Lavender Doe

Digital composite of Lavender Doe

On October 29, 2006, a body was gruesomely discovered in a wooded area in Kilgore, Texas off Fritz Swanson Rd. The victim was found lying face-down on a pile of burning brush. Nearby, was an empty gas can which leads to the likely possibility that this was a homicide. Being that the body was so badly burnt, it has taken three facial reconstructions to come up with what authorities believe the female may have looked like. On October 2, 2013, the remains were exhumed and a digital composite was then made and released. The first was done in clay while the second composite was sketched.  Semen was also found on her body which leads to believe she was also possibly raped before her death.

Clay reconstruction and sketch composite of Lavender Doe

 What We Know

• White or possibly Hispanic female
• Between the ages of 17-25
• Clothing discovered at scene includes a mauve top, blue jeans "One Tough Babe" brand and size 7/8, and a purple sweater- hence her nickname Lavender Doe.
• $40 was found in pocket of jeans
• Weight approximately 100-120 pounds
• Height approximately 5'3 and 5'5
• Hair color was likely to be either Red with Blonde highlights or Blonde with Red highlights

Despite the efforts with DNA of a large number of missing persons and dental record comparisons, the identity and murder of Lavender Doe remains unsolved.

In 2007, police named a suspect in the case identified as Joseph Wayne Burnett who was currently incarcerated at the time with failing to report as a sex offender. Burnett, 36, told authorities from jail that he had given a ride to a woman described as the victim a few hours before she was murdered that night in his Blue Greenish Dodge Pickup. He denies any involvement in her murder.

If you have any information on this case, please contact Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-7867