Murders of Kerry Graham and Francine Trimble

Kerry Graham and Francine Trimble

Kerry Graham (left) and Francine Trimble
Born Kerry Ann Graham
(1963-11-12)November 12, 1963
Francine Marie Trimble
(1964-09-27)September 27, 1964
Disappeared December 16, 1978
Forestville, California
Cause of death Undetermined. Suspected homicide[1]
Body discovered July 8, 1979
Willits, California, United States
Nationality American
Citizenship United States
Occupation Students
Known for Murder victims

The murders of Kerry Ann Graham and Francine Marie Trimble are currently unsolved crimes that occurred in December 1978, when both girls—aged 15 and 14 respectively—disappeared after leaving their homes in Forestville, California to visit a shopping mall in Santa Rosa.[2] Their remains were later discovered concealed inside duct-taped garbage bags in woodland[1][3] alongside a remote section of Highway 20, close to the city of Willits, in July, 1979.

Due to the advanced state of decomposition, the specific cause of death of each victim was never established, although both deaths have always been considered homicides. Furthermore, Graham's body was mistakenly identified as that of a male until genetic testing proved otherwise.[4]

The bodies of Kerry Graham and Francine Trimble would remain unidentified for over 36 years until DNA tests confirmed their identifications in November, 2015.[3][5][6]

Disappearances

Graham and Trimble both resided in Forestville, Sonoma County, California.[7] The two girls were next-door neighbors and inseparable friends, having known one-another since they had become acquainted while attending elementary school.[8] On December 16, 1978, they left their homes to visit the Coddingtown Mall in Santa Rosa. Neither girl was ever heard from again.[9] Within 24 hours of her disappearance, Trimble was reported missing by her mother;[10] Graham was reported later the same month. The reporting of Graham's disappearance was likely delayed slightly due to her having previously run away from home, although she had previously inevitably returned home after short periods of time.[5]

Investigators concluded the two girls were likely together when they went missing, given the circumstances of their relationship.[11] Family members stated that they did believe there was a possibility that they were murdered, although it was also believed they may have hitchhiked to various different regions, including New Jersey, or as far as Nova Scotia, Canada.[3] Investigators believed the pair had willingly run away from home.[12] The victim's families speculated that the girls could have been kidnapped prior to departing to the mall, possibly by someone they knew, as there were no signs of a disturbance at either residence. Furthermore, due to the fact makeup was found arranged upon a dresser in Trimble's bedroom,[13] investigators did not discount the possibility both girls had been abducted at gunpoint from Trimble's home.[1]

The dates of the girls' disappearance was inconsistently listed amongst missing persons organizations. Some stated the pair had each disappeared on separate dates, including December 24, 1979.[14][15]

Efforts to locate the girls involved obtaining physical statistics as well as processing DNA samples from the girls. They were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System as well as the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.[11][14][15] Family members of the pair also went to extensive levels in hopes of finding their loved ones. Francine Trimble's aunt explained that a psychic had been contacted on one occasion.[5]

Discovery

Mendocino County police officers at the location where the bodies of Graham and Trimble were discovered, July 8, 1979

The unclothed, skeletal remains of Graham and Trimble were discovered by two tourists traveling to Fort Bragg, California on July 8, 1979.[16] These two tourists had stopped their vehicle alongside Highway 20 in Mendocino County, approximately 12 miles west of Willits,[17] before one of these individuals located a skull protruding from a shallow grave in brush a short distance from the road. Both victims had been bound with duct tape and concealed with plastic, before being buried in shallow graves.[5][18] Hair and numerous bones were scattered in the vicinity of the shallow grave—indicating the bodies had been disturbed by wild animals. No clothing was present with their remains, although a solitary shell earring depicting a bird—later determined to belong to Francine Trimble—was discovered at the scene.

The coroner estimated that the two were murdered around December 8, 1978,[17] although the actual causes of the victim's deaths could not be determined due to the advanced state of decomposition of their remains.[3][19] However, investigators concluded that it was possible that they had each been strangled, which would be difficult to determine on their skeletons.[1]

Approximately 90 percent of the bones from both bodies were collected at the scene and sent to a forensic pathologist for examination.

Investigation

Examination

A local coroner was unable to determine if the bodies were male or female.[7] After 90 percent of the bones were removed from the scene, they were sent to labs for examination.[20] By 1980, results came back, establishing approximations of physical statistics of the victims, including their sexes, ages and heights.[19] It was at this time that the error of believing one of the bodies being male was made.[9][20]

Both victims were believed to be white, yet local investigators determined they were unsure of their specific ethnicities.[4][17] Graham was known to be of Native American descent, which is a likely factor in this conclusion.[15]

Earring worn by Francine Trimble, subsequently found with her remains

Graham, the subject originally believed to be male, was estimated to be between ten and twenty years of age,[4] possibly thirteen.[21] She was inaccurately placed between the heights of 5 feet 2 inches (157 cm) and 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm)[4] tall, possibly 5 feet 5 inches (170 cm), when in reality, she was 4 feet 9 inches (145 cm).[14][15] In 2014, DNA testing concluded the remains were female.[4] Examination of the bodies also led to an inaccurate conclusion that Graham was likely younger than her companion, where she was actually older, being born on November 12, 1963, opposed to Trimble's birth on September 27, 1964.[22][23]

Trimble was also placed between ten and twenty years old,[17] perhaps being no older than fourteen.[24] She was between 5 feet 3 inches (160 cm) and 6 feet 0 inches (180 cm) tall,[25] possibly 5 feet 5 1⁄2 inches (166 cm).[17] She, like her companion, also had light brown hair. She was found with an earring of a bird, presumed to be handmade from a shell-like material, seen often in the works of "hippies and Native Americans."[17][24]

Evidence regarding the case was later submitted to the FBI in 1985 for further examination.[20] The remains were exhumed several times, during the years of 2000 and 2011.[20]

Circumstance speculations

Partly contrary to initial reports that there was "[A] high probability that the two were brother and sister",[26] a 2001 mitochondrial DNA test indicated that these two were not related maternally.[9][19] Speculation on the accuracy on the theory of probable relation arose in 2000 when the victim's dental charting appeared too dissimilar for the pair to be biologically related.[5][17] It was also speculated that they may have been in a romantic relationship, which may have been a reason why they were together.[24] It had also been presumed that they could have hitchhiked from as far away as the Midwestern United States, possibly being runaways.[21][27]

Persons of interest

A man from a New Jersey prison falsely confessed to the murders in 2000, which led to the exhumation of the bodies in 2000.[5] He was later excluded from the case after it was found he would have been about twelve years old at the time of the murders and he had "never left" New Jersey.[1] The man is believed to have confessed after reading about the case from a newspaper.[19]

Rodney Alcala and several other serial killers have been identified as persons of interest in the case. The speculation of a serial killer being the perpetrator was conceived due to the number of females found murdered during the decade and in the same county that the victims disappeared.[5] No definite suspects have been officially named in the case.[1][19]

Facial reconstructions

Several forensic facial reconstructions were created to depict a likeness of the victims in life. Clay busts were used prior to being replaced by digital versions that were later released in the early 2000s.[28][29] In 2012, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children released updated renderings of the victims by using CT scans of their skulls to build a digital, three-dimensional, estimation of their faces.[19] The process was covered by the BBC network.[30] After the identification of the victims, the artist that created the 2012 renderings stated that the reconstruction of Graham would have had little difference if it had been known at the time she was female.[9]

Other evidence

At the time, the updated reconstructions were being created, a foreign tooth that belonged to neither victim was found with the remains was tested. Authorities were unsure if it had belonged to an individual involved in the murders or possibly due to being misplaced in evidence storage. It was also initially feared that a third person could have fallen victim to the crime, yet this was excluded after no additional remains from the subject were found after the exhumation. Study of the tooth revealed it likely belonged to someone of either Native American or Asian heritage. It was also described to be of a unique shape.[9]

Identification

Graham and Trimble were incorrectly listed to have disappeared in December 1979, several months after their remains were discovered.[14] When this error was later corrected, a match of Graham's dental charting was made through the NCIC system. Other circumstances involve family member's speculations of the potential of the remains belonging to the pair.[9]

DNA comparison later corroborated this belief, formally identifying the bodies after thirty-six years.[9][19] The University of North Texas had processed the DNA profiles of the unidentified victims after their exhumations in 2011.[1][20] Assistance with obtaining DNA from family members of the victims was performed by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in order to match the DNA from the remains to the missing girls.[9] The identification was made in November 2015 and later announced in February 2016.[3][29]

Authorities are moving forward in the investigation and are hoping to obtain more information about the hours leading up to and preceding the disappearance in hopes of capturing the individual or individuals responsible for the deaths and the concealment of their remains.[1][5][9] It is unknown if the girls had hitchhiked to the mall or had ever reached their destination.[20] They also stated that they are also earnest to learn more details surrounding their deaths in order to conclusively prove they were murdered.[31][32]

The girls' remains were released to the surviving members of the their families in February 2016.[5][33]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Anderson, Glenda (2 February 2016). "Remains found in Mendocino County in 1979 belonged to two missing Forestville teens". The Press Democrat. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  2. ↑ BBC.co.uk February 3, 2016
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Tucker, Jill (8 February 2016). "Bones found 37 years ago linked to missing Sonoma County girls". SF Gate. Hearst Communications. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "NamUs UP # 10450". National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. Retrieved 2014-11-29.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 O'Neil, Marnie (5 February 2016). "Murdered teens identified as missing girls Kerry Graham, 15, and Francine Trimble, 14". News Limited. Sydney, Australia: News Limited. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  6. ↑ The Press Democrat 2 February 2016
  7. 1 2 Kemp, Kym (2 February 2016). "MENDOCINO COLD CASE HEATS UP: BODIES OF TWO YOUNG GIRLS FOUND IN 1979 ARE IDENTIFIED". Redheaded Blackbelt. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  8. ↑ Fort Bragg Advocate-News February 4, 2016
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 O'Brien, Jane (3 February 2016). "Missing US children from 1979 identified after BBC story". BBC News. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  10. ↑ The Press Democrat 2 February 2016
  11. 1 2 "NamUs MP # 28098". findthemissing.org. National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  12. ↑ "Francine Marie Trimble". The Charley Project. 21 June 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  13. ↑ Press Democrat February 2, 2016
  14. 1 2 3 4 "NamUs MP # 22630". findthemissing.org. National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. 13 November 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "Kerry Graham". missingkids.org. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  16. ↑ Fort Bragg Advocate-News February 4, 2016
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "NamUs UP # 10447". National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. Retrieved 2014-10-19.
  18. ↑ "Identifying murdered teenagers in 33-year-old cold case: A body unburied". BBC News. 2012-06-25. Event occurs at 1:25. Retrieved 2014-10-19.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Randall, Adam (2 February 2016). "Mendocino County cold case identifications made nearly 37 years later". Ukiah Daily Journal. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Sheriff Allman: Press conference - 30 year cold case". Mendocino County Sheriff. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  21. 1 2 "Case File 111UMCA". The Doe Network. 2012-07-29. Retrieved 2014-10-19.
  22. ↑ Haines, John (5 February 2016). "Kerry Ann Graham". Find A Grave. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  23. ↑ Haines, John (6 February 2016). "Francine Marie Trimble". Find A Grave. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  24. 1 2 3 "Case File 131UFCA". The Doe Network. 2012-07-29. Retrieved 2014-10-19.
  25. ↑ "Missing Persons and Cold Cases". Mendocino County Sheriff's Office. Retrieved 2014-10-19.
  26. ↑ "Case File 131UFCA". The Doe Network. Archived from the original on 2006-10-07. Retrieved 2014-10-19.
  27. ↑ "Identifying murdered teenagers in 33-year-old cold case: Can a skull speak its name?". BBC News. 2012-06-25. Event occurs at 0:12. Retrieved 2014-10-19.
  28. ↑ Anderson, Glenda (26 July 2012). "Images revive 1979 mystery of teens' bodies". The Press Democrat. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  29. 1 2 Williams, Linda (2 February 2016). "Cold Case: Kids murdered in 1978 identified through DNA". Willitts News. Digital First Media. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  30. ↑ O'Brien, Jane (25 June 2012). "Naming the dead: Identifying murdered teenagers in 33-year-old cold case". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  31. ↑ Randall, Adam (28 January 2016). "New details in 37-year-old Mendocino County cold case". Ukiah Daily Journal. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  32. ↑ Randall, Adam (28 January 2016). "New details in 37-year-old Mendocino County cold case". Ukiah Daily Journal. Digital First Media. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  33. ↑ "Decades after Teens Disappeared their Remains Discovered in 1979 are ID'd". Times Standard. February 2, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
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