Unidentified Female Found 08/31/08

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Unidentified Female, Found 08/31/08, Lake Thunderbird, OK


Help Needed to Identify Body

Sunday, a woman’s body was found on the banks of Lake Thunderbird in Cleveland County. Rangers with the Oklahoma Department of Tourism requested OSBI assistance in this case.

The medical examiner is working to determine cause and manner of death. In the meantime, OSBI is trying to identify the woman. Much of the body was decomposed; however, a tattoo is distinguishable on the lower back of the woman’s body.

If anyone has information about the tattoo, please call the OSBI hotline at 1-800-522-8017.




www.ok.gov/osbi/Press_Room/20...tify_Body.html

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NEW: Body found at lake still lacks identification

By Meghan McCormick

March 25, 2009 05:35 pm

— Six months have passed since a visitor found a woman's body laying on one of the banks of Lake Thunderbird, and investigators are still trying to learn the woman's identity.
The lake visitor discovered the badly decomposed body Aug. 31.
Agents from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and rangers with the state Tourism Department have investigated the case.
OSBI spokesperson Jessica Brown said agents might be able to identify the woman using a DNA sample.
"We're trying to get DNA," she said. "Once we get DNA, we can put it in the database and see if there is anyone who has been put in the database listed as a missing person."
Brown said a match could be made using the woman's DNA and comparing it to a potential family member such as a parent.
Also, it's a possibility the woman's DNA could already be recorded in an existing DNA system, Brown said.
"We're using as many databases as much as possible," she said.
OSBI agents also are investigating the woman's identity using another outlet. In September, the bureau released a close-up photo of a tattoo located on the woman's lower back.
Brown said investigators are visiting tattoo artists, in hopes of finding the person who painted the tattoo on the woman's back.
After the body was discovered in late August, it was transported to the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner's Office in Oklahoma City for an autopsy and complete testing.
Cherokee Ballard, public information officer for the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner's Office said the cause or manner of the woman's death is listed as "not identified."
Ballard said few details were available about the body.
"There's very limited information," she said.
If anyone has information about the unidentified woman, call the OSBI hotline at 1-800-522-8017.
Meghan McCormick
366-3539

www.normantranscript.com/loca...084173636.html

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OSBI reconstructs unidentified skull

Published April 30, 2009 01:42 pm


- Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Forensic Artist Harvey Pratt has reconstructed the skull of an unidentified woman whose remains were found at Lake Thunderbird in Cleveland County Aug. 31, 2008.
The medical examiner's office believes the remains are those of a white female possibly with Native American heritage who was about 5', 5" tall and between 30 and 45 years old. She also had at least one child.

The medical examiner's office believes the remains are those of a white female possibly with Native American heritage who was about 5', 5" tall and between 30 and 45 years old. She also had at least one child.

Medical examiner investigators believe she had been buried in a shallow grave for between 3 and 12 months before her discovery.

A distinctive sunburst tattoo was on a large portion of the woman's back. Investigators have sent photographic copies of that tattoo across the state and surrounding states hoping someone in the tattoo business would recognize the work. That effort has not generated any leads yet.

In the meantime, OSBI is working on a DNA profile of the woman to enter into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) database for a possible match with either a convicted offender or a missing person profile. That process will take several more months.

If anyone believes the reconstructed skull resembles a person they know and have not seen for more than a year, please contact the OSBI at [phone] or leave information on the OSBI tipline on the OSBI Web site at www.ok.gov/osbi

www.normantranscript.com/loca...120144506.html

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Identity of body found at lake remains a mystery

It's been almost a year since a woman's body was discovered at Lake Thunderbird, and investigators are still working to determine the woman's identity.

Terry Gibson, assistant park manager at Lake Thunderbird, said no new details have emerged in the case.

"I talked to OSBI about two weeks ago. They have nothing new," Gibson said.

According to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the medical examiner's office believes the remains are those of a white female possibly with Native American heritage who was about 5 feet 5 inches tall and between 30 and 45 years old. She also had at least one child.
A lake visitor found the remains Aug. 31.

The woman had a distinctive sunburst tattoo on a large portion of her back, the OSBI said.

Gibson said investigators have checked with tattoo artists in Oklahoma and surrounding states to see if anyone remembers designing the tattoo. So far, nobody has recognized it. Therefore, agents believe the tattoo is homemade.

After the body was discovered in late August, it was transported to the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner's Office in Oklahoma City for an autopsy and complete testing.

According to the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner's Office, the cause or manner of the woman's death was listed as "not identified."

Earlier this spring, an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation forensic artist reconstructed the woman's skull. The OSBI released a photo of the reconstructed skull in April.

In March, OSBI spokesperson Jessica Brown said agents might be able to identify the woman using a DNA sample. The process can take several months.

"We're trying to get DNA," she said. "Once we get DNA, we can put it in the database and see if there is anyone who has been put in the database listed as a missing person."

Brown said a match could be made using the woman's DNA and comparing it to a potential family member such as a parent.

Also, it's a possibility the woman's DNA could already be recorded in an existing DNA system, Brown said.

"We're using as many databases as much as possible," she said.

Anyone who has information about the woman is urged to call OSBI at [phone] or leave information on the OSBI tipline on the OSBI Web site at www.ok.gov/osbi

www.normantranscript.com/loca...tory_163013320

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construction of skull