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 Thread Killer
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| UPDATE: This young woman has been officially identified as Marcia L. King, from Little Rock, Arkansas. I am pretty sure the barrel racer theory is out of the question of course, but wanted to update this post in case anyone remembered or was interested. There aren't too many details other than that yet - the family (her half siblings) did come forward on the group page for people following the case (facebook). However, a few members took it upon themselves to actually harrass the poor folks, so I'm not sure if they'll share anything more about her (I don't blame them). She was identified with the help of DNA Doe Project - a recently founded non-profit organization that seeks to help identifiy Jane/John Does. The focus of the case now shifts to finding her killer. **********
I can't remember the last time a started a new post on here. I don't have much to talk about horsewise anymore - my old friend JP crossed the rainbow bridge a little over a year ago. Since the horse days are gone or at least paused for the moment, I've started getting into other pastimes - one of those being amateur sleuthing.
I've been particularly interested in the approximately 40,000 unidentified decedents in the United States. There are so many of these cases I could blab about, but one of them really grabbed me and won't let go. That case is that of the Buckskin Girl.
She was found on a rural road in Troy, OH on April 24th, 1981 by a farmer passing by. He caught sight of her buckskin poncho, wanted it, and got more than he bargained for when he also found a lifeless body in the ditch. The rural road, which was and still is very undeveloped, is 5 miles from the nearest major high way/freeway exit.
She had been beaten and strangled. She was fully clothed but had no shoes or socks (feet were clean). She had very good hygene and was healthy. There was no evidence of sexual activity or sexual assault.
Despite several facial reconstructions, available DNA, and even detailed mortuary photos that are released to the public, she is till unidentified. In 2016, isotope testing was performed on her hair to determine where in the world she might have been in the last year or so of life. The tests came back that she had spent time in a region of TX/OK and had also spent time in the dry oak forest region of the North East (New England and surrounding areas). The breakthrough could eventually lead to identification (I hope?).
[I've removed the original links I had here because something went crazy when I tried to edit this post, lol.]
Updated Wiki Page:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Marcia_King
Article published after the press conference today:
https://www.wcpo.com/news/crime/identity-of-ohios-buckskin-girl-finally-discovered-37-years-later
I've been following this case for a few years and honestly wouldn't have thought to share this on here. However, there have been multiple suggestions on the Web Sleuths thread for her that she may have been a barrel racer. It's also been suggested that her "ruddy" complexion could mean that she spent a lot of time in the outdoors (in the saddle?). I also noticed that the specific area of TX/OK that the isotope testing revealed is prime barrel racing territory. It's also a pretty big area (I realize Texas is a huge state). It's a long shot for sure, but it's worth a try - so thanks for reading!
Edited by Just Plain Lucky 2018-04-11 7:28 PM
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | Very interesting.thanks for sharing! |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | She WAS found wearing Wranglers....back in the 80s it was probably between Rockies and Wranglers to wear, right? Very interesting, thanks for sharing! |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | I'll have to read through that later. I LOVE stuff like this. I'm addicted to the True Crime Garage podcast. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | My first thought is that she may have been traveling here from another country. Her excellent personal hygiene suggests financial affluence. She could have traveled here, without a paper trail in that time period, rather easily from another country if she had the means. It's unlikely they'd be looking for her overseas. Previous dental work with no records match? That's a bit odd, but then again, that was in the 70's and 80's when nothing was digital. So, maybe not so odd. Just a thought. I didn't read very far. Did any of the hair testing reveal drug use?
Edited by Nita 2017-06-08 10:05 PM
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 Quarter Horse HIstorian
Posts: 2878
Location: Aubrey, Texas | What a sad thing- poor girl. I seriously doubt that she was a barrel racer- Remember, Urban Cowboy had come out in 1980 and everybody wanted to look the part. Her jacket looks like it was expensive- and yes, she was wearing Wranglers but all the rodeo people I knew (girls and boys) wore the original Wrangler 13MWZ's, whereas hers show more flare at the bottom- more like a "boot cut." |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 364
| If you enjoy mystery, you'll love the work of David Paulides. The Buckskin Girl made me think of him because of her missing shoes. The link below explains. http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/2093486-retired-police-detective-id... |
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Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | Just Plain Lucky, do Amish or Mennonites report missing persons? ...for that matter, do many of them get dental work? Since you've been into this for a while, I figured you'd have already come across that suggestion. |
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 Veteran
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| I have two theories. #1 is my where my gut leads. She is a college student. Because it's Easter, possibly visiting her boyfriend's family for the holiday in the area. Maybe originally from TX/OK and going to college in the NE. He killed her for whatever reason, jealousy or something because obviously it was not sexually motivated.
Then again, this probably wouldn't work because his family would have seen the press and known.
#2 theory is like poster above, possibly Amish? On rumspringer or whatever that's called? It would explain alot. Why there's no missing person report. Her Ohio and back east localities. Her ruddy complexion and good health.
Hmmmmmm, this is quite an interesting topic |
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Veteran
Posts: 288
| Also, the native American aspect is interesting to me. I have a long time friend who is quite native, lives in the heart of or closest Indian reservation that is very freckled like that girl which similar skin tone and auburn hair. So maybe she is there like they said researching the Indian stuff. |
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Thread Killer
Posts: 7545
| Nita - 2017-06-08 11:56 PM
Just Plain Lucky, do Amish or Mennonites report missing persons? ...for that matter, do many of them get dental work? Since you've been into this for a while, I figured you'd have already come across that suggestion.
It's been suggested before that she may be Amish/Mennonite. At first, I didn't really buy the theory, but now I'm beginning to wonder. I'm not sure if she'd be reported missing by Amish/Mennonite relatives. I don't think a missing person report exists for her. Her case has been compared to dozens of missing persons cases across the country to no avail. You'd think after 36 years they'd have found something...
As for drug use, there was a toxicology report but it's "confidential." I'm not sure why they'd keep that under wraps.
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Thread Killer
Posts: 7545
| LabRat - 2017-06-08 11:40 PM
If you enjoy mystery, you'll love the work of David Paulides. The Buckskin Girl made me think of him because of her missing shoes. The link below explains. http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/2093486-retired-police-detective-id...
Wow, that's interesting! I really enjoyed reading that (oh boy, another rabbit hole LOL ). Thanks! Edited by Just Plain Lucky 2017-06-09 4:54 AM
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| Love this stuff - thanks for sharing! |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| I listen to podcasts like this, very interesting |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 878
Location: "...way down south in the Everglades..." | I love stuff like this! I also get on websleuths quite a bit for a few "pet" cases I follow. This one I had never heard of but definitely interesting. I think the Mennonite theory is quite possible and could easily explain the lack of a missing persons report and the lack of ID even to this day. It always blows my mind the amount of unidentified victims that exist. So sad. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | the mortuary photos show blunt force trauma to the frontal bone, they mentioned strangulation. More sexual based crime from the strangulation?
ETA: just read she wasn't sexually assaulted
Edited by hoofs_in_motion 2017-06-09 8:27 AM
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Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | I was distracted by the "very good hygiene and healthy" part. I was leaning toward an affluent upbringing, but as I read deeper, she really had a lot of scars! She'd definitely been active enough to have gotten cut quite a few times.
I'm leaning toward the Amish theory. I wonder if they could talk to some of the ex-Amish in the suspected areas. I wonder if it would be worthwhile to test some DNA, if they could get even some of them to participate. Maybe they could hit on a distant relative. That's such a long shot, though. |
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| Made me think of this episode of Longmire- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2360415/ If her fmaily killed her they aren't going to been looking for her so no report. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 380
| We were discussing this case in Reddit like a month ago. How in the world something like this can happen is beyond me.
I was thinking that if law enforcement entered her DNA in 23 and Me they might get a match on a living relative and at the very least get her back home.
Edited by SloRide 2017-06-09 3:44 PM
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Thread Killer
Posts: 7545
| UPDATE: This young woman has been officially identified as Marcia L. King, from Little Rock, Arkansas. I am pretty sure the barrel racer theory is out of the question of course, but wanted to update this post in case anyone remembered or was interested. There aren't too many details other than that yet - the family (her half siblings) did come forward on the group page for people following the case (facebook). However, a few members took it upon themselves to actually harrass the poor folks, so I'm not sure if they'll share anything more about her (I don't blame them). She was identified with the help of DNA Doe Project - a recently founded non-profit organization that seeks to help identifiy Jane/John Does. The focus of the case now shifts to finding her killer. |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | WOW!!!!!THANKS FOR YOUR UPDATE!!!It's nice to know she has been identified. |
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Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | Thanks for the update... i’m still curious about her story! |
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Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Thank you, glad they found out who she was |
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Very, VERY OT. In the mood for an unsolved mystery? HUGE UPDATE!