Jane Doe II was the sixth canon, but the eighth discovered, victim of the Cleveland Torso Murderer. She was the only black victim of the serial killer.
Case[]
The victim was found by a teenager named Russel Lawer under the fifth span Lorain-Carnegie bridge and about four hundred feet west of Stone's Levee. Her dismembered remains were in a rotting burlap bag with a newspaper from June 1936. The newspaper had an advertisement of Nils T. Gratlund's Girls performing at the Palace Theatre in June of 1936. When Detective Orley May contacted the manager of the theatre, the latter confirmed the performance occurred but did not recall any of the performers disappearing in Cleveland.
Police did receive a letter that the victim could be a sex worker named Rose Wallace. Her dental information was similar to Wallace, it could not be officially confirmed because the dentist who performed the work died years before. Detective Merylo and Wallace's son thought the victim was her, but Coroner Gerber & Sergeant Hogan did not believe Wallace was the victim because doubts remained as the body was estimated to have been dead for a year whereas Wallace had only been missing for ten months.
The victim, called "Jane Doe #2," is also referred to as "Victim #8" of the Cleveland Torso Murderer. Between 1935-1938, the Cleveland Torso Murderer was responsible for the murder and dismemberment of twelve transients, of which only two were ever identified. Investigators believe there are additional victims. Although investigators had several suspects, most notably Frank Dolezal and Dr. Francis E. Sweeney, no one was ever charged and convicted for the murders.
Other victims believed to be related to the Cleveland Torso Murderer include Lady of the Lake, Tattooed Man, Jane Doe I, Jane Doe III, Jane Doe IV, John Doe I, John Doe III, John Doe IV, John Doe V, John Doe VI.
Characteristics[]
- Black curly and kinky hair.
- Wide nasal aperture.
- Prominent alveolar prognathism.
- Extensive dental work with gold crowns.
Sources[]
- Jane Doe II at the Doe Network
- Cleveland Torso Murderer on Wikipedia
- Cleveland Police MuseumGRAPHIC POSTMORTEM WARNING
- Crime LibraryGRAPHIC POSTMORTEM WARNING
- Jane Doe II at Find a Grave