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The Dark History of the Mojave Desert: Nipton Jane Doe
On May 30, 1976, hikers discovered an 18 to 30-year-old woman in a Mojave mineshaft. She had been dumped just outside the town of Nipton. She was found not far from the Nevada border at I-15 and Cima Road.
Nipton Jane Doe was found wearing a two-piece Carol Brent bathing suit in navy blue and white. Internet sleuths have determined that Carol Brent bathing suits were commonly available at Montgomery Ward stores. No pools of water were nearby to prompt authorities to believe she’d been swimming near the area.
Jane Doe died as the result of a gunshot to the back. The discovery of her body was mere days after her death, and investigators do not believe the victim was shot at the scene. She was likely transported there and dropped off.
Nipton Jane Doe was approximately 5 ft. 4 inches tall and weighed about 155 pounds. She had red-brown hair that hit her shoulders (though all depictions of her I’ve found, including postmortem photos, show her having shorter hair). She also had two overlapping front teeth on top.
Some people believe Nipton Jane Doe may have been a guest at one of the nearby hotels with swimming pools. In the 1970s, these would have included Whiskey Pete’s and Gold Strike. Others have speculated serial killer William Bradford may have been involved. Unfortunately…
