Beth Doe
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Evelyn Colon (previously known as Beth Doe; – December 1976) was a formerly unidentified American teenager from
New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
who was found murdered and dismembered in three suitcases along with her unborn daughter on December 20, 1976, in
White Haven, Pennsylvania White Haven is a borough (Pennsylvania), borough in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located along the Lehigh River. The population was 1,163 at the 2020 census. History Establishment White Haven was created in 1824 by indu ...
. The brutality of the crime, the fact that she was pregnant when she was killed and the length of time that she remained unidentified drew national attention. After isotope analysis was conducted in 2007, it was believed she had been an immigrant from a Central European country. In 2019, it was announced police were considering the possibility that this victim had been a runaway foster child who was last known to be in New York, but investigators subsequently located the girl and confirmed that she was alive. On March 31, 2021, it was officially announced that the victim had been identified as 15-year-old Evelyn Colon of
Jersey City, New Jersey Jersey City is the List of municipalities in New Jersey, second-most populous
. In addition, the identity of her alleged killer, Luis Sierra, was made public after charges were filed. As of January 2025, these charges have been dismissed, as authorities determined her murder happened in New Jersey, and not Pennsylvania.


Death and discovery

When discovered, the victim, who was carrying a nine-month female
fetus A fetus or foetus (; : fetuses, foetuses, rarely feti or foeti) is the unborn offspring of a viviparous animal that develops from an embryo. Following the embryonic development, embryonic stage, the fetal stage of development takes place. Pren ...
, had been sexually assaulted,
strangled Strangling or strangulation is compression of the neck that may lead to unconsciousness or death by causing an increasingly hypoxic state in the brain by restricting the flow of oxygen through the trachea. Fatal strangulation typically occurs ...
and shot in the neck by an unknown person. Her body was then
dismembered Dismemberment is the act of completely disconnecting and/or removing the limbs, skin, and/or organs from a living or dead being. It has been practiced upon human beings as a form of capital punishment, especially in connection with regicid ...
with a serrated blade. The gunshot wound had occurred postmortem. Her nose, breasts, and ears had been severed and have never been found. The dismemberment was described to be unlike that of a surgeon, but not "haphazard." The parts of her body and that of her unborn daughter had been placed into three suitcases; two were striped with red, blue, and white, and the other one was tan with a plaid design. They were of vinyl material and were all of the same size. It was evident that the suitcases had been spray-painted black at some point and that their handles had been severed. To dispose of the body, the suitcases had been thrown off a bridge over the
Lehigh River The Lehigh River () is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed April 1, 2011 tributary of the Delaware River in eastern Pennsylvania. The river flows in a generally southward ...
in
White Haven, Pennsylvania White Haven is a borough (Pennsylvania), borough in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located along the Lehigh River. The population was 1,163 at the 2020 census. History Establishment White Haven was created in 1824 by indu ...
along
Interstate 80 Interstate 80 (I-80) is an east–west transcontinental freeway that crosses the United States from San Francisco, California, to Teaneck, New Jersey, in the New York metropolitan area. The highway was designated in 1956 as one of the ori ...
. It is believed that the suitcases had been thrown out of a vehicle traveling west. The killer had most likely intended to have the suitcases land in the water below, to lessen the chance of their being found. Two of the suitcases had landed in the woods, 20 feet from the river; the third, containing the head and fetus, was found on the river bank. Having fallen approximately 300 feet, two of the suitcases had opened and parts of the body had emerged. The head, fetus, and the two halves of the torso were exposed. Other evidence included straw and packaging foam, as well as a bedspread that was waterlogged with fragments of a newspaper that had been used to wrap parts of the body. The newspaper was later determined to have been ''The New York Sunday'' from September 26, 1976, and was linked to
northern New Jersey North Jersey, also known as Northern New Jersey, comprises the northern portions of the U.S. state of New Jersey between the upper Delaware River and the Atlantic Ocean. As a distinct toponym, North Jersey is a colloquial one rather than an a ...
. The bedspread was reddish-orange in color with yellow and pink embroidered flowers, and was made of
chenille fabric Chenille () is a type of yarn, or the fabric made from it. ''Chenille'' is the French word for caterpillar, whose fur the yarn is supposed to resemble. History According to textile historians, chenille-type yarn is a recent invention, dating ...
.


Examination and physical description

The body was removed by authorities and transported in plastic bags to the nearby Gnadden Huetten Hospital for examination. After a three-hour
autopsy An autopsy (also referred to as post-mortem examination, obduction, necropsy, or autopsia cadaverum) is a surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse by dissection to determine the cause, mode, and manner of deat ...
on December 23, 1976, it was determined that she was a white woman in her late teens or early twenties. However, her identity could not be established. The cause of death was determined to be strangulation, although she had been shot in the neck as well. Beth Doe was between 4 feet 11 inches and 5 feet 4 inches tall. She weighed 140 to 150 pounds (due to her pregnancy). Her hair, which was shoulder-length, was an undyed dark brown. The medical examiner classified her blood as type O. She had some distinctive markings on her body. A 2- to 6-inch scar was visible above one of her heels. Two moles on her face - one above her left eye and one on her left cheek - may have developed during her pregnancy. Before becoming a teen, some of her
molars The molars or molar teeth are large, flat tooth, teeth at the back of the mouth. They are more developed in mammal, mammals. They are used primarily to comminution, grind food during mastication, chewing. The name ''molar'' derives from Latin, '' ...
had been extracted, and she had received fillings in her teeth. No
false teeth Dentures (also known as false teeth) are prosthetic devices constructed to replace missing teeth, supported by the surrounding soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity. Conventional dentures are removable (removable partial denture or complet ...
were in place. Despite the evidence of previous care, she had likely not seen a dentist in some time, as she was suffering from severe tooth decay. One of her front incisors had a visible fracture, which was noted to likely cause severe pain. It was believed that she was probably born in Europe and moved to the United States before reaching her teenage years, as examination of her
tooth enamel Tooth enamel is one of the four major Tissue (biology), tissues that make up the tooth in humans and many animals, including some species of fish. It makes up the normally visible part of the tooth, covering the Crown (tooth), crown. The other ...
indicated. An initial anthropological examination indicated she may have originated from
Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...
or
Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...
.
Isotope Isotopes are distinct nuclear species (or ''nuclides'') of the same chemical element. They have the same atomic number (number of protons in their Atomic nucleus, nuclei) and position in the periodic table (and hence belong to the same chemica ...
testing was conducted on her hair, teeth, and bones. She had lived in the U.S. for 5 to 10 years, and most likely had resided in
Tennessee Tennessee (, ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina t ...
or a nearby state. Examination on the unborn girl indicated that the child had gestated while the victim was in the southeastern part of the country.


Investigation

After the body was found, the victim was fingerprinted. Her teeth were examined and recorded on a dental chart. Missing persons reports throughout the United States and Canada were compared at the time to the victim but were excluded. The medical examiner noted that a set of numbers had been written on the victim's body. The ink, believed to have been from a pen, was on the left palm of the victim, indicating that she was right-handed if she had indeed written it herself. The writing consisted of the letters WSR and the number 4 or 5, followed by 4 or 7. Her fingerprints were submitted to the
FBI The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic Intelligence agency, intelligence and Security agency, security service of the United States and Federal law enforcement in the United States, its principal federal law enforcement ag ...
, but they did not match anyone in national databases. When she remained unidentified, a sketch was made and the public was asked for assistance. This resulted in few solid leads. Information about the case was subsequently published across the country to generate leads. The body was buried in 1983 after the victim remained unidentified for several years. In 2007, her remains were exhumed to obtain additional forensic evidence and to create a new facial reconstruction. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children released two reconstructions, the latest in May 2015. Investigators remained optimistic about identifying the remains and solving her murder. Twelve
missing women In the context of human demographics, the term "missing women" indicates a shortfall in the number of women relative to the expected number of women in a region or country. It is most often measured through male-to-female sex ratios, and is theori ...
had been excluded as possible identities: * Annastaes Banitskas of Australia * Iris Brown of Vermont * Valerie Cuccia of New York * Teresa Fittin of Florida * Trenny Gibson of Tennessee * Rory Kesinger of Massachusetts * Anna Leatherwood of Tennessee * Georgia Nolan of Kentucky * Sherry Roach of California * Mary Robinson of New York * Patricia Seelbaugh of Pennsylvania * Denise Sheehy of New York


Later developments

In September 2019, the Pennsylvania State Police announced a possible connection between "Beth Doe" and Madeline "Maggie" Cruz. A tip was submitted to police by an individual who had gone to school with Cruz and saw a resemblance to the reconstructions of Beth Doe. She had spent time in the Massachusetts cities of Lenox and
Framingham Framingham () is a city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. Incorporated in 1700, it is located in Middlesex County and the MetroWest subregion of the Greater Boston metropolitan area. The city proper covers with a popula ...
; in Framingham she resided with a foster family. Around 1974, at the approximate age of sixteen, she had run away, to
Tarrytown Tarrytown is a village in the town of Greenburgh in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located on the eastern bank of the Hudson River, approximately north of Midtown Manhattan in New York City, and is served by a stop on th ...
with her foster sister, who returned after a week. In the summer of 1976, she called a friend to request money, claiming she was pregnant. She was never heard from again, until the media reported the potential link to Beth Doe. Later that month, police confirmed Cruz was "alive and well" and subsequently eliminated as a potential identity.


Identification

Familial
DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid (; DNA) is a polymer composed of two polynucleotide chains that coil around each other to form a double helix. The polymer carries genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of al ...
eventually led investigators to Luis Colon Jr., Evelyn Colon's nephew. Colon's identity was released on March 31, 2021. She was fifteen at the time she was allegedly murdered by then-19-year-old Luis Sierra. Sierra was subsequently charged with the victim's murder; at the time of his arrest, he was residing in
Ozone Park, New York Ozone Park is a neighborhood in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of Queens, New York, United States. It is next to the Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, a popular spot for Thoroughbred racing and home to the Resorts ...
and was 63. He was extradited back to Pennsylvania, and he first appeared in court on April 28. At the time of her murder, Colon, who was of Puerto Rican origin, was dating Sierra, the father of her unborn child, in
Jersey City Jersey City is the List of municipalities in New Jersey, second-most populous
. Due to her pregnancy, Colon's parents recently had allowed her to move into an apartment with Sierra, who had also previously been the Colons' next-door neighbor. One day, Colon contacted her mother saying she was not feeling well and asking her to bring her soup, but when Colon's mother arrived, nobody was there. Neighbours told Colon's family that she and Sierra had moved away. In January 1977, the family received a letter in
Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...
from Sierra, stamped from
Connecticut Connecticut ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York (state), New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. ...
, telling them Colon had given birth to a boy and not to worry, because she would contact them if she needed anything. Colon's family initially did not report her missing because, according to her brother Luis Colon, they thought she was safe with Sierra. After a few years of no contact, they attempted to report her disappearance, but due to the letter police refused to file a report. By the time Colon was identified, her parents had both died. Colon was revealed to have distant family members living in
Puerto Rico ; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...
and a
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campaign was organized by her family members in the mainland United States to get them to visit her gravesite.


See also

*
List of murdered American children This is a list of murdered American children that details notable murders among thousands of cases of subjects who were or are believed to have been under the age of 18 upon their deaths. Cases listed are stated to be unsolved, solved or pending ...
*
List of solved missing person cases Lists of solved missing person cases include: * List of solved missing person cases: pre-1950 * List of solved missing person cases: 1950–1999 * List of solved missing person cases: post-2000 See also

* List of kidnappings * List of murder ...
*
List of unsolved murders These lists of unsolved murders include notable cases where victims were murdered in unknown circumstances. * List of unsolved murders (before 1900) * List of unsolved murders (1900–1979) * List of unsolved murders (1980–1999) * List of unsol ...
*
Murder of Erica Green Erica Michelle Marie Green (May 15, 1997 – April 28, 2001), also known as Precious Doe, was an American three-year-old girl who was murdered in Kansas City, Missouri, in April 2001. Green's decapitated body was discovered on April 28, ...
(a young girl who was murdered in a similar manner in 2001 and was unidentified until 2005) * Murder of Ruth Waymire


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Colon, Evelyn 1970s missing person cases 1976 crimes 1976 in Pennsylvania 1976 murders in the United States American people of Puerto Rican descent Child murder in Pennsylvania Deaths by person in Pennsylvania Deaths by strangulation in the United States December 1976 in the United States Dismemberments Female murder victims Formerly missing American people Incidents of violence against girls Interstate 80 Missing person cases in Pennsylvania Sexual assaults in the United States Unsolved murders in the United States Violence against women in Pennsylvania