CA RANCHO CUCAMONGA JANE DOE: WF, 15-30, found in a grape vineyard in Rancho Cucamonga, CA - 7 June 1979 *KAREN HEVERLY*

633UFCA - Unidentified Female

Reconstructions of the victim by NCMEC and Carl Koppelman; initial sketch by police; victim's footwear. To view postmortem photos of the victim, please click Photo 1 and Photo 2. For a close-up on the victim's teeth, click here.

Date of Discovery: June 7, 1979
Location of Discovery: Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino County, California
Estimated Date of Death: One or more days prior
State of Remains: Recognizable face
Cause of Death: Homicide by asphyxiation

Physical Description
Estimated Age: 15-30 years old
Race: White
Gender: Female
Height: 5'2"
Weight: 100 to 110 lbs.
Hair: Light brown, shoulder-length.
Eye Color: Brown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: None.

Identifiers
Dentals: Available. Slight overbite. Mesial fracture on upper-right incisor (tooth #8). Front teeth overlap slightly.
Fingerprints: Available.
DNA: Available.

Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: Green socks; brown leather, Lower Quarter Earth shoes.
Jewelry: None.
Additional Personal Items: None.

Circumstances of Discovery
The victim's unclothed body was discovered face-down in a grape vineyard within days of her death. Asphyxiation was listed as one of the contributing factors to her death. Blunt-force trauma was also noted.

Investigating Agency(s)
Agency Name: San Bernardino County Sheriff Department - Coroner Division
Agency Contact Person: September Fonzi-Jones
Agency Phone Number: 909-387-2978
Agency E-Mail: crnr-requests(at)sbcsd.org
Agency Case Number: 53512

Agency Name: San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department - Homicide Detail
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 909-387-3589
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 98569211

NCIC Case Number: U145496149
NamUs Case Number: 2512
NCMEC Case Number: 1111328

Information Source(s)
NamUs
NCMEC
San Bernardino Sun (6/8/1979)

Doe Network: International Center For Missing and Unidentified Persons

Doe Network is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to bringing awareness to missing persons and unidentified persons throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Australia.

www.doenetwork.org

JANE DOE found strangled to death in a grape vineyard in Rancho Cucamonga, CA on June 7, 1979. WHO WAS SHE?

Estimated Age: 15-30 years old Race: White Gender: Female Height: 5'2" Weight: 100 to 110 lbs. Hair: Light brown, shoulder-length. Eye Color: Brown

www.crimewatchers.net

*CLICK THE REPORT BUTTON IF YOU'D LIKE THIS CASE MOVED TO THE GENERAL DISCUSSION AREA TO BE OPENED FOR COMMENTING.

 

[Romulus]

Identified!

 

[Kimster]

Oh wow! I wonder if her name and circumstances will be released.

 

[Summer_Breeze]

Cold case homicide victim identified decades after teen’s body was found in a California vineyard

Investigators reopened a cold case homicide from 1979 and identified the victim nearly 45 years after her body was found in Southern California.

www.eastbaytimes.com

By NELSON ESPINAL | nespinal@scng.com
PUBLISHED: April 4, 2024 at 4:40 a.m. | UPDATED: April 4, 2024 at 6:15 a.m.

Investigators reopened a cold case homicide from 1979 and identified the victim nearly 45 years after her body was found in Rancho Cucamonga vineyards, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement released Wednesday, April 3.

A vineyard worker on June 7, 1979 found the body of a female who had sustained traumatic injuries in vineyards near Eighth Street and Rochester Avenue, near the 15 Freeway, Wednesday’s statement said.


Investigators at the time described the victim as a White woman with shoulder length light brown hair and brown eyes, aged between 18-30 years old, the statement said. No identifying marks, scars, or tattoos were found on the body.

After the homicide investigation went cold, the victim remained unidentified, but in 2023, deputies from the cold case homicide team reopened the investigation in an attempt to identify the body, the Sheriff’s Department said.

Investigators sent the victim’s DNA samples to Othram Inc., a company that specializes in handling forensic evidence.

The company used DNA testing and technology to create a DNA profile. This profile was then used to conduct a genealogical search to identify the victim as Karen Marie Heverly, 16, originally from Jersey Shore, Pa., the statement said.

Heverly had left her parents’ home at age 16 for a reason not yet known by investigators.

Anyone with information about the case can contact Detective Justin Carty or Sgt. Justin Giles at the Specialized Investigations Division at (909) 890-4904.

 

[Kimster]

A teenage runaway who was murdered. That is so sad!!!!!