For the decedent formerly known as the Bag Lady, please see Elaine Armstrong.
"Betty the Bag Lady" was the nickname given to a woman found dead alongside a road in 1992. She had been placed at the location days after her death.
Case[]
The victim's body was found on August 23, 1992, on Krueger Road, Berrien County, Michigan. The body was nude and had been bound with twine and wrapped with various materials such as a sheet, a towel and two garbage bags. Her hands and dentures were missing.
Investigators hypothesized that she may have lived at a care facility in one of the neighboring states, specifically in northern Illinois or Indiana.
It was announced in August 2020 that investigators were following potential leads in the case, which the investigating office said may be possible family members. Recent testing indicates she has relatives in Ireland.
The DNA Doe Project, which is no longer involved with researching this case since June 2023, announced that the decedent could have connections to these surnames and locations:
- McLaughlin, McLoughlin, Morrissey, O'Brien, Kelly, Hogan, Mahoney, Cashman, Walsh and Lyons from County Waterford, Ireland
- O'Sullivan, Sullivan and Kelly from County Kerry, Ireland
- O'Donoghue, Donahue, McDonagh and O'Brien from the United States, especially Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois.
- Ireland, England and New Zealand, where many of her matches live.
Characteristics[]
- White hair.
- Brown eyes.
- Edentulous with signs of missing dentures.
- Scar from an appendectomy.
- Fractured spine.
Clothing and accessories[]
- Two garbage bags.
- Sheet.
- Institutional-type white towel.
Exclusions[]
Gallery[]
Sources[]
- Betty the Bag Lady at the Doe Network
- Betty the Bag Lady at NamUs
- Betty the Bag Lady at the DNA Doe Project
- WoodTV