Chris's Crime Forum

NORTH VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - A cold case has been re-opened 22 years after a woman's body was found by a shipyard worker on the North Vancouver side of Burrard Inlet. The RCMP and the B.C. Coroners Services are taking unusual steps to try to identify the remains of "Jane Doe".

RCMP Corporal Randall Wong says they've re-released information on the woman to refresh the public's memory, and the B.C. Coroners Services Identification and Disaster Response unit will be exhuming the remains in order to obtain DNA samples.

Corporal Wong says they'll be using advanced DNA testing that wasn't available back in 1985. "22 years ago, I'm not sure if this story was picked up across Canada or the United States. With today's technology with the web, just the basics of putting this story out and keeping it in the forefront of the public's mind, hopefully more people will be exposed to this story and maybe someone knew her."

Wong says no identification was ever found on the woman, who was believed to have drowned. The woman is described as white, 55-70 years of age, 5'6" in height, 170-175 lbs in weight, with recently dyed blond hair and blue eyes.

At the time of her discovery she was wearing maroon coloured pants, a black button up blouse with long sleeves, a green wool vest with brown buttons, a grey wool winter hip length coat, a white wool turtleneck, black rubber boots with zippers up sides (pictured below), knee length nylon stockings and white dress gloves. "Bella" was handwritten on the inside of both boots.

Aside from clothing, a blue lighter, a good luck horseshoe and a pair of gold earrings (pictured below), two Viscount Cigarettes in a package and $0.76 in coins were found on her person.

It is great to see with the advancement in DNA testing they are re-opening these old cases again.Something else to keep in mind is this Jane Doe could also be american,the border to the USA is very close to the area.Makes you wonder if her name was Bella.or if she happened to buy the boots with the name already in them.Its so sad to think nobody has been looking for her.

I think I will have a good look through the Doe Network,you never know.If anyone thinks they see a match please be sure to share it here,it would be nice to see this Jane Doe have a proper burial by her family.Someone must be missing her.

Thanks Doreen for posting this story.

Unidentified White Female
* Located on December 12, 1985 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
* Cause of death was drowning
Vital Statistics
* Estimated age: 50 - 70 years old
* Approximate Height and Weight: 5'6" (168 cm); 170-175 lbs (77-79 kg.)
* Distinguishing Characteristics: Recently dyed blond, short and wavy; Blue/gray eyes.
* Marks, Scars: Moles near her eyes. Two abdominal scars and a curved spine.
* Clothing: She was wearing a grey wool winter coat; a white wool turtleneck dickie; a black long sleeved blouse; a button, sleeveless, green wool sweater vest; size 16 maroon Sears pants; brown knee length nylons; black winter boots with side zippers and the name Bella printed inside the label in blue ink, white gloves.
* Personal Effects: Blue lighter, a good luck horseshoe, a pair of gold earrings, two Viscount cigarettes in a package and 76 cents in coins.
* Dentals: She had false teeth and there was evidence of oral surgery.
* DNA: Pending







Case History
The victim was found on the North Vancouver side of Burrard Inlet at 10:45 a.m., near the Versatile Pacific Shipyards.
She was estimated to have been in the water for approximately 48 hours.
Investigators
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Cst. Lee Gregor
RCMP North Vancouver
604-985-1311

Source Information:
RCMP
The Province

http://doenetwork.org/cases/167ufbc.html