The Death of Jefferson County Jane Doe, August 1972
On Sunday, August 27, 1972, two hikers discovered human remains near a foot trail on the top of a hill in a forest area just inside unincorporated Jefferson County, CO. The skeleton was found on Forest Road 554, off Highway 285, southeast of Bailey, Park County, CO, which is the closest named community to the exact location, which was about one mile east of the line between Park and Jefferson Counties.
The hikers promptly reported their discovery to the Park County Sheriff's Office; officers from that jurisdiction then notified authorities in Jefferson County. Responders to the scene named by the press were a Lieutenant Perkins, Investigator Piper, and Officer Robbins of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO), as well as Dr. John Hunt of the Coroner's Office. Captain Denny Boeka of the JCSO later responded to questions from the press.
At the scene the investigators, "took pictures and gathered the remains of the body for lab analysis." The body was unrecognizable due to consisting of partial skeletal parts only. The decedent's torso, one or more limbs, and one or both hands were not recovered.
It was determined that the remains belonged to a female who had been dead for several years, though her identity could not be established. For now she is known only as Jefferson County Jane Doe 1972.
Authorities did not find any immediate evidence of foul play, and Jane Doe's cause of death is unknown. Sources, primarily newspaper articles, differ slightly on the timing of Jane Doe's death: some indicate that she had been dead for two to three years, while others state one to three years. The estimated postmortem interval (PMI) listed by NamUs is simply two years, though the estimated year of death provided by the site captures the broadest of the PMI ranges stated by sources, i.e., 1969 to 1971.
Due to the condition of Jane Doe's remains, her race/ethnicity, weight, and eye color could not be estimated. It is believed that Jane Doe was about 17 to 23 years old when she died; the age range provided by NamUs is "Adult - Pre 30." Furthermore, Jane Doe's height has been estimated to be between 5'0 and 5'3. She had dark brown hair, and her ears were likely pierced.
No clothing was found with Jane Doe, though other items were. Five buttons were found near the remains: one was brass, while the other four were "small 'pearl-type' buttons."
On/near the body were a pair of thin, round gold-colored post earrings with wire. Jane Doe was also wearing a pair of buckled black women's shoes with a one-inch heel. The shoes each have a single strap and pointed toes, and the insoles have the label "Apollo." The shoes were "approximately a 'B' width and 6.5 size."
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| Items found with Jane Doe. Photo from NamUs. |
Jane Doe's DNA and fingerprints are not available for comparison. However, "enough dental remains were found" to create a dental chart for Jane Doe to compare with others. There are no MP exclusions on her NamUs page.
Jane Doe's NamUs case is #UP9593. It was created on December 9, 2011, and was last updated on February 28, 2025. On the page the date December 10, 2011 is listed under "ME/C QA Reviewed."
Anyone with information regarding Jane Doe is urged to contact Cold Case Investigator Jennifer Jones of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office at (303) 271-5195 or coldcase@jeffco.us. The agency case number is 72-10072.
Informants may also contact the Jefferson County Coroner's Office at (303) 271-6480, agency case number 6272. Any detail counts.
Sources
The Fort Collins Coloradoan 8/29/72
The Rocky Mountain News 8/29/72, 9/12/72
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