Unsolved cases have always been of interest to the general public, and it’s made more evident by the popularity of shows like Netflix’s reboot of Unsolved Mysteries. Did you know that Florida has several dozen unidentified murder victims, and a number of the crimes took place in South Florida? In many (actually most) the murder has also never been discovered.
Here are 6 murder cases you may not have heard about where the bodies of the victims still remain unclaimed and unidentified.
September 4, 1979 – Miami Dade County Jane Doe
- A young white female was found within a few hours of her death in an apartment complex in NW Miami Dade. She had been strangled at another location and left by a dumpster. She was a strawberry blonde in a white t-shirt, jeans, and a yellow scarf. She had noticeable acne scars and burns on her calves as though she had been on a motorcycle. Reports say she may have been a runaway from Ohio and have had leads over the years that haven’t solved the case. There’s currently a $1,000 reward for tips leading to her identification.
November 2, 1979 – Broward County John Doe
- A young man in his late teens or early twenties was walking (for unknown reasons) on I-95 in Fort Lauderdale near Commercial Blvd when he struck by a drunk driver and killed on-site. He was walking with another young man who was later identified. There’s no evidence of dental work and the young man’s body was left unrecognizable though composite drawings have been made.
February 3, 1981 – Miami Dade County Jane Doe
- A black female was found in a Japanese Garden and had been beaten. The cause of her death was blunt force trauma. She was estimated to be between 16 and 26 years old. She was dressed in a light colored shirt and jeans. She was 5’2 and weighed about 90 pounds. She was found roughly 24 hours after her death.
March 12, 1985 – Broward County John Doe
- A brown-haired white male was found nude in a Fort Lauderdale hotel. His death was ruled a homicide and two suspects were convicted of his murder. He was around 30 years old and his clothes were found in the hotel room. Rumors say the murders may have stolen a Masonic ring from him, but like his identity, it was never confirmed
January 5, 1988 – Miami Dade County John Doe
- A young man, possibly in his late teen years was found in a Miami hotel. He was a magazine salesman who went by the name “Bob” who had told co-workers he was a native New York who had grown up in foster care. He had several scars on his wrists and arms, as well as his right thigh. He was found fully clothed and there was also women’s clothing in the hotel room.
August 28, 1993 – Palm Beach County Jane Doe
- A young woman between the ages 16 to 20 years old was found in a wildlife refuge in West Palm Beach, whose skeletonized body made it clear she had likely been dead for over a year. Her spine showed abnormal vertebrates that meant she probably had a noticeable defect in the way she walked. Her body was found in a pair of men’s shorts and one large boot. Along with her identity, the cause of death is also unknown.
If you or someone you know are being charged with a case that had previously gone cold, it’s imperative that you seek out the assistance of a skilled criminal defense attorney. Russell Spatz has decades of experience in handling criminal defense cases of all kinds in the state of Florida. Give him a call today at 305-442-0200.
References:
“Unidentified Female.” 791UFFL, www.doenetwork.org/cases/791uffl.html.
“Have You Seen This Child? Jane Doe1979.” Missingkids.com, www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMU/1184167/1.
“Unidentified Female.” 43UFFL, www.doenetwork.org/cases/43uffl.html.
“Unidentified Male.” 662UMFL, www.doenetwork.org/cases/662umfl.html.
“Unidentified Female.” 790UFFL, www.doenetwork.org/cases/790uffl.html.
The Doe Network: Case File 185UMFL, www.doenetwork.org/cases/185umfl.html.