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Doris Joanne Girtz:Found 1979, Watts Township, Pennsylvania

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     Doris J. Girtz circa 1971   Doris Joanne Girtz was born in 1954 or 1955.    She went to Streetsboro High School in Streetsboro, Ohio. That is a small town east of the Cleveland/Akron area along Interstate 80.    I haven’t been able to find out much about her early life. I did find that she married a man named Robert L. Keeton on September 13th, 1973. I didn’t find anything in the newspapers about their wedding. I found that the two divorced in 1974. Robert Keeton sued for divorce on the grounds of gross neglect of duty. Was Doris already missing then? Or had the marriage just broken down?   The next time the name "Doris Joanne Girtz" is found in any available documents it was because her body was finally identified.    In late June of 1979 a man was out rock collecting along the Juniata River in Watts Township near Duncannon, Pennsylvania. He happened upon a set of skeletal remains and contacted the ...
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Marise Chivarella:1964, Hazelton, Pennsylvania

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    James P. Forte was on the job as a bartender when he collapsed and died in 1980. His death was a terrible shock to his family and friends.   James Paul Forte was buried with great honor at his church. A Monsignor even presided over the Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Grace Church.   He was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Drums, PA. near his hometown with military honors as well.  James Paul Forte circa 1959   James had grown up in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. Born in 1941 to Pauline and Genero Forte; he had joined the Army after graduating from Hazelton high school. He served in Vietnam. He was actually in the Army from 1959 to 1965.    While serving in Vietnam we do know, however, that he had some leave and was home in March of 1964. How do we know that tiny detail after all these years later?  That’s a long story.    On March 18th, 1964, Marise Chivarella, of 533 Alter Street was walki...
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Shelley Ann Werner:1980, Mishawaka, Indiana

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    Shelley Ann Werner was born on July 4th, 1964 in Mishawaka, Indiana.    Shelley’s Mom was a teacher at Merritt Elementary in Niles, Michigan but the family lived in Mishawaka, Indiana. The Indiana-Michigan border area there is often called Michiana.    Shelley Ann Werner was 16 in the Summer of 1980. Her 17th birthday was coming up. She drove a little orange Volkswagen. She was looking forward to fun in the summer and school in the fall. She was very active in the band and various sports at Mishawaka High School.    Some of the most popular songs at the time were “Funky Town” by Lipps Inc., “Coming Up” by Paul McCartney and “Call Me” by Blondie. I keep imagining her driving around with "Funky Town" playing on the radio.  Former site of Wilt's on Lincoln Way.    Shelley stopped by Wilt’s supermarket at 2800 Lincoln Way East in Mishawaka on June 16th,1980. She had parked about 50 feet from the store entra...
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