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The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is seeking the public’s help in
identifying a homicide victim from a 28-year-old cold case. On January 18, 1990, a semi-truck and trailer driven by James
Edward Taylor of Atlanta, Texas crashed on US 259, near Big Cedar, in southern
Leflore County, Oklahoma. A black female passenger in the truck was killed
during the collision. Troopers were unable to identify the female passenger
(Jane Doe).
James Taylor said Jane Doe was a hitchhiker he had picked up
15 minutes before the collision. Taylor’s sister told investigators Taylor had
picked Jane Doe up near 55th and Euclid in Cleveland, Ohio, and she
believed Jane Doe went by “Beth” or “Baby.”
Taylor was subsequently charged with
Jane Doe’s death, but charges were eventually
dismissed. Taylor died in 2008.
Jane Doe was 5 feet 1
inch tall and weighed 87 pounds. She was believed to be between 25 to 35 years
old, had short black hair, brown eyes, and scars on her forehead and upper left
arm. Jane Doe had a scar on her abdomen, believed to be from a C-section. She
was wearing a shirt, sweater, pantyhose, pants and belt; the only personal item
found with Jane Doe was a gold-colored ring with a pink stone. It was
discovered by OHP Traffic Homicide Investigator/Trooper Tim Baker at Evans and
Miller Funeral Home in Poteau who maintained custody of the ring for the past
28 years and provided the ring to Trooper Baker.
Anyone who has information is asked to call 1-866-OHPTIPS.
MEDIA NOTE: Interviews about this cold case will take place at 11
a.m. today (Wednesday, July 25, 2018) at the OHP Public Affairs Division, 3600
N. Martin Luther King, Oklahoma City. Members of the
media who would like an interview are asked to be present at this time, if at
all possible. Those who plan to attend the 11 a.m. briefing are asked to call
the Public Affairs Division at 405-425-7709. Those who cannot attend at that
time and would like to request a different interview time may also call
405-425-7709.
 
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