To summarize the story briefly: our unidentified Sister was believed to have been 14-16 years old and from a Middle-Class background. She had a friend or relative in Huntsville Prison. She was probably from in or around Corpus Christi. Distinguishing features were a scar near her right eye and on her right elbow. She may have been left-handed. She's known currently only as 'Walker County Jane Doe.'
After the last article, some commentary came in mostly offering support and offering a theory or two. But one reader sent us a screenshot of an interesting conversation from Facebook roughly two years ago. The context of this discussion was whether or not WCJD possibly could have been in a Girls' Home. The subject of a now-defunct home called Rebekah House came up; and someone commented as follows:
Rebekah House was located in Corpus Christi and was affiliated with the Independent Baptist denomination. I mentioned at IB's blog that I'm about the same age and from the same general area as WCJD---and what I remember of Rebekah House was that it was one of those kinds of places where frustrated mothers threatened to send their daughters when they were angry. It was strict, although most of the horror stories about it are probably urban legends directed against the pastor who founded it. That minister, whose name was Lester Roloff, was somewhat like the Doug Wilson of the 1980's: controversial, charismatic, and a magnet for politically-motivated enemies.
Rebekah House had a reputation for straightening out even the most rebellious of young women. Not all of the young ladies at Rebekah however were bad girls or at-risk youth. A few were members of the church who attended as part of their education. A few others were orphans or wards of the state. WCJD was probably either connected to the church or referred to foster care. If she'd had a juvenile record, police could have identified her by fingerprints. She must have been removed by family or legal guardians before she became a runaway. Rebekah House always reported runaways; and no reports from that time or place match WCJD.
We can't say for sure that this is a positive lead yet; but it's credible enough to be considered. If any women reading were in Rebekah House circa 1978-1980 and this girl looks familiar, let us know. Also, there is the possibility that she was from a family connected with Reverend Roloff's church; so if any members of the Independent Baptist denomination remembers someone like her who went missing: again get in touch. Or call directly if you prefer, the Walker County Sheriff's Office at 936-435-2400.
I hope we don't reach the 40th anniversary in '20 with WCJD still unnamed.
ReplyDeleteWell we're trying to make sure that doesn't happen. I have a feeling that we'll find her before too much longer.
DeleteI wish shes get identified
ReplyDeleteThere are some promising developments going on behind the scenes. I'm not at liberty to divulge details right now, but there's a definite 'person of interest' being looked into as her killer.
DeleteAre there any updates on her possible identity, or killer?
ReplyDeleteI had asked the same, since I couldn't find out anywhere. The photo looked just like her I thought. I asked about it on Facebook page,'Who Was Walker County Jane Doe'. Test owner of the page said the girl in the photo has been identified and is alive.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting that---I hadn't heard that she'd been identified. I'm assuming that you're referring to 'Angie'.
DeleteI don't know. Is that her name?
ReplyDeleteYes, the girl in the choir photo was said by some RH alumni to be named Angie Roca. However, some RH alumni believed the girl in the 'motel photo' to be a girl named Cathy Hall, who was also from Rebekah Home.
DeleteI wonder if they've ever made themselves known? Like Cathy. Is she out there or do people know her and she's missing? UGH! Who is that girl???
DeleteAwhile back, we worked on trying to do a psychological profile on WCJD. One thing, we've pretty much concluded is that she was deeply estranged from her family. That's apparently because she didn't seem to want to go home and her family apparently never even bothered looking for her. We are looking into a possible lead around Aransas Pass.
DeleteHope it's a good lead!
ReplyDeleteIt's the best we have to work with. Still researching it, though.
DeleteI stumbled across Walker County Jane Doe while looking at another case. She instantly reminded me of a cold case from Iowa/Texas- Kimberly SUE Doss. I instantly checked the girls ruled out. A Kimberly RAE Doss from Florida had been ruled out. I think they may have checked the wrong name due to the closeness. Also, when you look up Kimberly Sue Doss, her missing date is incorrect. Most missing persons sites say September 1st,1982 but that's incorrect. She went missing March 20, 1980- believed to have ranaway back to Texas. September 1982 was when she was FINALLY entered as a true missing person. Her family verify March 1980 as the real date. She looks very much like the newest released sketch of WCJD, and the postmortem photos also are eerily similar, even with bruising & swelling.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that information. Could you post a link to Kimberley's case?
DeletePrayers and Hope's this case is solved, I was in the Rebeckah girls home in 1978-79, we had 250 girls in that dorm at that time, wish I had contact with a few friends I was looking for an alumni type of thing,when this came up,that would probably help
ReplyDeleteThank you, yes we're still working on it. One of the RH girls has been identified; one might be the girl in the motel photo. Our latest leads have us there and with a girl from a different home in So. Texas. In that case, we're trying to get some photos. Fingers crossed!
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