The Unsolved Murder of the Ohio Buckskin Girl
WARNING: This article contains post mortem photos and information that may disturb some readers. Discretion is highly advised, continue at your own risk.
On April 24, 1981 a passerby in Troy Ohio noticed a poncho in a ditch along the side of Greenlee road. Upon investigating farther he discovered the body of a young woman with brown hair and brown eyes, her hair styled into two braids. The passerby, of course, alerted the authorities.
Case Information
At first authorities speculated she might have been a sex worker or a runaway. However there were no signs of sexual activity of any kind before or after her death, therefore indicating this woman was not a member of the sex business. She had suffered blunt force trauma to the head, as well as strangulation.
The young woman was found in bell bottom blue jeans, a brown turtle neck sweater with an orange criss cross design on the front, and a hand made buckskin pull-over jacket with leather fringe around the seams with a deep purple lining. Her shoes however were nowhere to be found. She was estimated to have died less than two days before her discovery, meaning her killer could be long gone.
However this did not dampen authorities spirits, as they believed that someone would be looking for this young woman. Her teeth were in very good condition, indicating that before her death she had access to very good dental hygiene. This made it unlikely that she was a runaway or someone living outside of society, as it seemed she was well taken care of, or at the very least had the means to take care of herself. With all this information authorities were surprised when no one in the area seemed to recognize her. They began to speculate that she was not from the Ohio area.
Fingerprints and DNA have been taken, however they have not been matched up. Forensic palynology tests done on her clothing suggest she may have been from Tennessee and/or North Carolina. It also showed that she may have spent some time in the western part if the country, or in Northern Mexico. Soot was also found on her clothes, which would suggest she lived in a highly populated area, full of cars. there was also evidence she spent some time in the Great Smokey Mountains (however this was only mentioned once, so take that for what it's worth.).
So far, 226 missing women have been ruled out, including Tina Kemp, Pamela Harvey Rousseau, and Karen Zandrosky. However while we know who she wasn't, we still to this day do not know who she was, or how she met such an unfortunate fate.
Theories
Who was the Ohio Buckskin Girl? Who was her killer? How did she come to be in a ditch on the side of Greenlee road in Troy Ohio, especially if she was not from the Ohio area as authorities believe? Unfortunately we are only left with our theories.
Serial Killer
Many theorize that the Buckskin Girl was the victim of an unnamed serial killer active in that area around that time. While there are similarities, there are problems with this theory.
The majority of the serial killers victims showed signs of sexual assault before death. This serial killer's victims were also typically sex workers. Ohio's Jane Doe did not show any signs of sexual activity of any kind before or after her death, and she was also not thought to have been a sex worker, making her death stand out.
Killed by an ex lover
Some think that she may have been hunted down and killed by an ex lover, sighting the fact that her shoes were missing and never found as evidence of this. Perhaps she had cheated, or perhaps she simply did not love the man she was supposed to. She may have run away and been hunted down, or even killed while traveling with an abusive partner.
However others again site the fact that she had not been sexually assaulted in any way before her death, making some believe that this was not the result of a lovers quarrel.
Random Killing
Not all random killers feel a need to sexually assault their victims. Some simply have a need to kill. The third theory suggests that the Buckskin Girl was a runaway or even just someone who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Perhaps, for whatever reason, she was hitchhiking, and got into the wrong car.
Details
Jane Doe was estimated to be between the ages of 18-26. She was a white female with brown hair and brown eyes. She was found with her hair done up in braids. She was estimated to be about 5'6" and might have weighed about 125lbs. She had freckles on her face.
She had several scars on her body; one beneath her chin, one on her left arm, two on her left wrist, her right hand, her right ankle, and her right foot. Her top central incisor had a porcelain-metal crown.
If you have any information at all please contact the Miami County Coroner's Office at 937-238-8912. You can also contact the Miami County Sheriff's Office at 937-440-3965.
On April 24, 1981 a passerby in Troy Ohio noticed a poncho in a ditch along the side of Greenlee road. Upon investigating farther he discovered the body of a young woman with brown hair and brown eyes, her hair styled into two braids. The passerby, of course, alerted the authorities.
Case Information
At first authorities speculated she might have been a sex worker or a runaway. However there were no signs of sexual activity of any kind before or after her death, therefore indicating this woman was not a member of the sex business. She had suffered blunt force trauma to the head, as well as strangulation.
The young woman was found in bell bottom blue jeans, a brown turtle neck sweater with an orange criss cross design on the front, and a hand made buckskin pull-over jacket with leather fringe around the seams with a deep purple lining. Her shoes however were nowhere to be found. She was estimated to have died less than two days before her discovery, meaning her killer could be long gone.
However this did not dampen authorities spirits, as they believed that someone would be looking for this young woman. Her teeth were in very good condition, indicating that before her death she had access to very good dental hygiene. This made it unlikely that she was a runaway or someone living outside of society, as it seemed she was well taken care of, or at the very least had the means to take care of herself. With all this information authorities were surprised when no one in the area seemed to recognize her. They began to speculate that she was not from the Ohio area.
Fingerprints and DNA have been taken, however they have not been matched up. Forensic palynology tests done on her clothing suggest she may have been from Tennessee and/or North Carolina. It also showed that she may have spent some time in the western part if the country, or in Northern Mexico. Soot was also found on her clothes, which would suggest she lived in a highly populated area, full of cars. there was also evidence she spent some time in the Great Smokey Mountains (however this was only mentioned once, so take that for what it's worth.).
So far, 226 missing women have been ruled out, including Tina Kemp, Pamela Harvey Rousseau, and Karen Zandrosky. However while we know who she wasn't, we still to this day do not know who she was, or how she met such an unfortunate fate.
Theories
Who was the Ohio Buckskin Girl? Who was her killer? How did she come to be in a ditch on the side of Greenlee road in Troy Ohio, especially if she was not from the Ohio area as authorities believe? Unfortunately we are only left with our theories.
Serial Killer
Many theorize that the Buckskin Girl was the victim of an unnamed serial killer active in that area around that time. While there are similarities, there are problems with this theory.
The majority of the serial killers victims showed signs of sexual assault before death. This serial killer's victims were also typically sex workers. Ohio's Jane Doe did not show any signs of sexual activity of any kind before or after her death, and she was also not thought to have been a sex worker, making her death stand out.
Killed by an ex lover
Some think that she may have been hunted down and killed by an ex lover, sighting the fact that her shoes were missing and never found as evidence of this. Perhaps she had cheated, or perhaps she simply did not love the man she was supposed to. She may have run away and been hunted down, or even killed while traveling with an abusive partner.
However others again site the fact that she had not been sexually assaulted in any way before her death, making some believe that this was not the result of a lovers quarrel.
Random Killing
Not all random killers feel a need to sexually assault their victims. Some simply have a need to kill. The third theory suggests that the Buckskin Girl was a runaway or even just someone who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Perhaps, for whatever reason, she was hitchhiking, and got into the wrong car.
Details
Jane Doe was estimated to be between the ages of 18-26. She was a white female with brown hair and brown eyes. She was found with her hair done up in braids. She was estimated to be about 5'6" and might have weighed about 125lbs. She had freckles on her face.
She had several scars on her body; one beneath her chin, one on her left arm, two on her left wrist, her right hand, her right ankle, and her right foot. Her top central incisor had a porcelain-metal crown.
If you have any information at all please contact the Miami County Coroner's Office at 937-238-8912. You can also contact the Miami County Sheriff's Office at 937-440-3965.
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