Special Weather Statement issued March 19 at 4:28AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)
Gusty winds from 35 to 40 mph this afternoon could blow around unsecured items. Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor items.
Special Weather Statement issued March 19 at 4:15AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)
Gusty winds from 35 to 40 mph this afternoon could blow around unsecured items. Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor items.
Today 37° Today 37° chance 25° 25° scattered Tomorrow 52° Tomorrow 52° 33° 33°
Thursday, October 9th, 2008

Old murder case re-opened

Officials seeking public's help

By Shelley Grieshop
Submitted Photo

The Darke County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone who thinks they may know this woman to contact them at 937-548-1193. This clay mold facial reconstruction was made from the remains of the woman, whose death was ruled a homicide 38 years ago. Her nude, decomposed body was found in a cornfield near Arcanum by two teenagers in 1970, and investigators are still trying to determine her identity.

Officials are hoping new technology and public input will help them identify a murdered woman whose nude and decomposed body was found in a cornfield 38 years ago near Arcanum.
The Darke County Sheriff's Office today released an image of the victim from a clay mold facial reconstruction performed on the skull of "Jane Doe," who likely was strangled or asphyxiated nearly four decades ago, a coroner's report states.
This is the first time authorities have been able to put a face on the victim, whose visual identification was impossible in 1970 due to advanced decomposition. Detectives hope someone will recognize the woman - believed to be between 23 and 34 years old - as a missing person from long ago.
"We're asking for the public's help to identify her or the circumstances of the case," said Detective Sgt. Mark Whittaker of the sheriff's office.
On Oct. 11, 1970, two teenagers found the body on the east side of Frazers Road, south of Grubbs-Rex Road in Twin Township. A homemade silver ring with small studs was found on her finger; it was the only physical evidence at the scene, Whittaker said.
Recent tests now reveal the victim was white, between 5-foot, 3-inches and 5-foot, 7-inches tall, and approximately 150 pounds. She had medium-length dark brown hair, but was found with a red-haired wig longer than her natural hair. She may have suffered rib fractures and her estimated time of death was between Sept. 27 and Oct. 9 in 1970.
Because of the poor condition of the body when it was found, the coroner could not definitely determine the cause of death but ruled it a homicide.
Early in the case, several witnesses left random calls at the sheriff's office about a female matching the victim's description who was seen at businesses in the Dayton area. However, the leads were dead-ends, officials said.
The body was never identified and eventually buried in an unmarked grave in a Darke County Cemetery at the corner of state Route 49 and U.S. 127. Without any substantial leads, the case went cold, Whittaker said.
In June 2006, the sheriff's office teamed up with the coroner's and prosecutor's office to form the Darke County Cold Case Task Force. Two months later, the group was awarded a $10,000 grant from the Ohio Attorney General's Office to investigate the case. Their first goal is to identify the victim; the second is to solve the murder.
In October 2006, Jane Doe's body was exhumed from a vault and sent to various labs for forensic examination and processing. Her DNA, which was extracted at the University of Texas, does not match any in the national missing persons/unidentified persons database, Whittaker said.
Following two years of forensic testing, Jane Doe's body will be re-interred this afternoon at the Greenville cemetery. A brief memorial service is planned.
Anyone who recognizes the facial image or has any information on the case is asked to call the sheriff's office at 937-548-1193.
Additional online stories on this date
Nicholas Schwieterman appeared in Mercer County Common Pleas Court this morning and was found guilty of six charges stemming from a March 15 crash that claimed the lives of four area teenagers. [More]
MINSTER - Minster Local Schools board of education met briefly Wednesday night with just one item on the agenda - approval of a two-year contract with the Minster Teachers Association. [More]
MINSTER - Much like track and cross country, Minster High School is building a strong tradition in golf.
The boys golf team, after a one-year absence, makes it back to the Division III state tournament this week at The Players Club at Foxfire Golf Club in Lockbourne. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
MARIA STEIN - Voters in the Marion Local school district will decide the fate of a 2.2-mill operating levy officials say is needed to maintain current services.
The Daily Standard is publishing election stories through Nov. 1.
Listed below is the schedule of stories and dates of publication. All of these stories and this list of dates also will appear on our Web site, www.dailystandard.com.
ST. MARYS - Call it the Ruedebusch/Menchhofer plan or call it "iRead, SMCS Rocks the Books." Either way its focus is to get struggling readers motivated and on track.
NEW BREMEN - Long-time school treasurer Deb Meyer was given a nearly five-year contract extension on Wednesday night during the regular board meeting.
Board of education members unanimously approved Meyer's contract extension by four years and seven months, effective Jan. 1, 2009.
Music professor Jim Davis wins more than $30,000
A former professor at Wright State University-Lake Campus became a Jeopardy! champion on the game show Wednesday.
Jim Davis, a former music profess
With only three games remaining in the regular season, opportunities for teams to gain computer points are winding down.
There is not a team in t
St. Marys senior Trevor Kill will be heading to Arizona next week to take part in the Arizona Senior Fall Classic, a top baseball tournament and scouting combine featuring top players from around the nation.
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
The Celina girls tennis tandem of Kinzie Gardner and Sara Dorsten are one win away from advancing to the Division I state tennis tournament next week after winning their first two matches in district play at Sandusky High School on Wednesday.
St. Marys at Shawnee
While the Roughriders have dominated the all-time series with a 33-12-1 record, the last four years have been battles with each team taking two wins.
The contest will pit two of the best running games in the WBL with the teams ranked 1-2 in the league.
Streaky - Celina fans should have a good feeling for the Bulldogs to beat Bath this week.
Over the past six seasons, the Bulldogs have had a two-ga
After starting the season with six consecutive losses, the Celina football team has a good chance to make it two wins in a row.
Lima Bath will be the opponent on Friday for Celina as the Bulldogs will be celebrating senior night in the final home game of the season for the Bulldogs.
MINSTER - Linus "Linie" Hausfeld, former owner of Hausfeld Motor Sales, remembers when the first autumn frost brought people flocking to the business to make sure their vehicles were ready for the onslaught of cold weather.