Unidentified Female – White or Bi-Racial: Caucasian/Hispanic with possible Black or Asian
Date Discovered: 10/14/2005
Location Discovered: Dorchester, Suffolk County, MA
Vital Statistics:
Estimated Age: 25-35 years old. (+/- 5 years)
Estimated Date of Death: 3 months to five years prior
Estimated Height/Weight: 5′ 2″ (+/- 3″); small-medium build.
Race: Unknown (See Case History)
Dental: Available (See Distinguishing Characteristics)
State of Remains: Skeletal
Agency Case Number: Formerly Hot Case # 312
Distinguishing Characteristics:
White or Bi-Racial: Caucasian/Hispanic with possible Black or Asian. Eye color unknown. Black or Dark Brown hair, past shoulders in length. X-rays showed no broken or healed bones or any other injuries during life. There were no visible scars or tattoos. She was wearing red plastic fingernails. She had at least one child. Dental findings: Lost posterior lower teeth, her molars were gone, front lower teeth present. She had a very unique upper partial dental plate, which held three teeth, where only two were present. Based on certain grooves on her teeth, it is believed that this acrylic plate replaced a metal one that she had worn previously. A civilian dental expert indicates that the style and construction of the plate shows it may have been made either in the Caribbean or in the United States by a dentist from Haiti or Jamaica. A dental expert said the plate was probably black market or underground.
Case History:
The victim was located in Dorchester, Massachusetts on October 14, 2005, in an apartment building just outside Boston, at 1719 Winter Street. A chimney sweep was hired to clean out the basement chimney and fix the heating in the apartment building. In the late 1960s, the chimney was used as an incinerator, but since then an air conditioning unit was placed at the opening. It was while doing this work that he discovered the remains. Investigators thinks the victim was there since 2002. Their belief is that somebody who had some association with the building — a resident, an employee or someone familiar with a resident or employee — has some knowledge about whatever happened. Between January 2002 and January 2005, an access door to the building basement was typically left unlocked. Whoever buried the woman knew that, and knew of the chimney as a hiding place. An Anthropologist conducted an extensive examination and population profile of the deceased and the results denote strong Caucasian genetics. However there were several other genetic identifiers/traits pointing to a population mixture, such as her mouth, and jawline. She may or may not have appeared to be Caucasian by her skin color, or other visual ethnic features. She may also have appeared to be Caucasian, and claimed or been of another ethnic background independently. Therefore, these facts should not eliminate the possibility of her being from either the Caucasian/Hispanic, Black or Asian population. Grooves in her hips suggest childbirth, she possibly could have had at least one child.
Investigative Agency:
If you, or someone you know, has any information related to this case, please contact the Boston Police Department Homicide Unit, Sergeant Paul Donovan, (617) 343-4433. When contacting any agency regarding this case, please reference Former Hot Case #312. You may remain anonymous when submitting information.
If you, or someone you know, has any information related to this case, please contact CUE Center for Missing Persons at (910) 343-1131 or call the CUE Center 24-hour tip line at (910) 232-1687. All information submitted to CUE Center for Missing Persons is anonymous and confidential.