Discovery
On February 19th, 1971, two hitchhikers were crossing the Lake Panasoffkee bridge along I-75 in Sumter County, Florida. While crossing the bridge, they happened to look down and spotted what appeared to be a human body in the shallow water below them.
The hitchhikers flagged down a passing state trooper and informed them of what they saw. This discovery started an investigation that still has unanswered questions almost 50 years later.
Jane Doe
When police arrived on the scene, they confirmed what they found to be a woman's decomposing body. She was found with a men's belt around her throat, which led investigators to believe her cause of death was ligature strangulation.
She was found wearing a green shirt with green plaid pants and a green patterned shawl. She was also wearing a Baylor watch on her left wrist, as well as a gold ring with a stone on her left ring finger. She also had a small, gold necklace on.
The victim did not have any identification on her. Due to how badly she was decomposed, authorities were unable to pull fingerprints. She was left as a Jane Doe and later nicknamed Little Miss Lake Panasoffkee.
The Investigation
According to reports, she was initially identified as a Caucasian female between the ages of 17 and 24. She is estimated to be between 5'0" and 5'5", and between 110 and 120 pounds.
From what investigators could tell, she had long and straight, dark brown hair. Based on this and other factors, they assume she had brown eyes.
An early composite was made of Little Miss Lake Panasoffkee, to no avail.
Investigators did an anthropological exam of her bones and discovered various possible clues to her identity and her murder. An orthopedic procedure had been done to her right ankle within a few years prior to death. It was believed she had possibly given birth at least once, possibly more. Periostitis, in the process of healing, was found on her lower right leg. Harris lines, an indication of illness or malnutrition during childhood, were found on her bones. There were also perimortem fractures found on ribs one and three. She also had extensive dental work done.
Forensic testings of her teeth and hair gave a possible location of descent: southern Europe, possibly Greece.
Despite these possibly identifying factors, her identity remained a mystery.
A New Look
In the 1980's, a new sheriff was appointed to the Sumter County Sheriff's Office. Jamie Adam reopened the case, requesting an exhumation order in 1986.
15 years after she was found, on February 18th, 1986, Little Miss Lake Panasoffkee was exhumed.
In the next few years, more sketches were made and distributed, including sketches of what she may have looked like at younger ages. The hope was that someone may have recognized her at a younger age and been able to identify her.
Unfourtantely, these new sketches did not bring forward any leads.
USF Forensics
41 years after the discovery of her body, she was still unidentified. At this time, a new group of people entered the picture to provide help. The forensics department at the University of South Florida stepped in, along with help from the University of Florida.
Together, they learned more information about the Jane Doe found in the swampy, shallow waters of Lake Panasoffkee so many years ago.
Accoring to George Kamenov of the geological sciences department of the University of Florida and various tests he ran, he was able to pinpoint her possible hometown as Lavrion, Greece.
Based on their updated research, the USF Forensic Anthropology Laboratory in the Department of Anthropology created a new composite of the victim.
To further aide the investigation, they also generated a digital image of the clothing she was found in.
Many flyers with these composites were made and passed around Sumter County in hopes that someone would recognize her or her outfit from the times.
To this day, she remains a Jane Doe and her case remains unsolved. If you have any information regarding her case, contact the Sumter County Sheriff's Office.
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