Unidentifed remains: Help state's only forensic anthropologist solve mystery of two women found dead this year
KING COUNTY -- Two dead women who were both found in May remain unidentified. Now, the King County Medical Examiner`s Office is hoping you can help put names to their faces. “She’s a white female, she’s probably in her 50s, there is a degree of decomposition so some of the things are iffy,” says Dr. Kathy Taylor speaking about a woman found stuffed inside s suitcase in Kent back in May. Taylor is the states only forensic anthropologist and is trying to find out who this mystery woman is. Taylor explains, “She didn’t appear to be in good health based on the autopsy, potentially someone who may have been bedridden or possibly didn’t leave her home very often. She may have had a care giver. Obviously someone knows she’s dead because they dumped her body.” The unidentified woman was 5 feet 4 inches tall and 106 pounds. When she was found, her hair was in a bun so a digital composition sketch has been released this week showing the unidentified woman with her hair up. And there’s one more thing. “She has no teeth so she’s completely what we call edentulous, which makes her harder to run through the missing persons system,” Dr. Taylor adds.
There’s also another woman that the medical examiner’s office is trying to identify. The two cases aren’t related, but she was also found in May on Rainier Avenue underneath I-90. Taylor recalls, “She came to us without identification. There was no I.D. on her person. She’s a white female, probably in her 60s, she looks well cared for in the sense that we don’t consider her to be a transient.” The sketch of her was drawn post mortem so this is what she actually looks like without much artist interpretation. “She has excellent dental work,” Dr Taylor points out, adding, “She’s 5’6”, 130 pounds. No scars, marks, tattoos, nothing that would stand out. She kind of looks like every grandma that you see.” She also had an earring on her when she was found that someone may recognize. Dr. Taylor won’t say how they died just yet, but she did say, “The missing piece for all of these cases is who they are before we can know really how they died.” If you think you recognize either of these women, please call the King County Medical Examiner`s Office at (206) 731-3232 and choose Extension 1. --or-- Call an anonymous tip into: CRIME STOPPERS: 1-800-222-TIPS You must call the Crime Stoppers hotline with your tip to be eligible to receive a cash reward for information leading to a fugitive’s arrest. CLICK HERE for information on how to TEXT A TIP to Crime Stoppers.