We often hear about the dozens of heartbreaking stories of unsolved murder cases in the State of Arkansas or across the United States. In these cases, the victims have been identified and put to rest, and a search for the killer(s) has been underway for months, years or even decades. But what about the unidentified murdered victims? In researching these types of cases in Arkansas, I have been saddened to discover just how little information is available in these cases in order toidentify the victims and/or catch the killer(s). For example: On June 6, 1995, the body of an unidentified female was recovered in North Little Rock in Pulaski County. The estimated date of death is unknown, as is the race of this 17 to 20-year-old victim. All that was recovered with this victim was an L.A Gear brown show (size US 6.5) and one sock – which was larger in size compared to the shoe. The victim’s femur bone was found by a resident on Mills Street after her dog brought the bone to the house. The dog freely roamed the neighborhood so it is unknown exactly where the bone was found. The victim was believed to have been between 5’2” and 5’4’" tall. On October 4 of 1997, the body of an unidentified female was found in Hot Springs in Garland County. The estimated time of death was between 1994 and 1997. The victim is believed to have been between 20 and 35-years-old. Hunters found the remains of the victim in the woods of Highway 296.
The area is very thick with brush and trees. The victim’s skull and jaw were located 4 to 5 feet apart and all of the other remains were found approximately 50 yards from the skull. There were no personal items found with the victim. However, there were old fractures on the nasal bone that indicate a previously broken nose. Although healed, the nose deviated to the right. On June 2, 2007, more remains were found in Hot Springs in Garland County. The partial skeletal remains of a female between the ages of 35 and 45-years-old were found near a creek by people riding four-wheelers near 100 Honeycutt. The victim’s race and the cause of death cannot be determined. There are similar stories like these all across the United States – unidentified bodies lingering in morgues or in boxes stored in evidence lockers. Identifying these victims is seemingly impossible.
However, these cases are not without hope. These cases can be solved if they are made visible to the general public in stories like the one you are reading right now and through open dialogue with people across the United States. If you have information about any unidentified or missing person case, or if someone you love has been missing and their disappearance has never formally been filed with law enforcement, please contact me at letsbringthemhome@gmail.com.
Together, we can make a difference.
