MULHOLLAND/BEVERLY HILLS—The body of a Jane Doe who died back in 1969 has been identified by the Los Angeles Police Department. On November 16, 1969, an unidentified victim’s body, Jane Doe No. 59, was discovered in the brush off of Mulholland Drive near Bowmont Drive.
According to the LAPD blog, the victim had been stabbed numerous times in the upper torso and neck area. At the time, LAPD detectives attempted to identify her utilizing department resources and prepared a bulletin where they obtained negative results.
In December 2003, a detective from the Robbery Homicide Division, Cold Case Homicide Unit (RHD/CCHU) submitted a piece of biological evidence that was uploaded into NamUs. NamUs is the national database for all unidentified missing and deceased victims. Jane Doe No. 59 still remained unidentified.
In June 2015, a friend of the family living in Canada was looking through the NamUs website. She saw a photograph of Jane Doe No. 59, which closely resembled the missing family member, Reet Jurvetson.
Jurvetson lost contact with her family after arriving in California in 1969. The friend notified the family, who contacted NamUs. As a result of this inquiry, the CCHU was contacted and they re-opened the investigation. During the investigation, a DNA test was compared to Jurvetson family members and it was revealed Jane Doe No. 59 was identified as Reet S. Jurvetson.
During the course of the investigation CCHU detectives investigated any potential connection to any other crimes during that time period. Due to the location and the time period where Reet Jurvetson was found, and the violent manner of her death, investigators wanted to rule out any possible connection to the “Manson Murders” that occurred during the summer of 1969.
Investigators made arrangements to interview Charles Manson to see if he had any knowledge or additional information related to the death of Miss Jurvetson. Their encounter with Manson did not produce any information and the investigation is still open and ongoing.
Detectives are seeking information from the public in identifying a person of interest named “John” or French name “Jean.” Jean was a friend of Reet’s who she met in Montreal, Canada and also traveled and lived in the United States in 1969.
The Jurvetson family has prepared a statement: https://sites.google.com/site/reetjurvetsonsfamilymemorial/.
The investigation is on-going and anyone with information is urged to contact Robbery Homicide Division, Cold Case Unit, Detectives Luis Rivera and Veronica Conrado at (213) 486-6818. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).
Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.
