20UFNJ - Unidentified Female

Identified...Identified...Identified

Reconstruction of the decedent by NCMEC; 1992 FBI clay reconstruction; sketch by the New Jersey State Police; decedent's footwear.

Date of Discovery: December 10, 1988
Location of Discovery: Atlantic Highlands, Monmouth County, New Jersey
Estimated Date of Death: 1973-1988
State of Remains: Skeletal
Cause of Death: Undetermined

Physical Description

Estimated Age: 15 - 20 years old
Race: White
Sex: Female
Height: 5'0" to 5'4"
Weight: 100 to 120 pounds
Hair Color: Unknown
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown.

Identifiers

Dentals: Available. Gap between the upper central incisors. Dental fillings noted in some of her teeth.
Fingerprints: Not available.
DNA: Available.

Clothing & Personal Items

Clothing: Knee-high socks, bra with lace material, leather platform sandals with ankle straps (size 8 1/2).
Jewelry: None.
Additional Personal Items: None.

Circumstances of Discovery

The skeletal remains of the female were discovered off Lower Bayside Drive on a wooded hillside going down to the beach at Sandy Hook Bay in Atlantic Highlands.

Local residents were helping to clear a parcel of land along Sandy Hook Bay for a bicycle trail. One of the residents found what he thought was a plastic ball, which was in fact a human skull.

Further search of the area by investigators recovered more than 85% of the skeletal remains.

A botanist estimated that the body had been in that same location for approximately fifteen years based upon the scene and clothing.

Investigating Agency(s)

Agency Name: New Jersey State Police
Agency Contact Person: Anna Delaney
Agency Phone Number: 609-584-5054 ext. 5656 or 800-709-7090
Agency E-Mail: ppdelaan(at)njsp.org or missingp(at)gw.njsp.org
Agency Case Number: 537234-88

Agency Name: Atlantic Highlands Police Department
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 732-291-1212
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 537234-88

Agency Name: Middlesex/Monmouth/Mercer Counties Medical Examiner's Office
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 732-745-3190
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 13881397/13881445

Agency Name: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Agency Contact Person: Carol Schweitzer
Agency Phone Number: 800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 1106794

NCIC Case Number: U337246242
NamUs Case Number: UP1458

Information Source(s)

NamUs
New Jersey State Police
NCMEC
Monmouth County Prosecutor (archived)
Asbury Park Press (9/10/00)

Admin Notes

Added: Prior to 2001; Last Updated: 11/21/2022