Unidentified teen found dead in New Mexico may have Tri-Cities ties. Recognize her?

Cory McCoy
·1 min read

For nearly 30 years investigators have been unable to identify a woman who was found dead in a field in New Mexico. Now they believe she may have ties to the Tri-Cities.

Investigators believe that new information could link a Jane Doe found in Albuquerque, N.M., in 1996 to Benton County in Eastern Washington and Phoenix, Ariz., according to a news release from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Genealogy research indicates the young woman may have relatives in either, or both, of those areas.

On May 2, 1996, a young white woman was found dead in a vacant field wrapped in trash bags near 98th and Tower Road in Albuquerque.

Investigators estimated she was about 14 to 19 years old, and 5-foot-2 to 5-foot-4, with light brown to reddish hair and light eyes.

She was found wearing light blue Levi jeans, a V-neck ribbed sweater and a black lace bra.

Forensic artists with National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) have released a facial reconstruction of what they believe the woman looked like, in hopes that someone may recognize her.

A facial reconstruction of what the Jane Doe found in New Mexico may have looked like.
A facial reconstruction of what the Jane Doe found in New Mexico may have looked like.

They’re asking anyone who believes they may have information that could lead to identifying the woman to contact the center at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or the Albuquerque Police Department at 1-877-765-8273.