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The Facts
These facts have been gathered and cross-referenced with a variety of sources including NAMAS case report, Pennsylvania Missing Persons And Unidentified Victims, The Daily Local News, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Most of my sources can be found here.
Initial Discovery: The Suitcase
On July 11, 1995, a local fisherman was culling Valley Creek, an offshoot of the east branch of Brandywine Creek, which is located between Downingtown and West Chester, PA. This fisherman worked for the local hatchery, so had every reason to be walking Valley Creek. July 11th was a hot day, with a high of 86F, and the region had been experiencing a heatwave for the better part of the month.
Drop-Site 1: Suitcase/Torso
That afternoon, he stumbled upon an object wrapped up in a dark green trash bag on the right bank of the creek, partially submerged in water; this was on the north side of the Twin Tunnels. He opened the trash bag and found a small maroon leather suitcase bound with tape and wire.
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Inside the suitcase was a quilt, bed-sheet, and a light blue, long-sleeved denim button down with copper buttons (brand: Theo). The quilt and suitcase are not unique, but mass-produced and could have been purchased at KMart.
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Once he unwrapped the quilt/bedsheet, he found a garment bag. Inside the garment bag was the head, torso, and arms of a partially decomposed female. Her legs were missing. The fisherman then called State Police (Embreeville barrack) at around 1 PM.
When police inspected the torso, they found it clad only in a blood-stained bra. The female had no distinctive features— no tattoos or scars. However, her ears did appear to be pierced. Further search of the area did not yield any identifying information such as a purse with a driver's license, etc. The legs were not recovered.
Autopsy: Torso
The initial autopsy on the torso was performed by the Chester County coroner. The cause of death was undetermined. There was no obvious manner or mechanism of death either— no signs of strangulation, blunt force trauma, no stabbing or gunshot wound. There was no sign of sexual assault. The coroner did find a bruise on her right eye and two smaller bruises on her back, potentially indicating domestic abuse or that she attempted to flee her killer. Toxicology screen came back negative for any drugs, but did indicate 1-2 alcoholic beverages being consumed before death. Coroner determined that the body had been dumped 3-7 days prior to discovery. However, Hon. Anthony Sarcione (sitting DA for Chesco at the time), is quoted as saying that body could have been there for 1-2 weeks. There is no definite time of death.
Early reports indicate that the victim was between 25-30 years of age, white, possibly of European descent, and between 4'11" and 5'4". However, these vital statistics would broaden in future reports.
Early reports indicate that the victim was between 25-30 years of age, white, possibly of European descent, and between 4'11" and 5'4". However, these vital statistics would broaden in future reports.
Second Discovery: The Legs
Six months later, on January 28, 1996, a jogger discovered one or both legs at Core Creek Park in Langhorne, PA. The leg was in a wooded area between Bridgetown Pike and Park Rd, near the Duchess Lane Picnic Area.
Drop-Site 2: Legs/Trash bag with clothing
When Bucks County police arrived on scene, they first discovered the right leg (hip to foot) with no skin from upper thigh to ankle, though investigators think this is due to animal activity. Nearby, in a shallow grave, the left leg (thigh to below the knee; no foot) was discovered along with yet another dark green trash bag.
Inside the trash bag were women's clothing. There are some reports which indicate that there was also girl-size clothing, but this claim is unsubstantiated. The clothing included:
Inside the trash bag were women's clothing. There are some reports which indicate that there was also girl-size clothing, but this claim is unsubstantiated. The clothing included:
- 1 sweater with Mickey & Minnie Mouse on it; blue, black, and pink; size 10; brand: Jet Set
- 1 denim jacket; brand: Bonjour
- 1 denim skirt; brand: Lee
- 1 small black jumper (sweatshirt)
Found near the trash bag was a white blouse with gold and black buttons. It is reported that the sizes of the clothing was consistent with the size of the torso.
Second Autopsy: The Legs & The Torso
Once a connection was made by Chester and Bucks Co. officials, an autopsy to determine a match between legs and torso was conducted at the Phoenixville hospital morgue. The autopsy was witnessed by Chester and Bucks Co. detectives and performed by forensic anthropologists Thomas A.J. Crist (Temple University) and Arthur Washburn, as well as pathologist Hal Fillinger. As per the Philadelphia Inquirer, the findings were as follows:
- Victim is of possible European or Hispanic decent, standing between 4'11"-5'4", aged 25-30 years old
- Time of death for both torso and legs was determined to be about 6 months ago
- Still no cause, manner, or mechanism of death
- The right leg fit into the hip socket of the torso perfectly.
- Both leg bone and torso bore 15 cut marks from a small, sharp blade (possibly a knife); all cuts were consistent and matched
DNA taken from both torso and legs was then sent to Cellmark Diagnostic Labs in Germantown, Maryland, to determine if there was a match. The tests came back inconclusive because the leg bones were so deteriorated. So, a positive DNA match was never made. Both the forensic team and investigators are confident both torso and legs belong to the same body, however.
Investigation
Over 200 tips came in concerning Suitcase Jane Doe over the next two years, but investigators were unable to proceed further. Without an identity for the victim, it is difficult to know where to begin. There is a consensus that the victim was not murdered at the Valley Creek or Core Creek dump sites, but killed elsewhere. They are uncertain whether the victim is from the area, but they are leaning in favor of the victim being from out-of-state or even another country. It is possible she could be a transient or undocumented immigrant, too. Forensic sketches were made of the victim's face in attempt to match with missing person's reports (pictured right). In November, 1997, sculptor Frank Bender was commissioned to make a bust of Suitcase Jane Doe (pictured left).
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As for the killer or killers, not much is known. There is speculation that the killer(s) were familiar with the area as both drop-sites were not directly located off the PA-Turnpike (I-76).
