Unidentified Wiki
in: Female, Homicide by strangulation, Hispanic,
and 18 more

Lia Chavez

Sign in to edit
Stop2
This article includes content which may be disturbing to some readers. Discretion is advised.

Eulalia Mylia "Lia" Chavez (1959 - September 5, 1986), also known by the names Lolly and Pholia Mylia Chavez, was a woman who was found murdered in Lebanon, Illinois, in 1986.

She was known as "Summerfield Jane Doe" and "The Summerfield Woman" while unidentified.

Case[]

Background[]

Chavez was born in Costa Rica in 1959. She and her brother were adopted as children and lived in Palo Alto, California. She ran away from home several times, and her adoptive mother last saw her in 1975 or 1976. She was known to hitchhike across the country to attend concerts and had one child, a daughter. Her adoptive mother received numerous phone calls over the years from individuals claiming to have seen her daughter in different states.

Discovery[]

On September 6, 1986, a farmer discovered Chavez's naked body in a cornfield off a dirt road near Oak Grove School Road in Lebanon, Illinois. The site was just outside the village of Summerfield. Chavez had been strangled with a clothing item belonging to her and sexually mutilated. Her killer cut her pelvic area and attempted to remove her reproductive organs. There was also a lack of defensive wounds on her body.

She had died sometime the day prior and was placed at the site. Authorities observed that her killer left behind small, western-style boot prints. A police officer also recalled finding scattered clothes and personal items, including a set of silverware and a salt and pepper shaker.

Identification[]

Chavez's case garnered attention and coverage in the entire Metro East area. Local newspapers published several articles on her case throughout the decades. Multiple artists also created sketches in her likeness. Chavez's identity remained unknown despite these efforts and an extensive investigation. Her remains were later exhumed to develop a new facial reconstruction based on her exact skull measurements.

A fingerprint match on the FBI's highly advanced fingerprint-matching system led to Chavez's identification in February 2008. A St. Clair County authority figure stated there was no sign Chavez had been living in southern Illinois before her death. Her adoptive mother donated her body to the University of Tennessee for medical research. She later passed away in 2011.

Investigation[]

Similarity to Wyndi Michel[]

Similarities have been cited between the cases of Chavez and 30-year-old hitchhiker Wyndi Michel. However, it is unknown if their homicides are connected. A farmer discovered Michel's naked body in a bean field in Troy, Illinois, on July 20, 1990. The site was approximately 10 miles from where Chavez's body was discovered. Michel died from multiple stab wounds to her neck and torso and was likely sexually assaulted.

Upon further examination, her fallopian tubes, uterus, and ovaries were also absent. It is believed that her killer may have removed her reproductive organs. There was no evidence of defensive wounds on Michel's body, possibly indicating she did not fight her killer.

Suspect[]

Radford University's Department of Psychology later published a study regarding convicted kidnapper, sexual predator, and suspected serial killer Larry DeWayne Hall. The document states that he is a suspect in both Michel's and Chavez's cases. Numerous alleged victims of Hall remain missing or unidentified. In 2008, Hall sent a letter to a television reporter claiming that he had picked up Chavez while she was hitchhiking and killed her. Authorities informed him about the collection of DNA from the crime scene and noted a change in his demeanor.

The DNA was later compared against a sample taken from Hall, but the results were inconclusive. Authorities acknowledged that the DNA possibly did not belong to Chavez's killer. Her case remains under investigation, with the FBI releasing a ViCAP alert regarding her in May 2025.

Characteristics[]

  • Curly brown hair.
  • Brown eyes.
  • Mole on upper left arm.
  • Small scar on left shoulder.
  • Scar on the back of right wrist, possibly from a burn.
  • Small stature and wore children's size clothing.
  • Good oral hygiene.

Clothing and accessories[]

  • Salmon-colored bodysuit.
  • Gold bracelet worn on right wrist.
  • Silver band ring with a clear stone in the middle worn on right hand.
  • Plain silver band worn on right hand.
  • Opal ring with four opals and a clear stone center worn on left ring finger.
  • Assorted clothing and jewelry carried in a travel bag.

Gallery[]

Sources[]

Footnotes[]

  1. ↑ Some sources state her name as Pholia Mylia Chavez.
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.