Identified...Identified...Identified
Date of Discovery: December 5, 1982
Location of Discovery: Escatawpa, Jackson County, Mississippi
Estimated Date of Death: 36-48 hours prior
State of Remains: Recognizable face
Cause of Death: Homicide by forced drowning
Estimated Age: 1-2 years old
Race: White
Sex: Female
Height: 2'5" to 2'6
Weight: 20 to 25 lbs.
Hair Color: Strawberry blond
Eye Color: Unknown, possibly brown or blue.
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown
Dentals: Not available. 12 baby teeth had grown in at the time of her death.
Fingerprints: Unknown (sources differ)
DNA: Available.
Clothing: Cradle Togs pink and white dress which buttoned in the back and a disposable diaper. Some reports state that she was wearing a red and white checkered dress or shirt.
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown
The child's body was located in the Dog River beneath the westbound lane of I-10 in Pascagoula. She was apparently thrown off the Interstate 10 bridge. Her body was found when a truck driver reported a body of an adult wearing a blue plaid shirt and blue jeans floating in the river. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office believes the body is the mother of the child found floating in the river. Detectives said the theory is based on the fact that a woman, who was obviously distressed and carrying a child, was seen walking on Interstate-10 on the previous Friday night. This is further confirmed by a Moss Point woman who was monitoring CB conversations that night. She said "truckers were 'raising-a-boat-load-of-Hell' between midnight Friday and 1 AM. Saturday because a woman and child were walking on the interstate and refused to let anyone help her."
Authorities said a woman wearing a blue plaid shirt and blue jeans and carrying a child was seen near the scales at the Alabama line walking west on the interstate. She was reported walking in the westbound lane. A man who saw the woman said a pickup truck stopped but she refused to get into the truck.
Authorities speculate the woman may have thrown the child into the water and then jumped. The baby still had a breath of life because she had sucked in some of the murky water into her lungs.
The body of the woman was never recovered nor has she been identified.
The unidentified toddler is buried in Jackson County Memorial Park. Deputy Moore and his wife stepped forward and made sure the little girl was given a proper funeral and burial in 1982. 200 people attended the young girl's funeral.
Agency Name: Jackson County Medical Examiner's Office
Agency Contact Person: Mark LeVaughn
Agency Phone Number: 228-769-3197 or 601-987-1440
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 82-21094
Agency Name: Jackson County Sheriff's Department
Agency Contact Person: Captain Curtis Spiers
Agency Phone Number: 1-228-769-3063 or 228-769-3306
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: Unknown
NCIC Case Number: Unknown
NamUs Case Number: 12191
NCMEC Case Number: 1103997
NamUs
NCMEC
Gulf Live News Archive
WLOX News Archive (12/8/07)
Added: 11/25/05; Last Updated: 2/19/18
Questions or comments? Please contact appropriate member of the Area Team
** Listed information may be estimated.
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