List of unidentified murder victims in Arizona

External images
Facial reconstruction of "Little Miss X"
Composite sketch of the victim
Personal items found at the crime scene

The skeletonized remains of a girl, nicknamed "Little Miss X," were found on a desolate road 10 miles southeast of the Grand Canyon in Coconino County, Arizona on October 31, 1958. Although no cause of death could be determined, the case has always been considered a homicide.[1]

The girl was a white American with possible Hispanic or Latino ancestry; she is estimated to have been between 11 and 14 years old at the time of her death. She was between 5 ft and 5 ft 3 in (150 and 160 cm) in height.[2] It was determined that she had died 9–14 months before her bones were found.[3]

The victim had received good dental care during her life, having seven fillings in four of her teeth. Her hair had been dyed a lighter brown from its natural dark brown.[4] Many of the victim's personal items were at the scene as well: a 10-karat-gold chain; a small jar of Pond's cold cream; a white nylon comb; a small white powder puff with traces of sun-tan-colored powder; and a small blue plastic nail file case with an indented letter "P" and a hand-printed capital "R" next to it.[5]

No clothing was found on the victim's body. However, a white wool cardigan short-sleeved sweater, a white cotton size 34C bra, and brown Capri pants with a green-and-red-plaid design were found at the scene. Investigators deduced the victim had been stripped naked prior to, or shortly after, being killed. A pair of white panties was also found, although they appeared to be too large for the victim.[6][7]

Her body was exhumed in 1962 for further examination. However, due to poor record-keeping, no records exist indicating her re-burial site.[7] The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has since released a facial reconstruction image of her.[5]

The partially buried body of a female child was discovered by a schoolteacher in Congress, Arizona on July 31, 1960. Investigators determined via evident disturbances in the sand close to the actual burial site that whoever had buried the child had initially made several attempts to dig a deeper grave to conceal her remains.

A forensic pathologist would determine that the body was that of a white girl between the ages of two and seven years old at the time of her death, with her most likely age being between three and six years old.[8] The girl's toenails and fingernails were painted a bright red, and her hair was dyed auburn.[9]

A local radio host named this decedent "Little Miss Nobody." He would also initiate a local campaign to raise funds for the child's burial. More than 70 people attended the subsequent service. Although this child's DNA has been uploaded to national databases of missing persons, she has never been identified.

External images
Digital 3D reconstruction
Sweater
Jeans
Composite sketch

Facial reconstruction of Valentine Sally

The body of a white female, aged between 15 and 24, was discovered under a cedar tree in Williams, Coconino County, on February 14, 1982. She was discovered approximately 25 feet from westbound Interstate 40.

Her death had occurred on or around February 1,[10] and the area of her discovery area was a place where trucks were known to have regularly pulled over to cool their brakes. Because her remains were located on Valentine's Day, she was nicknamed "Valentine Sally."

Valentine Sally was approximately five feet five inches in height and weighed 120 pounds; she had blue eyes and strawberry blond hair which was straight and approximately ten inches in length. She had distinctive scars on her right thigh and her left foot.[11] Furthermore, the decedent appeared to have incomplete root canal surgery upon one of her molars, which may have been related to a notably discomforting infection. This surgery had been performed approximately one week prior to her murder. She also wore an earring in her left ear. It is unknown if her right ear was also pierced, as her right ear was not recovered. Due to decomposition and the activity of scavenging animals, her fingerprints could not be obtained (although her DNA and dental charts were).[12][13]

The victim had been murdered by either suffocation or strangulation[14] and wore Seasons brand jeans with a handkerchief in one pocket. A distinctive white sweater with thin red stripes and a bra were also found near her remains, which may have also belonged to the victim.

It is possible Valentine Sally had been seen by eyewitnesses at a truck stop in Ash Fork, Arizona in early February, as a waitress at a truck stop named Patty Wilkins recalled a young girl matching her description and aged 16 or 17 who had asked her for aspirin because of a toothache. This girl did not want any food. She was in the company of an older male—possibly a father or uncle—who had expressed concern over her teeth. Wilkins believed the girl was with a relative as normally, had a runaway entered the premises, she would call the sheriff. The pair had entered the premises at 3 a.m. and left approximately one hour later.

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Parabon Nanolabs Reconstruction
Sketch

On August 15, 1983, the decomposed body of a young Native American/Hispanic female was discovered in a ditch in the desert south of Ahwatukee neighborhood of Phoenix, Arizona. Cause of death was determined to be homicide by suffocation, and she had been deceased for at least a few days. She was estimated to be between 19 and 30 years old, was 5 feet 5 inches tall and estimated to be 140 pounds. She had dark, wavy, brown hair and brown/black eyes. Race was initially difficult to determine, until DNA Phenotyping was conducted on the decedent by Parabon Nanolabs, which also created an estimate of how she may have appeared in life. Her case is currently being investigated by Parabon Nanolabs.[15]

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NCMEC Reconstruction

On May 15, 1989, a group of construction workers found the skeletal remains of a young white female in a shallow grave in a vacant lot in Bullhead City, Arizona. Cause of death could not be ascertained, however due to the circumstances she was found in, investigators believe she was killed by foul play. She may have lay dead in the location for anywhere between 2 and 10 years. She was estimated to be between 17 and 19 years old and was between 5 feet 5 inches and 5 feet 9 inches tall. She had long brown hair which may have been bleached at some point. Weight and eye color could not be ascertained. She was found wearing non-descriptive women's clothing and a purse, as well as an owl-shaped earring. She also appeared to have had extensive dental care in her life, as well as a partial denture plate.[16]

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3D Reconstruction

On October 1, 1998, a group of city water surveyors found the decomposed remains of a young, possibly multiracial male in a desert area near Tuscon, Arizona. Cause of death was determined to be homicide by multiple gunshots by a .38 caliber semi auto firearm, and the man had been deceased for at least a few days. He appeared to have been killed on location, and appeared to have staggered from the area he was shot before ultimately succumbing to his wounds under a Mesquite tree. He was estimated to be between 17 and 23 years old, was 6 feet tall and weighed 252 pounds. He had short black hair and brown eyes. He was found wearing a grey, maroon and blue pullover shirt with a pocket on the front as well as tan, blue and maroon shorts.[17]

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Digital Reconstruction
Additional Reconstruction
Sketch

On October 24, 2003, the decomposed remains of an elderly white female was found by a group of deer hunters in a wooded area about a mile south of Interstate 40, six miles west of Williams, Arizona. Cause of death was found to be a single blow of blunt force trauma to the head, and the woman had been at the location for anywhere between three days to two weeks. She was estimated to be between 55 and 65 years old, was 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighed 151 pounds. She had grey/blonde hair and brown/hazel eyes. She had a mole above the left side of her forehead, as well as one on her right shoulder and right lower leg. She also had scars below her right knee, the back of her right forearm, and the back of her left hand. She suffered from senile ecchymosis over the back side of her right upper arm. She appeared to have extensive dental work, which may have cost over $20,000 USD. She had pneumonia in the right lung as well as evidence of heart disease. Isotope testing determined that she may have spent much of her young life in Central Europe, possibly Vienna, Austria. She spent the last decade of her life in Western France, possibly near Paris.[18]

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Estimation of mother

On October 10, 2005, a cleaning crew found the body of a full-term infant with umbilical cord still attached in a trash bin in a women's restroom at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, Arizona. Cause of death was found to be negligent homicide by exposure. The infant was found in Terminal 4, the busiest terminal in the airport, as well as home to both US Airways and Southwest Airlines. This has led investigators to believe that the newborn may have been delivered elsewhere and then deposited in the trash bin. The case was taken on by Parabon Nanolabs, who provided a likeness of the mother. The mother was most likely of northern European descent with a light complexion, green eyes, few freckles and blonde hair.[19]

External images
NCMEC Reconstruction
Sketch

[20]

On September 28, 2016, a man and his wife discovered the mummified remains of a young, teenage, African American female (with possible white/Hispanic admixture) alongside US Route 93 in White Hills, Arizona. Cause of death was undetermined, however it is being investigated as a homicide. She had been at the location for anywhere between one to two weeks. She was estimated to be between 13 and 17 years old, was between 5 feet 5 inches and 5 feet 7 inches tall, and weighed between 105 and 130 pounds. She had thick black or dark brown hair. She also had pierced ears and manicured fingernails. Investigators believe she may have originated from Las Vegas, Nevada, as US Route 93 is a direct connection between Arizona and Las Vegas. Investigators also believe her body was dumped at the location after she had been killed elsewhere. Isotope testing determined that she was possibly native to the Northern United States or Canada.

• List of unidentified murder victims in the United States

Wikimedia Commons has media related to unidentified murder victims.

• The Doe Network
• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
• National Missing and Unidentified Persons System