COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. -- Detectives are hoping a new composite sketch will help them identify a woman found dead in Collier County in 2004.
According to the Collier County Sheriff's Office, the woman’s remains were found on April 14, 2004 at a construction site for a new retention pond at Richards Street and Immokalee Road.
"When they find bones at the end of your street, that's not something you forget," said April Salyers, who has lived on Richards Street since 2003. "Every once in a while when (I'm) driving down the road, I wonder whatever happened with that."
The remains were buried in a shallow grave and wrapped in a green shower curtain. It is estimated the woman had been dead for more than a year when the remains were found.
The Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide but could not determine a cause of death.
Due to damage to the woman's jaw and skull, artists were previously not able to complete a full rendering. The new composite features a reconstruction of the entire face.
Detectives believe the woman was Caucasian and between 30 and 40 years old at the time of her death. She was between 5 feet 1 inch and 5 feet 6 inches tall. She was wearing a sweatshirt, sweatpants and sneakers at the time of her death.
The sweatshirt label was from a brand called “Favorites.” It was featured in black stitching with light blue and pink coloring. The woman’s sneakers were size 7.5 B and had silver and light blue coloring on the heel with the words “Olympics” and “USA” on the back. They also featured the Olympics rings logo.
"We're hoping that with digital reconstruction of her face, and the descriptors of the shoes which were somewhat unique, someone's going to recognize this person," said Detective William Still of the Collier County Sheriff's Office.
If you recognize the woman, or have any information about this case, please call Detective Still directly at 239-252-0057.
Or, if you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477).
