The Tragic Story of Deanna Criswell

In the scorching desert landscape of Marana, Arizona, a grim discovery was made on November 25, 1987. The lifeless body of a young girl lay abandoned in a culvert along Interstate 10, a tragic end to a life full of potential. This was the beginning of an enduring mystery that spanned nearly three decades. The victim was later identified as Deanna Lee Criswell, a 16-year-old from Spokane, Washington. Before her identity came to light, she was known only as "Jane Doe 19."

Early Life and Disappearance

Born on September 20, 1971, Deanna Criswell's life was fraught with turbulence. Her parents' divorce when she was just three years old set the stage for a childhood marked by instability. Living in Spokane with her mother, who juggled two jobs to make ends meet, Deanna often found solace in the company of her maternal grandfather. However, his passing left a void that steered her towards rebellion. She became entangled with a questionable crowd, leading her to Seattle to live with her father, Jerry Criswell, a trucker. Although her behavior initially improved, the rebellious streak resurfaced by age 15, prompting her return to Spokane.

By the summer of 1987, Deanna had run away, living on the streets and maintaining sporadic contact with her father. She formed a relationship with William "Bill" Ross Knight, a man 20 years her senior, who eventually lured her to Tucson, Arizona, with a bus ticket in September 1987. Once in Tucson, she called her sister, Debbie, but her father remained unaware of her whereabouts. Despite his attempts to file a missing person report, authorities, citing her history of running away, refused to act.

Discovery and Initial Investigation

The discovery of Deanna's body by a homeless man on that fateful November morning propelled the Marana Police Department into action. Tire tracks at the scene suggested she had been murdered elsewhere and left in the culvert. An autopsy by the Pima County medical examiner determined she had been dead for approximately two weeks, killed by five gunshots from a .22 caliber firearm. Her clothing—layers of jackets, sweaters, and jeans—hinted at her transient lifestyle. A purple sweater placed over her face suggested a personal connection to the killer, a sign of remorse often seen in crimes of passion.

The investigation proceeded with little success. Despite extensive efforts, including dental records and fingerprints, the young woman's identity remained elusive. The homeless man who discovered her body was cleared of suspicion, and another person of interest, Benjamin Batson, was ruled out after no evidence linked him to the crime.

Advances in Forensic Science

Years passed with no breakthroughs until advances in forensic science breathed new life into the cold case. In 2009, Deanna's body was exhumed to extract additional DNA evidence. The FBI conducted a forensic facial reconstruction in 2010, and the image was disseminated widely in hopes that someone might recognize her. Although a DNA profile of a potential perpetrator was generated in 2011, it matched William Ross Knight, a man who had died in 2005 while serving time for robbery, thus leaving investigators with no living suspect to prosecute.

The Role of Amateur Sleuths

The case took an unexpected turn in 2014 when Deanna's paternal aunt and uncle, Ellen and Donald Criswell, began their own investigation. Reconciled with Deanna's father, they learned she had not been heard from since 1987 and had never been officially reported missing. Driven by hope and aided by the internet's vast resources, they scoured online databases for unidentified persons in Arizona.

Their persistence paid off when they stumbled upon "Pima County Jane Doe" on The Doe Network. The forensic image bore a striking resemblance to their niece, right down to the distinctive gap between her upper front teeth. This, combined with height and weight estimations, convinced them they had found her. They contacted law enforcement, who confirmed the match with DNA samples from Deanna's parents.

Resolution and Legacy

On February 11, 2015, the Marana Police Department announced Deanna Criswell's identification, closing a 27-year chapter of uncertainty. Her family chose to leave her resting place in Pima County intact, but they replaced the "Jane Doe 19" headstone with one bearing her name. In March 2015, her father and uncles gathered at the cemetery to commemorate her life, finally bringing closure to a family haunted by her disappearance.

Deanna Criswell's story is a poignant reminder of the power of human connection and the relentless pursuit of justice. It highlights the transformative role of technology and community efforts in solving cold cases and ensuring that those who once were lost are never forgotten.

Sources

• Wikipedia