Buckskin Girl

Buckskin Girl is the nickname given to an unidentified female murder victim discovered in 1981 in Troy, Miami County, Ohio. She is known for her unique hairstyle along with the tasseled suede jacket she wore. The victim may have been murdered by a serial killer in the area that had killed many prostitutes or dancers in the area, although this specific case had no indication of sexual activity. Discovery and death: She was found within 48–50 hours of her death off of Ohio State Route 65, near Greenlee Road in Troy, Ohio after police responded to a call stating that a woman's body was found along a road. However, some sources state she was found in Newton, Ohio. She had suffered trauma to the head and was strangled and her shoes were absent from the scene. Some believe she may have been a teenage runaway or a possible victim of a serial killer who had murdered multiple prostitutes in the region. However, the scene showed no signs of sexual assault, rape or other sexual activity, indicating the Buckskin Girl was not a sex worker. Description: The young woman's reddish-brown hair was braided into pigtails on both sides of her head. Her eyes were brown and she had many freckles across her face. Her personal hygiene was described to be well maintained, and all of her teeth, including the wisdom teeth, were in good condition and had no evidence of fillings or other dental work. The victim was described to have had a "normal amount" of pubic hair that was reddish-brown, indicating that she did not dye her hair. The victim had a ruddy complexion, indicating she spent a lot of time outdoors. She wore Wrangler jeans, a patterned brown and orange turtleneck pullover sweater, as well as a deerskin poncho that appeared to have been handmade with purple lining. She wore no shoes or socks. She was between 5'4" and 5'6" and weighed 130 pounds. Several scars were also found on the body, including under the chin, on one wrist, the arms and the ankle. Her bra size was 32D. Investigation: Because of the short time the victim had been deceased, it was possible to obtain her fingerprints. Her dental information and DNA were also taken. Although these three elements are considered vital for identifying a body, they have not led to her identity. Approximately ninety-five missing women and girls were ruled out as possible identities of the victim, including Tina Kemp, Pamela Harvey Rousseau and Karen Zendrosky.[1][13] The case was featured on Unsolved Mysteries in attempts to generate new leads for the case. Serial killer theory: Some investigators speculate that the Buckskin Girl was the first of many victims killed by an unidentified serial killer in the 1980s and 1990s, as well as others that had occurred in Ohio until 2004. Such a serial killer was suspected to have killed approximately seven to ten other women, presumed prostitutes and exotic dancers in Ohio. In 1991, a press conference was conducted where investigators discussed a task force that was created that connected various murders in Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois. These cases were originally connected by a reporter who discovered similarities with other unsolved murders in the area. On an episode of Unsolved Mysteries the case was briefly detailed along with several other cases connected to the unidentified serial killer. Unsolved Mysteries connected the case to that of Shirley Dean Taylor, Anna Marie Patterson, Hebron Jane Doe and additional cases. All of the victims had been beaten or strangled and had some clothing or jewelry missing. The Buckskin Girl wore no jewelry and had her footwear removed and had died the same way that the other victims had. Buckskin Girl was missing shoes when she was found, yet there was no indication that she had participated in any sexual activity prior to death and was fairly well-groomed, unlike many of the other victims. Some, like the Hebron Jane Doe had participated in sexual activity before their deaths, which indicated they were sex workers. Patterson had her body wrapped in a sleeping bag and was likely stored in a refrigerated area for "nearly a month" before it was located on the side of a highway. It is thought that the women who may have been victims of the serial killer could have met with a man at a truck stop while working as prostitutes. In the case of Anna Marie Patterson, there was a suspect identified as "Dr. No" on a CB radio, believed to be between the ages of 25 and 40. Patterson's husband, who was involved with her work as a sex worker stated she stated she was uncomfortable accepting the man's requests, as other local prostitutes, some speaking over the radio, had expressed that they were suspicious of the man and did not wish to meet with him. Police suspect that the person involved with her death may have been this individual. Earlier, it was presumed that she had been a victim of a different span of killings, known as the Redhead murders, but this case was ruled out to be linked to these murders.