Jeanette Kamahele (NamUs MP#8069) vs. NamUs UP#7765
By: Shane Lambert
Jeannette Kamahele missing report 2 Fri, Apr 28, 1972 – 2 · The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) · Newspapers.com
I had a look at Jeanette Kamahele's case tonight. This is a missing-person's case that will be fairly well known to websleuths and those familiar with unsolved mysteries in the United States. Kamahele has been included in the often-discussed Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders from several decades ago.
I won't review the details of her case too much because they have been covered. You can visit the following link to read about the murders that may have been the work of one serial killer if you wish:
http://www.santarosahitchhikermurders.com.
What I will do is look at Jeanette's case and compare it to an Unidentified Person's case (ie. UP), that being Namus UP#7765. There are three stark similarities between Jeanette and UP#7765 that indicate that the two separate profiles should be looked at as being the same person.
Firstly, there is a modern reconstruction of the UP's face from early in 2018. NamUs has had a bust of the UP for years but now we can have a look at an artist's rendition of the deceased UP#7765 (left) and compare it to Kamahele's pictures below. When I do that I see similar features, including complexion, hair length, and hair-parting point. As far as facial matches between photos and reconstructions go, it's a very intriguing match-up.
Secondly, an important detail with this case is that the deceased on the left, UP#7765, was found with a sandal near her. Importantly, Jeanette Kamahele on the right, MP#8069, was last seen wearing sandals.
Thirdly, UP#7765 was found with Levi brand denim blue jeans near her body. Jeanette was last seen wearing the Levi's brand, according to her NamUs profile. It does not state that she was wearing Levi's jeans but that is that company's common product.
The time and space match reasonably well between these cases. The decedent was found July 24th, 1976 and was believed to have died between 1966 and 1976. Jeanette went missing in 1972 so the dates definitely match up.
In terms of proximity, we are talking about a difference of 572 miles between Colati, California and a point northward in Oregon. While that might seem like a great distance, it should not be too bothersome because Jeanette was believed to be hitchhiking when she disappeared. In fact, someone who knew her was going to stop and pick her up except someone else did first. That person that picked her up might have been heading a long way north.
There are some problems with these two cases as a potential match. I will note a 5" discrepancy in height between the missing person and the UP, a discrepancy in race, and that not all the clothes overlap between the two profiles. However, the deceased individual had her torso missing so how reliable a height estimation is without a spine is for all to guess. Additionally, when we take NamUs information with a grain of salt and instead look at the original reporting from 1976 we find that there IS NO HEIGHT DISCREPANCY at all.
The contradiction between races may not be that important. Kamahele was Hawaiian and the UP is described as caucasian. However, the sketch of the UP looks a little swarthy to me. I'm not convinced that a decedent's race can be pinpointed with bones, especially since so many people have mixed backgrounds.
The ages match-up between the profiles. NamUs lists a broad range of between 18-40 years old for the UP and Jeanette's age is within that range (she was 20). But I will note that when the Unidentified Person's bones were originally examined back in 1976 they had a much narrower range. See the clipped article excerpt below which is from the August 1, 1976 Statesman Journal in Salem, Oregon:
Technically, Jeanette's age was out of the 17-19-year-old range but that's not that important because these ranges have to be taken loosely.
The faces also match up in terms of likeness in my view. One detail that I especially like is where the hair parts.
One question that we should be asking is this: how many Unidentified Persons are there out there that look like Jeanette and that were found with the clothing she was last seen in? If you answer "none" then I think you agree with me that UP#7765 is a clear candidate for a rule out in the semi-famous case of Jeanette Kamahele's disappearance.
Another question you could ask is simply if matching the profile of Kamahele to UP#7765 is simply worth taking a shot at just due to how cold the case is. It has been 46 years since Kamahele went missing and if her case isn't solved soon then it stands to reason that many will soon just dismiss it as too archaic to bother with.
Missing Person: Jeannette Kamahele
Last seen or contact date: April 25th, 1972 in the morning, around 930am
Where last seen: Cotati, California on the ramp of Highway 101
NamUs # and Link: #MP8069
I won't review the details of her case too much because they have been covered. You can visit the following link to read about the murders that may have been the work of one serial killer if you wish:
http://www.santarosahitchhikermurders.com.
What I will do is look at Jeanette's case and compare it to an Unidentified Person's case (ie. UP), that being Namus UP#7765. There are three stark similarities between Jeanette and UP#7765 that indicate that the two separate profiles should be looked at as being the same person.
Firstly, there is a modern reconstruction of the UP's face from early in 2018. NamUs has had a bust of the UP for years but now we can have a look at an artist's rendition of the deceased UP#7765 (left) and compare it to Kamahele's pictures below. When I do that I see similar features, including complexion, hair length, and hair-parting point. As far as facial matches between photos and reconstructions go, it's a very intriguing match-up.
  |
| Unidentified Person #7765 on the left. Jeanette Kamahele on the right side and middle. |
Secondly, an important detail with this case is that the deceased on the left, UP#7765, was found with a sandal near her. Importantly, Jeanette Kamahele on the right, MP#8069, was last seen wearing sandals.
Thirdly, UP#7765 was found with Levi brand denim blue jeans near her body. Jeanette was last seen wearing the Levi's brand, according to her NamUs profile. It does not state that she was wearing Levi's jeans but that is that company's common product.
The time and space match reasonably well between these cases. The decedent was found July 24th, 1976 and was believed to have died between 1966 and 1976. Jeanette went missing in 1972 so the dates definitely match up.
In terms of proximity, we are talking about a difference of 572 miles between Colati, California and a point northward in Oregon. While that might seem like a great distance, it should not be too bothersome because Jeanette was believed to be hitchhiking when she disappeared. In fact, someone who knew her was going to stop and pick her up except someone else did first. That person that picked her up might have been heading a long way north.
There are some problems with these two cases as a potential match. I will note a 5" discrepancy in height between the missing person and the UP, a discrepancy in race, and that not all the clothes overlap between the two profiles. However, the deceased individual had her torso missing so how reliable a height estimation is without a spine is for all to guess. Additionally, when we take NamUs information with a grain of salt and instead look at the original reporting from 1976 we find that there IS NO HEIGHT DISCREPANCY at all.
 |
| August 1, 1976 Statesman Journal/Page 33/No author listed/"Linn DA seeking body's identity |
The contradiction between races may not be that important. Kamahele was Hawaiian and the UP is described as caucasian. However, the sketch of the UP looks a little swarthy to me. I'm not convinced that a decedent's race can be pinpointed with bones, especially since so many people have mixed backgrounds.
The ages match-up between the profiles. NamUs lists a broad range of between 18-40 years old for the UP and Jeanette's age is within that range (she was 20). But I will note that when the Unidentified Person's bones were originally examined back in 1976 they had a much narrower range. See the clipped article excerpt below which is from the August 1, 1976 Statesman Journal in Salem, Oregon:
Technically, Jeanette's age was out of the 17-19-year-old range but that's not that important because these ranges have to be taken loosely.
The faces also match up in terms of likeness in my view. One detail that I especially like is where the hair parts.
One question that we should be asking is this: how many Unidentified Persons are there out there that look like Jeanette and that were found with the clothing she was last seen in? If you answer "none" then I think you agree with me that UP#7765 is a clear candidate for a rule out in the semi-famous case of Jeanette Kamahele's disappearance.
Another question you could ask is simply if matching the profile of Kamahele to UP#7765 is simply worth taking a shot at just due to how cold the case is. It has been 46 years since Kamahele went missing and if her case isn't solved soon then it stands to reason that many will soon just dismiss it as too archaic to bother with.
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