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Unidentified Person

1976 Davidson County Jane Doe

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  • Last updated: July 20, 2023
  • Nashville, TN
  • March 24, 1976

Overview of 1976 Davidson County Jane Doe

A fisherman discovered the victim's body in the Harpeth River about 200 yards from a bridge on McCrory Creek Road and downstream from a recreational area near the border of Cheatham County. The female had died due to drowning, yet it is unknown if this was accidental or the result of a homicide, as several abrasions were found on her body that may indicate she was held underwater. The victim, possibly named Sherry or Cheryl, had sexual intercourse within a few days of her death, but it was not known whether she was raped. A man, whose phone number was written on a photograph in the victim's pocket said he and his brother-in-law, who both lived in Nashville at the time, saw the victim 10 days before she was found in the river. He claimed they picked up the victim and her friend on Interstate Highway 24, a slender blond woman, as the two hitchhiked from Nashville. The two, the man claimed, had run away from a mental hospital in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and were headed to Haines City, Florida, to see the blond woman's husband. The victim, the man said, was being treated for alcoholism, while her friend had been suicidal and had visible scars on her wrists. Investigators said the men, who claimed they dropped the women off at Interstate 24's Winchester exit, were questioned but never labeled suspects. The female companion was described to be around the same age with sandy blonde hair and wore wire rim glasses, but was never located or interviewed regarding this decedent.

Estimated Date of Death: 18-20 hours prior State of Remains: Recognizable face Cause of Death: Drowning (circumstances unknown)

Dentals: Available. Left "fang" tooth was oddly positioned and may heighten the chance of positive identification. According to examining dentists, the crown on molar was not fully developed, 2nd molar roots fully developed. On tooth # 18, no filling but large decay. # 19 occlusal filling & facial, # 14 occlusal filling, # 31 occlusal filling, # 3 occlusal & lingual, # 4 occlusal. Fingerprints: Available. DNA: Not available.

Clothing: A white bra and pair of jeans. A blue blouse was discovered in the river the day after the victim's body was discovered, but it is unclear if it belonged to the victim. Jewelry: A rawhide bracelet and a choker-type necklace with beads and a white dove. Additional Personal Items: A photograph of a young blond-haired boy with "Little Charlie" and a phone number written on the back was in her back pocket. "Little Charlie" was later identified to be a 24-year-old man from Nashville who was not the child in the photograph. She also had a black comb and 1 nickel.

The Doe Network Case Number: 37UFTN

Information

  1. Date Found:March 24, 1976
  2. NAMUS Number:8494
  3. Race:White, Native American and/or Hispanic
  4. Gender:Female
  5. Height:5'2"
  6. Weight:120 - 130 lbs
  7. Hair Color:Brown / Black
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