Authorities Believe Murder Victim May Be From Panhandle

July 13, 2013

Escambia County investigators are asking for any information related to a Sumter County murder victim that may have been a Florida panhandle native or resided in the area for an extended period of time.

The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the murder of an unidentified female whose body was discovered April 22, 2013, in a wooded area near Interstate 75 and State Road 44 in Wildwood. An autopsy determined she may have been the victim of a violent homicide on or about April 3.

The victim is a white female; 50 to 70 years of age, 5’2” to 5’9” tall, heavy build, with red or auburn colored hair that was tied with a red scrunchy. There is a tattoo of “Jane” on the left shoulder blade, and the victim was wearing a light colored floral design shirt, size 3XL, grey colored sweatpants, size 36-38, and white Danskins tennis shoes, size 10W. The victim had no teeth, and wore pink and grey colored glasses.

Dr. George Kamenov from the University of Florida conducted geological testing on portions of the remains and determined the woman could have lived in the Florida panhandle within the past 15 to 20 years.

If anyone has information related to this case or knows the victim’s identity, please contact the Sumter County Sheriff’s ffice, Criminal Investigations Division at (352) 569-1680, or callers may call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.

Comments

4 Responses to “Authorities Believe Murder Victim May Be From Panhandle”

  1. David Huie Green on July 13th, 2013 5:24 pm

    You can’t tell age from teeth because she didn’t have any,

    Height variation doesn’t make sense to me either.

    Sometimes isotopes differ by area, might be detected in her bones and would show up for years after she left or might be current to this area.

    Tattoo and location should tell anyone who actually knew her, especially anyone named Jane.

    It WOULD be interesting to know more details.

    If murder, I hope they catch the killer.

  2. Lighten up on July 13th, 2013 5:18 pm

    The broad range of age and height is to leave all options open. They are desperately trying to learn the identity of this woman. If they list criteria that is too narrow, some may not even consider their own opinions on who this might be.

  3. Bell on July 13th, 2013 11:44 am

    I’m curious as to how they have a 7″ range on her height, when they have her remains. Also a 20 year difference in age when an autopsy was performed, but yet they can determine that she could have lived around here 15 or 20 years ago. Something doesn’t add up. I hope that family will be found and closure will follow. Rest in peace.

  4. molino jim on July 13th, 2013 9:36 am

    “Geological testing” showed that she could have lived in the Fla. panhandle within the past 15 to 20 years? I’ve heard of having sand in your shoes but isn’t that a little long?

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News