Eklutna Annie

"Eklutna Annie"

Reconstructions of Eklutna Annie
Born Approx. 1954 - 1963
Status Unidentified for 34 years, 9 months and 6 days
Died c. 1979 (aged 16 – 25)[1]
Cause of death
 Homicide by stabbing
Body discovered
 July 21, 1980
Eklutna, Anchorage, Alaska
Known for Unidentified victim of homicide
Height Between 4 ft 11 in (1.50 m)
and 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) [2]

Eklutna Annie is the informal name given to an unidentified murder victim discovered in 1980 in Eklutna, Anchorage, Alaska. She was murdered by Robert Hansen, a serial killer who was responsible for the murders of up to 20 other women.[3][4] Another unidentified female, dubbed "Horseshoe Harriet" is also suspected as one of Hansen's victims.[5]

Discovery and examination

Jewelry worn by Eklutna Annie

Eklutna Annie's skeleton was discovered along a series of power lines on July 21, 1980 and was originally believed to have been that of Roxanne Easlund, a 24-year-old prostitute who went missing on June 28, 1980.[6][7] She wore several pieces of jewelry, including an apparently handmade metal bracelet containing three turquoise stones.[8][2] She also wore a copper necklace containing shell beads and a heart pendant, as well as a metal wristwatch consisting of circular links with a brown clock with a gold plate, a ring carved from shell, and metal loop earrings.[9][3][4] Her hair ranged from a light brown to a strawberry-blond color and was fairly long.[6][2] She wore several articles of clothing, including a knitted, sleeveless shirt, a leather coat containing matches in its pocket, and knee-height boots.[10] An autopsy report concluded that Eklutna Annie was killed by a stab wound to the back.[4][6] She was likely white, but could possibly have had some Native American heritage.[10][11] Later in the year, the remains of topless dancer Joanne Messina were found in the same area.[8]

Robert Hansen

Main article: Robert Hansen

Robert Hansen, a serial killer from the area, admitted that he was responsible for the victim's death in 1984, claiming that she was a dancer from a local bar or a prostitute, and his first murder victim.[12] He had apparently stabbed her as she attempted to escape from his vehicle, when he tried to transport her to his residence.[9] Hansen said he believed she was from Kodiak, Alaska.[7] Investigators believe she may have also been from California, Washington, or perhaps Oregon.[4][7]

Aftermath

Her remains are interred at the Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery, under a marker reading "Jane Doe: Died 1980", although she likely died in 1979.[13][14] As of today, she has remained unidentified, despite the fact that her face has been reconstructed in both 3D and more recently, in 2D.[6][15] Hansen was sentenced to 461 years in prison, without the possibility of parole, for her murder along with three others;[8] he died in prison in August 2014.[16] Like the rest of those murdered by Robert Hansen, the drama film The Frozen Ground, which details the case, was dedicated to her memory.[17] Karen Evan and Teresa Davis, who are currently missing, were ruled out as being possible identities of Eklutna Annie.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "NamUs UP # 10217". namus.gov. National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Anchorage Alaska Jane Doe July 1980". canyouidentifyme.org. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Jane Doe 1980". missingkids.com. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Case File 311UFAK". doenetwork.org. The Doe Network. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  5. ↑ Selina, Leavitt (5 September 2014). "Serial Killer’s Victim Exhumed In Alaska: Who Is ‘Horseshoe Harriet’?". Iquisitr. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Martin, Reagan (10 October 2013). Hunted on Ice: The Search for Alaskan Serial Killer Robert Hansen. Absolute Crime. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Eklutna Annie – Put the focus back on me!". blogspot.com. 15 August 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Lohr, David. "Hunting Humans". crimelibrary.com. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "State Briefs". juneauempire.com. 21 February 2003. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Dunham, Mike (14 July 2012). "Grisly legacy of 'Eklutna Annie'". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  11. ↑ "Alaska State Troopers: Unidentified Body" (PDF). Alaska Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  12. ↑ Wilson, Colin and Seaman, Donald (31 May 2011). The Serial Killers: A Study in the Psychology of Violence. Random House. ISBN 0753547228. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  13. ↑ "'Eklutna Annie' tells tale of Alaska murder - her own". Houston Chronicle. 21 July 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  14. ↑ "Jane Doe". findagrave.com. Find a Grave. 2 July 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  15. ↑ Newton, Michael (2000). The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  16. ↑ Klint, Chris (21 August 2014). "Serial Killer Robert Hansen Dies in Anchorage". NBC. KTTU News. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  17. ↑ "New Release Review - The Frozen Ground". themoviewaffler.com. Retrieved 6 September 2014.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Unidentified murder victims.