In a tragic turn of events, a young American woman met her demise in Pogonip Park, California, in 1993, her remains discovered on January 29, 1994, after a gruesome killing. For nineteen long years, her identity remained a mystery, until advancements in DNA analysis and fingerprint comparison finally unveiled her name in 2013. Kori JoAnne Lamaster, once known only as “Pogonip Jane” to investigators and media, was laid to rest in an unmarked grave at Soquel Cemetery, her story unknown until her true identity was revealed.
The grim discovery occurred when two hikers, scouring Pogonip Park for mushrooms, stumbled upon the decomposed remains of a young white female in a shallow grave near a homeless campsite. The victim, estimated to be in her late teens, had brown hair cropped short and distinctively adorned with pink fingernails. However, the state of decomposition made facial recognition challenging. Tragically, the cause of death was determined to be from blunt force trauma, inflicted by a metal object, likely a pipe, which had crushed her skull. Among the few identifying features found was a small heart tattoo located between her left thumb and index finger, along with dental work revealing filled cavities. Isotope analysis of her hair suggested she had traveled between Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz, with her residence traced back to Pacifica.