December 8, 1968 Lancaster, California Jane Doe

Pictures from Crime Scene

On December 8, 1968 a group of hunters were going into the desert in Lancaster, California. They had come across a coffin 15 feet away from 188th Street East, just south of Fort Tejon Road. The group called it into the Lancaster police.

It was a homemade coffin the top had been glued and hammered down and then painted red. It was buried and covered with rock leaves and dirt. Inside a woman was wrapped in two different quilts. One was 80” by 70” with various red and blues on one side and solid green on the other side. The other quilt was 67” by 76” with the same colors. Her head was resting on a brocade pillow (small decorative pillow). A Newspaper from the Los Angeles Times from 7/1/67 was found in the coffin. It isn't believed she was dead for that long though. It's believed she may have been dead for up to 3 months. 

She had been shot in the temple. It is believed that she may have been killed in a domestic situation. More than likely by a family member or close friend. Someone placed a paper bag over her head, showing there may have been regret. The over wrapping of the body may have also been seen as the same, but it could also be they were trying to prevent animal's from getting to it.

She was a white female between the ages of 30 and 50 years old. She had short red/auburn hair that was graying. She was around 5'4". She had a complete hysterectomy and evidence that she may have given birth to a child at some point.

She was wearing a two piece light pink or light blue (some sources state either) nylon Pj's with elastic waist band measuring 15 inches and the length was 35 inches, and a small Veyellared and white checkered bathrobe that was woven in Great Britain by the brand Sadie Shaw. She was also wearing a hairnet and bobby pins in her hair.

SOURCES:
http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1205ufca.html
http://theavtimes.com/2012/05/25/detectives-seek-help-with-red-coffin-cold-case/
https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/2994