List of unidentified murder victims in Illinois

Six young males out of 33 known victims who were murdered between 1972 and 1978 by serial killer John Wayne Gacy remain unidentified. Their skeletonized bodies were discovered buried on Gacy's property between December 26, 1978, and March 9, 1979. Due to the advanced state of decomposition, in ten instances, the causes of death of the victims could not be discovered, although the vast majority of Gacy's victims were killed by strangulation or asphyxiation.[1][2]

Four of these victims are estimated to have been aged between 14 and 24 years old, whereas two victims are estimated to have been aged between 22 and 32.[3][4] All of these decedents were Caucasian, and at least four of these victims were murdered in 1976 or 1977,[5] whereas two victims may have been murdered between 1972 and 1975.[6][7][8][9]

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NCMEC Reconstruction
Reconstruction by Kim Parkhurst
Sketch
Shirt

On October 2, 1976, the body of a young African American woman was found on the side of US Route 6 near the LaSalle County line in Erienna Township, Illinois. She had been shot once in the back of the head with a .38 caliber revolver. She was estimated to be between 15 and 27 years old, was approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, and weighed between 130 and 150 pounds. She had black hair and brown eyes. She also had a scar on her right hip and one on her lower right abdomen, which may have been a birthmark. The only item of clothing found was a red, black, and white sweater which had been wrapped around her head. She also had a green plastic bag wrapped around her head with black electrical tape. A reconstruction was made and distributed with the Chicago Daily Bulletin newspaper and her fingerprints were sent to various national crime labs for leads, all of which came up with nothing of value.[10] In May, 2019, her case was taken on by the DNA Doe Project. In November 2019, it was announced that they had found a set of grandparents related to the decedent in Selma, Alabama, with the possible last name Calhoun, and a great grandparent with the possible name of Harris. They say that her family may be split between there and Dallas and Wilcox counties in Alabama, as well as a branch of her family in Ohio. She may have siblings who were unaware of her existence.[11]

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3D Reconstruction
Profile
Ring

On July 20, 1996, the decomposing remains of a young white female were discovered in a bean field in Jarvis Township, Illinois. She had been stabbed multiple times in the neck and torso and had been placed at the scene between two and three days before being discovered. She was estimated to be between 25 and 35 years old, was approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall, and weighed approximately 130 pounds. She was found wearing a pink "Gelmart" brand T-shirt with "Florida' written on it as well as some blue palm trees, a pair of white "Pebble Beach" brand sandals, and a silver ring with a heart shaped turquoise stone. She also had an upper denture plate. Investigators could find no sign of defensive wounds on the victim. She was also believed to have been sexually assaulted, before having her genitalia removed.[12]

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Profile
Age Regression
Previous 3D Reconstruction

FBI Reconstruction of LaSalle County Jane Doe

On September 13, 1991, the mummified remains of a middle-aged white woman were found while a farmer was harvesting a cornfield in LaSalle County, Illinois. The woman had died from an acute cocaine overdose, but investigators have not ruled out that it may have been homicidal in nature, as three times the amount of a lethal dose of cocaine was found in her system. She was estimated to be between 35 and 50 years old, was approximately 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighed 120 pounds. Hair color and eye color could not be ascertained. She was found to be right handed, had breast implants, and had two tattoos: one of a cross with a red flower on her upper left breast, and one of a star shaped flower with a multicolored flower and stem on her lower right abdomen. She was found wearing a pair of black spandex shorts, and a pair of men's American Outfitter brand, striped, button down shirt with a dark pin stripe on a light background. A curtain was found underneath her remains. Isotope testing determined that she possibly originated from the upper-Midwest, Pacific Northwest, British Columbia, Alaska, or Canada.[13]

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Sketch
3D reconstruction

On January 27, 1993, the severed head of a woman, aged thirty to fifty was discovered in the Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park in Ina, Jefferson County, Illinois. The woman's head may have been thrown from a vehicle, as her head was discovered hanging in brush, close to a road.[14] Because no other parts of her body were found, her height and weight were impossible to determine. Examination of the skull suggested she suffered from wry neck syndrome, which would have caused her head to be in an awkward position when she was alive. This deformity may have been caused from previous trauma, possibly from a car accident. Her hair was a reddish-brown color.[15][16]

On March 22, 2000, an employee of the Waste Management Recycling Plant in Chicago, Illinois discovered the leg of a young/middle aged African-American/Hispanic female sticking out of a plastic garbage bag. No further remains were recovered. She was estimated to be between 18 and 48 years old, and was 5 feet 6 inches tall. No other information could be ascertained. The leg did test positive for Benzoylecgonine, ethanol, and cocaine in a toxicology test. A high heel was recovered nearby, but it is unclear if it was related to the crime. The leg had been amputated from the hip, and the amputation appeared clean. Ligature marks were present on both sections of the leg and a twine which appeared to be used as a tourniquet was present. Investigators noted that the amputation appeared to have been carried out by someone skilled with basic anatomical knowledge.[17]

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Sketch (hair is an estimate)
Jumpsuit
Rings

On January 30, 2002, the skeletal remains of a young African-American female were discovered near Interstate 64 by ILDOT workers in Mascoutah, Illinois. Cause of death was not stated, however she is believed to be a victim of serial killer Maury Troy Travis, based upon the circumstances of her discovery. She was estimated to be between 20 and 30 years old. Most other details are unknown. She was found wearing a one-piece black, sleeveless jumpsuit and two rings, one 14 karat gold and one costume-style. She was believed to have been deceased for several months. Investigators believe that Travis had sexually assaulted and tortured the victim before killing her, possibly videotaping it.[18]

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Sketch
Jersey

On March 28, 2002, the skeletal remains of a middle-aged African-American female were found by a group of ILDOT workers in a creek bed near State Route 3 in Columbia, Illinois. Cause of death could not be determined, but is being investigated as a homicide based upon the circumstances. She was estimated to be between 29 and 50 years old, was between 4 feet 10 inches and 5 feet 4 inches tall, and weighed 105 pounds (48 kg). She was found wearing a green XL-size shirt with a large "M" in orange and the word "MAVERICKS" in orange/yellow writing across the front of the "M". A pair of khaki-colored shorts, branded "Chazzz Credentials", were also found nearby. She may be a victim of serial killer Maury Troy Travis. The woman's shirt appeared to be a softball jersey or something similar; it was found to resemble those worn by a now-defunct "Mavericks" girls' softball team in St. Louis, but none of that team's jerseys were made in the woman's extra-large size. The jersey also did not match any uniforms of the Dallas Mavericks. Investigators believe that it might have come from a yard sale or a thrift store.[19]

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Sketch
Profile
Ring

On March 11, 2002, yet another group of ILDOT workers discovered the skeletal remains of a young, African American female near Interstate 70 in Marine, Illinois. She is the third possible unidentified victim of Maury Troy Travis. She had been deceased for about six months. She was estimated to be between 23 and 30 years old and was between 5 feet 1 inch and 5 feet 6 inches tall. She had black hair. Weight and eye color could not be ascertained. She was found wearing gray shorts with rhinestones, a red and white colored flannel button down shirt, a "gold" nugget styled ring and two bracelets. The first bracelet was a metal hoop, with a ring of onyx beads on an elastic string fitting it. The second was a combination of three bracelets strung together with an elastic string. She was believed to have been raped, tortured, and killed by Travis while he possibly videotaped it.[20]

Cook County Jane Doe (2005)

In Chicago, Illinois, the skeleton of a female twelve to eighteen years old was located on April 28, 2005. She had been found near a railroad and had died several years earlier, possibly up to eight years prior. Because of the condition of her remains, hair color and weight could not be estimated. Cause of death was eventually found to be strangulation. The female's height was possible to be determined, however, and was subsequently placed between five feet and five feet five inches (152–165 cm). Some teeth were not found in the skull, but no evidence of dental work was noted. Examination of the bones indicated she was white with possible Asian ancestry.[21] Five missing people have been excluded as possible identities of the subject.[22]

• List of unidentified murder victims in the United States

Wikimedia Commons has media related to unidentified murder victims.

• The Doe Network at doenetwork.org
• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at missingkids.org
• National Missing and Unidentified Persons System at namus.gov