Do you know who murdered Carolyn Celeste Eaton in 1982? On a cold Valentine's Day in 1982, the body of a young woman was discovered by a state trooper beside Interstate 40, near Williams, Arizona. For nearly four decades, she was known only as 'Valentine Sally,' a name given to her by investigators in the absence of any identification. In February 2021, through the use of genetic genealogy, she was finally identified as 17-year-old Carolyn Celeste Eaton of Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri.
She was a white female with blonde or strawberry-blonde hair and blue eyes.
Carolyn had run away from her home around Christmas of 1981 after an argument. It is believed she hitchhiked her way to Arizona. The last known sighting of her alive was on February 4, 1982, at the Monte Carlo Truck Stop near Ash Fork, Arizona, in the company of an unidentified older man. A waitress at the truck stop recalled speaking with the teenager, who complained of a toothache. An autopsy would later confirm that a molar had been recently prepared for a root canal, and a dissolved aspirin was found in the cavity, corroborating the waitress's account.
When her body was found, she was lying face down under a cedar tree. She was dressed only in blue jeans which had torn belt loops, suggesting she may have been dragged to the location. A white sweater with thin red or maroon stripes, a white bra, and a white handkerchief were found nearby. Due to the state of decomposition, the exact cause of death could not be determined, but investigators believe it was likely suffocation or asphyxiation. The investigation into her murder became a cold case, but the Coconino County Sheriff's Office continued to pursue leads over the years, including creating forensic facial reconstructions in an attempt to identify her.
Following her identification in 2021, the focus of the investigation has shifted to identifying the man she was last seen with. He is considered a suspect in her murder, but his identity remains unknown. Described as being in his 50s and wearing a cowboy hat, a sketch of him was created based on the waitress's description. Despite finally having her name back, Carolyn Eaton's murder remains unsolved, and authorities continue to seek information that could lead to an arrest and bring closure to her family.
