Community Corner
'Broken Heart Tattoo' Jane Doe Found On Train Tracks Finally ID'd
Social worker's tip helped Contra Costa investigators identify an 18-year-old woman months after a fatal train strike in Port Costa.
CONCORD, CA — Nearly three months after authorities asked for help identifying a young woman killed by a train in Port Costa, a single tip from a social worker who recognized a tattoo led investigators to her identity, providing long-awaited answers for her them and her family.
The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office said the name of the 18-year-old struck and killed by a train in Port Costa was Layla White.
White was finally identified after the Contra Costa County Coroner asked for the public's help.
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On May 4, the Coroner's Division released information about the case and shared a photograph of a tattoo through local media outlets, Facebook, and X.
A social worker later contacted an coroner's office investigator, saying she believed she recognized the woman and was able to provide a name.
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250K hoped for a name
White died on Feb. 16 after being struck by a train in Port Costa.
The incident was investigated by Amtrak Police and the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The sheriff's office described her as a white adult female with brown hair and hazel eyes, standing 5-feet 4-inches, and weighing about 171 pounds.
She wore a black pullover top, black-and-grey plaid pants, and red-and-white Nike athletic shoes when she died.
The Coroner's Division later determined the manner of death was suicide. Investigators said White was not carrying identification, preventing authorities from finding her name or next of kin.
They had little else to identify her with except one distinct marking: She had a small broken heart tattoo on the inside of her left wrist.
Sheriff's officials credited the community's response for helping bring the case to a close.
Social media posts about the unidentified woman generated nearly 250,000 views and 465 shares across Facebook and X, according to the Sheriff's Office.
"In the end, a single person who saw the Facebook post provided a name," the Sheriff's Office said in a statement.
Authorities said the identification provides answers and closure for White's family and thanked community members who shared information and followed the case.
More: Broken Heart Tattoo Sole Clue To Woman's Lonely Death On Train Tracks
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