Peggy Lynn Johnson (formerly known as Racine County Jane Doe and by the alias Crystal Rae), also known by the last name Schroeder, was an American woman whose body was discovered in 1999 in the town of Raymond, Racine County, Wisconsin. She was 23 years old at the time of her death, which had occurred after enduring several weeks of extreme neglect and physical abuse. New developments in the case emerged after her body was exhumed on October 16, 2013, including isotope analysis. In November 2019, authorities announced that after two decades she was finally identified. Both the victim's and the murderer's name were released on November 8, 2019. In March 2022, Linda La Roche was convicted of her murder. In May 2022, she was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Johnson's murder received national attention both preceding and following her identification.
Discovery Johnson's body was discovered in the first rows of a cornfield on July 21, 1999, by a father and daughter walking their dogs along 92nd Street in Raymond, Wisconsin. Her death had occurred within one day before discovery of her body. Johnson's injuries were apparent and her right arm was bent "unnaturally" behind her. Because it rained on the night her body was dumped, little evidence of the perpetrator was found, although she was placed at the scene about 12 hours before precipitation occurred. A witness stated the body was not at the location the day before. Based on marks on her body, she appeared to have been dragged 25 feet from the roadside. She wore a gray man's shirt with a floral design on the front. The shirt's manufacturer divulged that this type of shirt was first sold in 1984. She was also wearing black sweatpants. No additional clothing was found, including footwear.
Examination During the autopsy, multiple injuries were observed across her body, and it was determined she endured several weeks of neglect and long-term physical abuse. She was malnourished and suffered from an untreated infection in her left elbow. The abuse increased in severity in the days immediately prior to her death, and she had also been sexually assaulted. Potential chemical burns were identified on 25% of her body and road rash was also observed. Her nose was broken, as were several of her ribs, although some of the latter injuries occurred after death. A "cauliflower ear" deformity may have been caused by the recent increase of abuse she suffered, either from beating or being pulled. Sharp-force trauma was also evident on the same ear. Additionally, the examination suggested she may have had a cognitive disability. It was believed that she was most likely 18 to 35 years old. Her front incisors protruded from her mouth, and decay was present on many teeth, some of which were missing. Her curly hair was reddish-brown, collar-length, and appeared to have blond highlights. Johnson's eye color was difficult to discern, but listed as brown, green, or hazel. There were two earrings in each of her ears. Additionally, there was evidence she may have worn glasses, despite their absence from the crime scene.
Investigation
Over 50 people attended Johnson's funeral on October 27, 1999, after the autopsy and other examinations were completed. She was interred at Holy Family Cemetery in Caledonia, Wisconsin. Her gravestone read "Daughter: Jane Doe", along with the dates of discovery and burial, with the phrase "Gone, but not forgotten". Multiple reconstructions were created of her face to assist with visual identification of the body. In 2012, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children created a revised reconstruction to replace their original. Another version of this facial composite exists, which depicts a differing facial rendition of how she may have appeared in life. Police theorized that she was an international visitor, a runaway child or was estranged from her family. In 2011, investigators followed a potential lead that the victim may have been Aundria Bowman (born Alexis Badger), who disappeared from her adoptive parents' house in Hamilton, Michigan, on March 11, 1989. DNA profiling, via Bowman's biological mother Cathy, demonstrated that they were not the same person. Additional missing persons such as Tina D'Ambrosio and Karen Wells were also ruled out. Some believed that this case could be linked to the murder of Mary Kate Chamizo (née Sunderlin), a previously unidentified victim who was discovered in Lake County, Illinois. Chamizo was also found malnourished, had poor dentition and had been beaten to death. Three were arrested in that case; one was convicted. All three were later cleared due to new evidence. Her remains were exhumed on October 16, 2013, for further study and transported to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where her body had previously been examined in 1999. Authorities hoped that by studying the isotopic makeup of her bones, they would be able to tell where she had lived prior to her death. A forensic anthropologist from Tennessee was employed to conduct the tests. Although the murder remained unsolved at the time, investigators stated they hoped that the case would eventually come to a close. A press conference in 2013 explained they had uncovered more clues.
It was announced on July 19, 2015, that the examination of her remains had been completed and that they would be reburied on the 16th anniversary of Johnson's discovery. Authorities stated they had indeed uncovered new leads from the exhumation, but they declined to state any details. On October 20, 2016, it was announced that chemical isotope testing performed by the Smithsonian on a sample of her hair and bone suggested she was potentially from or spent several years of her life in Alaska, Montana or portions of southern Canada. Authorities did not comment on what testing the results were from, whether recent with hair or history from bone. The police department planned on seeking forensic genetic genealogy organizations to identify potential relatives of the victim.
Identification and arrest of Linda La Roche
… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.
