[UPDATED] Four Decades After Woman Was Found Dead In a Ditch, the Huntington Beach Police Department Turns to Facebook and Twitter to Help Identify Her
Categories: Crime-iny
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| Huntington Beach Police Department |
Update, Jan. 12, 12:15 p.m.: Huntington Beach police may have a lead in a 1968 slaying. A person recognizes the woman in the composite sketch, believing her name was Rosie. Based on the information the person gave, police believe that Rosie moved to Long Beach from New York in 1967 and worked as a waitress at a bar called the Circus Room. Rosie did not show up to work one day, and no one knew what happened to her. While the information is promising, the HBPD does not want to rule out new leads and asks that anyone who may have other information, call (714) 536-5940.
Original post, Jan. 5, 1:10 p.m.: Countless people have found roommates, used cars and lunch recommendations through the wonders of social media. Now, for the first time, the Huntington Beach Police Department is turning to Facebook and Twitter to help solve a 43-year-old mystery.
On Tuesday, the HBPD posted to Facebook a composite drawing of a woman whom in 1968, was found face down in a drainage ditch at Newland Street and Yorktown Avenue. She had been beaten and sexually assaulted, and her throat had been slashed. The victim was never identified.
Lieutenant Russell Reinhart says that the case was worked on extensively for a year, and reopened several times after that. Along with the composite drawing, the
department also posted photos of a white purse, and the black-and-white
photos inside, found near the crime scene. Detectives believed the purse
may have belonged to the victim.
In the hours after the photos were posted on Facebook, leads emerged.
Facebook user Stephanie Rohrbach wrote: "The picture of the 2 boys are my grandpa and his brother! I'm not really sure who this woman could be but I would definitely like to know! I'm originally from the Los Angeles/ Orange County area and so is my grandfather...."
Reinhart said the department received numerous Facebook messages, tweets and phone calls from residents who recognized those in the photographs. Though after speaking with them, detectives became confident that purse and the photos it contained did not belong to the victim.
The search is still on for Jane Doe. Anyone who may know her identity is asked to call Detective Mike Reilly of the Huntington Beach Police Department Robbery/Homicide Unit at (714) 536-5940.
In the hours after the photos were posted on Facebook, leads emerged.
Facebook user Stephanie Rohrbach wrote: "The picture of the 2 boys are my grandpa and his brother! I'm not really sure who this woman could be but I would definitely like to know! I'm originally from the Los Angeles/ Orange County area and so is my grandfather...."
Reinhart said the department received numerous Facebook messages, tweets and phone calls from residents who recognized those in the photographs. Though after speaking with them, detectives became confident that purse and the photos it contained did not belong to the victim.
The search is still on for Jane Doe. Anyone who may know her identity is asked to call Detective Mike Reilly of the Huntington Beach Police Department Robbery/Homicide Unit at (714) 536-5940.
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