Perry County District Attorney's Office Team with Othram to Identify a 1979 Jane Doe

dnasolves.com

In 2008, the woman’s remains were exhumed so that DNA testing could be performed in hopes of identifying her. In 2009, details of the woman’s unidentified person case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP5166. A forensic sketch was created to depict what the woman may have looked like during her life and in 2015, isotope testing by the Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute provided additional insight. Analysis of her hair indicated that she might have visited the Southwest United States in the months prior to her death, while analysis of her teeth suggested that she likely grew up in the Great Lakes region, possibly in Southern Canada.

In 2023, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Perry County District Attorney's Office partnered with Othram in hopes that advanced DNA testing would help finally identify the “Girl with the Turquoise Jewelry.” Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the forensic evidence and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown woman. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used the profile to begin a genealogical search to generate new investigative leads for the investigation. Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the woman. The comprehensive DNA profile for the Jane Doe was then compared to the DNA profile of a potential relative using KinSNP® Rapid Relationship Testing. Othram's KinSNP® analysis confirmed the relationship, assisting investigators with identifying the woman as Doris Joanne Girtz, who was from Ravenna/Streetsboro, Ohio. Girtz would have been about 23 years old at the time of her disappearance.

 

[Guess Who]

That reconstruction was really close!

 

[Kimster]

That reconstruction was really close!

Yes, I think Carl did a really good job on her. If someone who knew her would’ve seen it, I’ll bet they would’ve known it was her.