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Authorities hope jewelry, clothing and hair details lead them to identity of woman who jumped off bridge
By adamg on Thu, 10/20/2011 - 5:55pm
With no identifying documents to go on, authorities have released some information about the woman whose body was pulled out of the Charles River this morning after witnesses watched her jump off the Harvard Bridge, in the hopes somebody recognizes her. According to the Suffolk County District Attorney's office:
The woman is described as a black female of indeterminate – but apparently young – age. She stood about 5'4" tall and weighed just under 110 lbs. Her hair was shaved on the sides, with a longer tuft of hair at the top front. Her fingernails and toenails appeared to be well cared for and she did not appear homeless.
She had a tattoo depicting musical notes on her left upper chest. She was wearing a gold ring on her right middle finger inscribed with "1987 AS Newbury" on the outside and the letters "MJ" on the inside. She was also wearing a necklace with a heart-shaped ornament with diamonds or diamond-like decorations. When pulled from the water, she was wearing a black leather jacket, a black T-shirt, black sweatpants or fleece pants, and black tennis shoes.
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Comments
This is so sad. I hope her
This is so sad. I hope her family or friends recognize her by this description. And I hope that she's found the peace that evaded her in life.
Newbury College?
Associate in Science from Newbury College, class of '87? Did they check the '87 yearbook and/or transcripts for someone with the initials MJ?
That would make her my age
... or about 45. It is a good idea to follow up on that, but more likely a mother or aunt if so.
Please tell the DA this, if you haven't
That could be a good lead, but I doubt that the DA's office reads this blog. Please phone or e-mail this to them.
Thanks folks. I passed the
Thanks folks. I passed the tip along this morning, and it's one investigators were already looking at.
I hate to nitpick...
...but can we stay consistent on which bridge this happened at? Because it's Mass Ave, not Harvard. Thanks!
I love to nitpick
And the bridge which carries Mass Ave over the Charles is called the Harvard. Jeez, Ani, try to keep up, willya?
I stand corrected. I always
I stand corrected. I always thought the Anderson bridge was the Harvard bridge. However, I think there should be some consistency in how we refer the the bridges :)
Consistency?
Welcome to Boston.
Thank-you for being, correct.
Thank-you for being, correct.
The name of the bridge is often mistaken.
The bridge was named "Harvard Bridge" long ago, dedicated as such and its never been officially changed. Massachusetts Ave. runs across the Harvard Bridge as surely as it passes through Harvard Sq. (and near but not through Harvard Yard). It is informally and mistakenly called the "Mass. Ave Bridge" or Massachusetts Avenue Bridge".
In a similar manner, the "B.U. Bridge" when officially opened was dedicated as the "Brookline Bridge".
Good luck crossing any bridge across the Charles River in Boston/Cambridge today.
"did not appear homeless"?
"did not appear homeless"? Was she carrying a mortgage payment with her? You'd think that in the current economic environment, some of the stigma of homelessness would be beginning to recede, but nope.
Not stigma in this case, I think
But let's be honest - it's not typical for persons without residence to have manicures, fresh haircuts, casual jewelry, well-laundered clothes without signs of wear, etc.
Saying she did not appear homeless is a way of saying she seemed to be someone who had a regular address - someone whose absence from her household might be noticable to even casual neighbors.
***
I don't know exactly why, but this apparent suicide seems particularly sad and tragic to me. I hope that she's identified, and that her friends and family have a chance to grieve for her, and that her spirit finds peace, if such a thing is possible.
Jewelry photos
Here.