The unsolved murder of Beth Doe of Pennsylvania
WARNING: This case contains graphic details and mentioning of sexual assault, rape, and mutilation. Discretion is advised. Continue reading at your own risk.
On December 20th 1976, at about 4:30pm, Kenneth Jumper from White Haven, Carbon County, Pennsylvania made a gruesome discovery on the bank of the Lehigh river under the I-80 bridge. The dismembered body of a young mother, and her unborn daughter. Upon arrival authorities set to work, hoping to find the identity of this young mother, and the culprit behind this disgusting act.
Crime details
After Beth Doe's discovery, authorities tried to use the evidence they had to put together a possible sequence of events.
Her cause of death was strangulation, as well as a shot behind the neck. it is unclear if she was shot before or after her death. After her death, her killer or killers dismembered her body. While they did not have the precision of a surgeon, this was somebody who "knew what they were doing" according to an investigator working on the case. At the time of her murder, she had been nine months pregnant. Had Beth lived, the baby would have been born soon, as it was a very healthy baby girl.
After dismembering her body, her killer or killers threw her body over the bridge, likely aiming to throw them into the water, but missed their mark. one suitcase landed on the river bank, while the other two landed in a wooded area about 20 feet away. The fall broke open the two suitcases containing her unborn child, her head, and her torso. The third suitcase contained her legs and arms. Her nose, ears, and breasts were also cut off from her body, and were never located. Some of her body parts were wrapped in a bed spread, while the torso was covered in a newspaper. She had been sexually assaulted.
Important Details
The three suitcases were all the same size; 23"x14"x7 1/2". Two of them were a blue soft vinyl, with side zippers. The handles were cut off, and for unknown reasons they were spray painted black.
The bedspread had been cut into three pieces. It was an orange or coral color with a yellow embroidered flower
The newspaper that Beth's torso was covered in was determined to be six sections of the New York Sunday News, dated September 26, 1976. The suitcases also contained straw and dry packing.
The authorities also noted that written on her left palm, in ball point ink, were the letters WSR followed by either a 4 or a 5, below and to the right was a 4 or a 7.
In 2007, Beth's body was exhumed for isotope testing, while not 100% accurate, indicated that Beth Doe could have been born in Europe, with a possible Mediterranean background. She likely moved to the United States sometime before puberty and lived out the last 5 to 10 years of her life in the US. She likely became pregnant here, and in the end, died here.
Theories
Without a suspect or a name, we are left only with the evidence science has provided to us, and our own theories. There are numerous theories, as almost anything is possible at this point, as we really don't know. I tried my best to narrow it down to a few main theories.
Fleeing an abusive relationship
Some people have speculated that the WSR on her wrist might have stood for Women's Services and Resources. A reddit user named Riddle Skittle did find that there was a women's resource center near the area that opened just a year before Beth Doe's death. In order to get to it, you had to travel along I-80. Perhaps she heard of the center and left.
She could have been pursued by her abusive partner, or even could have intended to hitch hike and came across the wrong stranger.
Criminal
Perhaps Beth Doe was a criminal. Maybe a part of the drug trade, or maybe involved in gang activity. She could have been associated with the wrong kind of people, and her people ended up turning on her, killing her and her child. She could have even been killed in an act of revenge, if she was a criminal.
Homeless
She could have been homeless. Maybe she never had a home, or maybe she was kicked out by her parents for her pregnancy. If this is the case it would explain why nobody was looking for her.
Girl trying to escape the sex trade
Maybe she was a girl trapped in the sex trade. Upon hearing about the Women's Services and Resources center, she decided that was a good time to try and escape. Maybe she didn't even know about he center, maybe she was just trying to get away, nowhere in particular, but her old captures caught up to her.
Honor killing
This is the theory I personally believe after researching this case.
An honor killing is the murder of a family member that is justified to the killer because of something the victim has done to dishonor the family. Remember, Beth Doe's nose, ears, nd breasts were cut off and never found. This is a common sign of an honor killing. If this is the case her family would not have reported her missing due to their involvement and knowledge of her murder.
Beth Doe
Beth Doe had dark brown hair (medium length), with white skin, and brown eyes. Her estimated height was thought to be 5'4", and her weight was estimated to weigh about 130-150 lbs. She was estimated to be between her late teens, to early 20's. She was not found wearing any clothing. Her blood type was O. She had a small circular mole above her left eye and a mole on her left cheek, possibly caused by her pregnancy. There was a 5 1/2" scar on her left leg, just above the heel.
Even if the family doesn't come forward, or she didn't have a family, the killer would have had to stop while on I-80 that day anywhere between 7 to 24 hours before her death. It is likely someone saw something while they were dumping her body. At this point, we just need somebody to come forward and help us find a name for this young mother.
If you have any new information on Beth Doe, please contact Officer Thomas McAndrew at 570-459-3890.
Thank you so much for your time. This case, while horrifying, does mean a lot to me. So please, share your own theories and if I missed anything feel free to mention it, but please be respectful. Thank you so much, my fellow darklings. co carefully into that dark night.
On December 20th 1976, at about 4:30pm, Kenneth Jumper from White Haven, Carbon County, Pennsylvania made a gruesome discovery on the bank of the Lehigh river under the I-80 bridge. The dismembered body of a young mother, and her unborn daughter. Upon arrival authorities set to work, hoping to find the identity of this young mother, and the culprit behind this disgusting act.
Crime details
After Beth Doe's discovery, authorities tried to use the evidence they had to put together a possible sequence of events.
Her cause of death was strangulation, as well as a shot behind the neck. it is unclear if she was shot before or after her death. After her death, her killer or killers dismembered her body. While they did not have the precision of a surgeon, this was somebody who "knew what they were doing" according to an investigator working on the case. At the time of her murder, she had been nine months pregnant. Had Beth lived, the baby would have been born soon, as it was a very healthy baby girl.
After dismembering her body, her killer or killers threw her body over the bridge, likely aiming to throw them into the water, but missed their mark. one suitcase landed on the river bank, while the other two landed in a wooded area about 20 feet away. The fall broke open the two suitcases containing her unborn child, her head, and her torso. The third suitcase contained her legs and arms. Her nose, ears, and breasts were also cut off from her body, and were never located. Some of her body parts were wrapped in a bed spread, while the torso was covered in a newspaper. She had been sexually assaulted.
Important Details
The three suitcases were all the same size; 23"x14"x7 1/2". Two of them were a blue soft vinyl, with side zippers. The handles were cut off, and for unknown reasons they were spray painted black.
The bedspread had been cut into three pieces. It was an orange or coral color with a yellow embroidered flower
The newspaper that Beth's torso was covered in was determined to be six sections of the New York Sunday News, dated September 26, 1976. The suitcases also contained straw and dry packing.
The authorities also noted that written on her left palm, in ball point ink, were the letters WSR followed by either a 4 or a 5, below and to the right was a 4 or a 7.
In 2007, Beth's body was exhumed for isotope testing, while not 100% accurate, indicated that Beth Doe could have been born in Europe, with a possible Mediterranean background. She likely moved to the United States sometime before puberty and lived out the last 5 to 10 years of her life in the US. She likely became pregnant here, and in the end, died here.
Theories
Without a suspect or a name, we are left only with the evidence science has provided to us, and our own theories. There are numerous theories, as almost anything is possible at this point, as we really don't know. I tried my best to narrow it down to a few main theories.
Fleeing an abusive relationship
Some people have speculated that the WSR on her wrist might have stood for Women's Services and Resources. A reddit user named Riddle Skittle did find that there was a women's resource center near the area that opened just a year before Beth Doe's death. In order to get to it, you had to travel along I-80. Perhaps she heard of the center and left.
She could have been pursued by her abusive partner, or even could have intended to hitch hike and came across the wrong stranger.
Criminal
Perhaps Beth Doe was a criminal. Maybe a part of the drug trade, or maybe involved in gang activity. She could have been associated with the wrong kind of people, and her people ended up turning on her, killing her and her child. She could have even been killed in an act of revenge, if she was a criminal.
Homeless
She could have been homeless. Maybe she never had a home, or maybe she was kicked out by her parents for her pregnancy. If this is the case it would explain why nobody was looking for her.
Girl trying to escape the sex trade
Maybe she was a girl trapped in the sex trade. Upon hearing about the Women's Services and Resources center, she decided that was a good time to try and escape. Maybe she didn't even know about he center, maybe she was just trying to get away, nowhere in particular, but her old captures caught up to her.
Honor killing
This is the theory I personally believe after researching this case.
An honor killing is the murder of a family member that is justified to the killer because of something the victim has done to dishonor the family. Remember, Beth Doe's nose, ears, nd breasts were cut off and never found. This is a common sign of an honor killing. If this is the case her family would not have reported her missing due to their involvement and knowledge of her murder.
Beth Doe
Beth Doe had dark brown hair (medium length), with white skin, and brown eyes. Her estimated height was thought to be 5'4", and her weight was estimated to weigh about 130-150 lbs. She was estimated to be between her late teens, to early 20's. She was not found wearing any clothing. Her blood type was O. She had a small circular mole above her left eye and a mole on her left cheek, possibly caused by her pregnancy. There was a 5 1/2" scar on her left leg, just above the heel.
Even if the family doesn't come forward, or she didn't have a family, the killer would have had to stop while on I-80 that day anywhere between 7 to 24 hours before her death. It is likely someone saw something while they were dumping her body. At this point, we just need somebody to come forward and help us find a name for this young mother.
If you have any new information on Beth Doe, please contact Officer Thomas McAndrew at 570-459-3890.
Thank you so much for your time. This case, while horrifying, does mean a lot to me. So please, share your own theories and if I missed anything feel free to mention it, but please be respectful. Thank you so much, my fellow darklings. co carefully into that dark night.
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