Cold Case: FBI and Ottawa County Sheriffs Seek Public's Assistance in 40-Year-Old Case

OTTAWA COUNTY, OH - The FBI and Ottawa County Sheriff's Office are looking for public assistance in the 41-year-old case of an unidentified woman that was discovered in the Mud Creek tributary on Oct. 22, 1975.

More than four decades ago, two hunters were working their way towards Mud Creek, enjoying low 60 degree temperatures. At approximately 6:10 p.m. they found a nude woman floating in about 10 feet of water in the tributary. The woman had no scars on her body. The hunters immediately contacted police. Detectives from the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office and Agents from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation responded and processed the scene.

It is believed that the woman had been dead for 48 to 72 hours when the hunters found her. The coroner's office ruled that the woman had suffered a "questionable death." However, following an investigation by the Sheriff's Office, no progress was made and all of the case's leads were exhausted. More than four decades after her discovery the woman's demise remains a mystery.

The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office has never officially closed her case.

Due to advances in technology, law enforcement is releasing a photo composite that has been reconstructed based on her remains. She is believed to have been approximately:

• 5’4”,
• between 20 and 30 years of age in 1975,
• between 140 and 150 pounds,
• with medium length brown/reddish hair,
• brown or hazel eyes,
• had pierced ears but was not wearing earrings at the time,
• she had widely spaced teeth with very poor dental health,
• she was a smoker and had given birth to at least one child, possibly within the year.
• She did not have any scars, birthmarks, or tattoos.

Police are also releasing a photo of a unique ring that was found on the woman's body. It is described as a wire love knot type ring.

Law enforcement is hopeful that someone will recognize the composite photo or ring. Anyone with any information regarding this individual or this ring is urged to contact the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office at 419.734.4404 or the FBI, Toledo Resident Agency at 419.243.6122.

Images from FBI