Artistic renderings of the victim; close-up of teeth.
Artistic renderings of the victim; close-up of teeth.
Date of Discovery: August 10, 1999
Location of Discovery: Walsenburg, Huerfano County, Colorado
Estimated Date of Death: 1997-1999
State of Remains: Skeletal
Cause of Death: Suspected homicide
Estimated Age: 30-45 years old
Race: Unknown; possibly White/Hispanic or Native American.
Sex: Female
Height: 5'7" to 6'0"
Weight: Unknown, but of moderate build.
Hair: Brown to black, shoulder-length, well-cared for. She possibly wore her hair in dreadlocks.
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: She was "very tall" according to a forensic anthropologist. She had one healed broken left rib.
Dentals: Available. Extensive dental work. Her teeth would have served as a noticable feature.
Fingerprints: Not Available
DNA: Available
Clothing: Light-colored Bansforner brand sleeveless crop top T-shirt (size medium), Wrangler brand blue jeans (size 34x34), maroon or red Bonjour brand sports bra (size extra large - approximately 36C or D), red men's thermal long underwear bottoms with the Winston cigarette logo on the back of left side (size approximately 28x22), red or pink or white or tan knee high athletic socks, and black or dark brown sandals with leather straps and double buckles - one above ankle and one below - with rubber soles and suede leather foot pads (approximately size 9 or 10, made in Italy).
Jewelry: Unknown.
Additional Personal Items: Small metal clip on left side belt loop (similar to a small money clip), not extremely faded, in good condition. No belt was recovered.
A man discovered the woman's skeletal remains located in an old, abandoned refrigerator in a secluded rural area on Road 610, 3.5 miles off of Exit 56 (Red Rocks Road), three miles northwest of Walsenburg, in the general vicinity of I-25.
The discovery came about when the Huerfano County Sheriff's Office received a letter dated August 10, 1999, from a man in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In the letter he stated that he came upon the remains while walking through the area three weeks before. A deputy was then dispatched to the scene.
The man indicated that he found a refrigerator lying on its side with the door partly open with what appeared to be skeletal remains. After further investigation, law enforcement located a scapula and jaw as well as additional bone fragments within 100 feet of the refrigerator. The trash in the refrigerator was dated 1988-1992.
The refrigerator was a Philco brand, model unknown, but possibly a 1940s to 1960s model. It had a lever handle and was a single door unit.
Her case is being treated as a homicide.
Agency Name: Colorado Bureau of Investigation
Agency Contact Person: Special Agent Kevin Koback
Agency Phone Number: 719-647-5999 or 719-647-5990
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 99-3-101/48
Agency Name: Huerfano County Coroner's Office
Agency Contact Person: Vonnie Maier-Valdez
Agency Phone Number: 719-738-2425
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 99028
Agency Name: Huerfano County Sheriff's Office
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 719-738-1600
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: HS030399
NCIC Case Number: Unknown
NamUs Case Number: 12447
Namus
Colorado Bureau of Investigation
The Denver Channel
Huerfano County Coroner's Office
Added: 9/23/07; Last Updated: 4/10/22
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Questions or comments? Please contact appropriate member of the Area Team
** Listed information may be estimated.
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