Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
302 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP3980) and 6 other sources
Debora Sue Lowe, a 13-year-old girl from Pompano Beach, Florida, was last seen on the morning of February 29, 1972. She was walking to Rickards Middle School between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. but never arrived. A block away from her home, her schoolbooks were found discarded in a trash bin, raising alarms about her disappearance. At the time, Debora was wearing a yellow blouse, black pants with rose-colored stripes, and a tan poncho. She had a chipped front tooth and a small scar on her left leg.

Initially, authorities believed she might have run away, but her family rejected this theory, as Debora did not have a history of running away and had left no personal belongings behind. Over time, the investigation shifted towards more sinister possibilities, particularly the involvement of serial killer Gerald John Schaefer. Schaefer, a former deputy sheriff, had connections to the Lowe family and was linked to the disappearances and murders of numerous young women during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Debora's family strongly suspects that Schaefer was involved in her abduction, though he was never officially charged in her case. Schaefer was murdered in prison in 1995.

Despite various efforts to locate her or find conclusive evidence, Debora’s case remains unsolved. Her family continues to seek answers, and the case remains open with law enforcement hoping for new leads to emerge.

Last Seen: Feb 29, 1972

Possible Unidentified Matches (10)

Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

82%Moderate
Jane Doe — Florida - unidentified case UP1194
Jane Doe — Florida
UP1194 • Found Dec 27, 1988
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Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 21–35 vs 13 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%15 mi away, same county
TimingFound 17 years after last seen
Height 84%5'4" vs 5'6"
Weight 93%108 lb vs 125 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
Jane Doe — Boca Raton, Florida - unidentified case UP773
Jane Doe — Boca Raton, Florida
UP773 • Found Jun 23, 1980
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Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 19–25 vs 13 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%9 mi away, same state
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 68%5'0"–5'3" vs 5'6"
Weight 100%120 lb vs 125 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
Jane Doe — Ft Lauderdale, Florida - unidentified case UP1272
Jane Doe — Ft Lauderdale, Florida
UP1272 • Found Aug 3, 1982
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Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 12–25 vs 13 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%8 mi away, same county
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 52%5'2" vs 5'6"
Weight 96%110 lb vs 125 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
Jane Doe — Ft Lauderdale, Florida - unidentified case UP1113
Jane Doe — Ft Lauderdale, Florida
UP1113 • Found Apr 5, 1996
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Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 36–45 vs 13 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%8 mi away, same county
TimingFound 24 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'6"
Weight 90%106 lb vs 125 lb
79%Possible
Jane Doe — Bahia Honda State Park, Florida - unidentified case UP6251
Jane Doe — Bahia Honda State Park, Florida
UP6251 • Found Mar 5, 1979
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Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 16–19 vs 13 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 69%129 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'6"
Weight 96%110 lb vs 125 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
Jane Doe — Florida
UP1199 • Found Aug 23, 1988
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Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 21–35 vs 13 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 80%82 mi away, same state
TimingFound 16 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'6"
Weight 96%140 lb vs 125 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
Jane Doe — Dade, Florida - unidentified case UP7514
Jane Doe — Dade, Florida
UP7514 • Found Sep 4, 1979
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Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 18–25 vs 13 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 87%57 mi away, same state
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6"–5'8" vs 5'6"
Weight 100%120 lb vs 125 lb
Hair 50%Blond vs Brown
Eyes 0%Gray vs Brown
77%Possible
Jane Doe — Miami Beach, Florida
UP1143 • Found Mar 23, 1993
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 33–45 vs 13 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 94%31 mi away, same state
TimingFound 21 years after last seen
Height 84%5'4" vs 5'6"
Weight 100%123 lb vs 125 lb
Hair 50%Blond vs Brown
77%Possible
Jane Doe — Florida - unidentified case UP1161
Jane Doe — Florida
UP1161 • Found May 17, 1991
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 67%Est. 36–45 vs 13 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 95%30 mi away, same state
TimingFound 19 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'6"
Weight 100%123 lb vs 125 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
Jane Doe — Miami, Florida
UP1051 • Found Apr 19, 2002
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 17–30 vs 13 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 94%33 mi away, same state
TimingFound 30 years after last seen
Height 100%5'1"–5'6" vs 5'6"

These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.