Public’s help sought to identify woman

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STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — Your help is needed in identifying the body of woman found by a trash hauler in August.

The naked body, wrapped in a red and black sleeping bag, was spotted by the trash hauler after he rolled a large garbage can to his truck and dumped its contents onto the vehicle’s lifter around 6:40 a.m. Aug. 21. The can the woman had been in was one of several alongside an apartment building in the 800 block of Michigan Avenue on the North Side.

The cause of death is still pending, Capt. Kenneth Centorame, chief of detectives, said Thursday.

The victim’s fingerprints didn’t match any on file, and her teeth didn’t match dental records of women who have been reported missing. A search through the National Crime Information Center didn’t turn up anything, either.

Although Crime Stoppers of Greater Youngstown asked for help in identifying her in September, who she is remains a mystery.

Centorame said Detective Sgt. Ron Rodway then turned to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation for assistance. Ed Carlini, BCI agent, used crime scene photos to prepare a composite of the black woman’s face for distribution through news outlets.

Detective Sgt. Chuck Swanson, Crime Stoppers coordinator, said the Jane Doe composite is the first alert to be posted on the Web site www.citizenobserver.com. He said the city recently bought the software to participate in the nationwide program.

Swanson said block watches are being told now of the alert system. Residents, he said, can also sign up to be notified of alerts by e-mail or text message.

The dead woman’s identifying characteristics, meanwhile, include: petite body; small gap between two upper front teeth; and vertical incision scar from midchest past navel, possibly from abdominal surgery or Caesarian section. Her age was estimated at 30, weight at 90 pounds and height at 5 feet 4 inches.

Anyone who has information is asked to call Rodway at (330) 742-8251; Crime Stoppers at (330) 746-CLUE; or 911. Callers can remain anonymous.

“She was someone’s daughter and may have been someone’s mother, someone’s aunt,” Centorame said. “Once we know who she is it may help find out who dumped her.”