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Police release new sketch of ’82 homicide victim

By WTOP Staff

FREDERICK – The Frederick Police Department on Friday released a new digital image of a woman who was found dead in a steamer trunk nearly 30 years ago.

Commonly referred to as “the woman in the trunk,” the woman is still unidentified, and detectives are searching for her family.

Detectives are asking for the public’s help, according to a news release. Next month marks the 30th anniversary of the case.

“We felt now was the time to get a separate version of what she may have looked like,” said Lt. Clark Pennington, police spokesman.

The latest image released by the agency Friday is one of three sketches drawn since the woman’s body was found. A sketch released in the 1980s depicts a woman with thick eyebrows, wide eyes and heavy bangs.

Another drawing released in the early 1990s features a woman with short hair, thin lips and a slightly wrinkled brow. Those images are posted on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s website.

Pennington said the latest image will be added to the National Unidentified Persons System — a database designed to help law enforcement agencies with cases that involve unidentified human remains.

“We think it’s pretty good,” Pennington said of the image.

Several months ago, the police department asked Sgt. Don Stahl of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office to assist in a facial reconstruction.

His version of “the woman in the trunk” features a woman with a thin face, long hair and a curved nose. He also provided the agency with a profile of the woman that displays her jawline and bone structure.

Stahl said a photo of the woman’s skull helped him create the image, but the police department had some input, too.

They asked Stahl to draw the woman with her hair in a ponytail because an early investigation revealed the woman was athletic, Pennington said.

“It’s a gamble to make assumptions like that, but it’s that kind of information that could spark recognition,” Stahl said Friday. He used an electronic tablet and Photoshop to create the image.

For more than a decade, Stahl has helped police agencies throughout the state. Detectives hope his latest image sheds new light on the cold case, Pennington said.

“Sgt. Stahl is highly skilled in forensic reconstruction of skeletal remains and was able to examine the remains and provide digital pictures of what the victim may have looked like at the time of her discovery,” the department said in a news release.

On Aug. 24, 1982, a couple searching for mushrooms in the Frederick City Watershed spotted a steamer trunk off the road. Police found a body inside. Detectives said the trunk contained skeletal remains of a white woman with dark hair between 18 and 25 years old.

Detectives concluded that in this case, the woman had undergone extensive dental procedures, some of which are consistent with those performed by dental students.

Her teeth were put into an online database in an effort to help solve the case.

Police are hoping that the new digital image will lead to fresh developments, Police Chief Kim Dine said during a previous interview.

“We have hundreds of open cases. Not all cases get equal attention. … The key is managing the cases,” Dine said.

The police department has at least 11 open homicide investigations, according to the agency’s website.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call Detective Curt Lege at 301-600-3918. To leave an anonymous tip, call 301-600-TIPS.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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