Forensic artist reconstructs face of murder victim

Forensic artist reconstructs face of murder victim

February 6, 2006

By CATHARYN CAMPBELL
6 News Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- Investigators hope a new facial reconstruction of a woman's face will bring them new leads in the six-year-old murder case of a woman found by a fisherman.

Forensic artist Joanna Hughes used the woman's skull and layers of clay to recreate details of the victim's appearance. "Tissue depth markers tell me exactly how much to build up the clay."

Investigators from the Oak Ridge Police Department say the woman's body was found floating in Melton Hill Lake on March 6, 2000.

They are still not sure how she was murdered.

She is described as a white female in her late 20s. They say she was 5'9" and weighed between 130 and 160 pounds.

Investigators plan to put pictures of the recreation on missing persons data bases around the country.

Hughes says the model is smiling because she believes the woman's teeth may hold the key to her identity. "Her teeth are unusual because she has had extensive dental work, expensive dental work."

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call the Oak Ridge Police Department at (865)-425-4399.