Karen Damon Murder

[Andy]

Anybody have any info. on this unsolved murder ? Like where,when,who was she ? I noticed it on a google search with the catt. co. sheriffs dept.

[Gwenny]

I am looking for info now, is there a link??

[Andy]

Gwenny wrote:

I am looking for info now, is there a link??

My friend just found ALOT on this case plus many more,my friend is much better on these google searches then I am.It's unreal how many unsolved murders there is in the Olean area.If I can figure out how to get his info. to you,I will.It's UNBELIEVABLE.

[Gwenny]

well get ahold of me then , cuz boy did did I get some info on ski wing too.

[Andy]

Gwenny wrote:

well get ahold of me then , cuz boy did did I get some info on ski wing too.

OkAY,I Will.Gotta go to a party now but will get back to ya son...

[Andy]

I meant, back to ya SOON, not son.

[Mitch]

This is from the Buffalo News archives;

April 17, 1989

2 WOMEN FOCUS OF PROBE SPARKED BY DISCOVERY OF SKELETON, RING

A Salamanca mother missing for nine years became the focus of police attention Sunday in their attempts to identify skeletal remains and a wedding ring found near Little Valley in Cattaraugus County.

A farmer walking on his property discovered the remains in a shallow grave in a wooded area Saturday morning.

The remains of the young woman were found 100 yards from where a psychic took police nine years ago during the futile search for Karen Damon, then 23, according to Cattaraugus County Sheriff Jerry E. Burrell.

Miss Damon, who had a 4-year-old child, was not married at the time she disappeared April 12, 1980. She vanished three weeks after her mother died, however, and may have been wearing her mother's ring. Police refused to comment further on the ring, except to say that it had a diamond on a gold band and was in "excellent condition" after so many years in the ground.

[Mitch]

This is the other woman mentioned in the Buff News article.

Another missing woman being considered in the case is Josephine Despard of Olean, who disappeared Feb. 7, 1984. She was 26. Olean police said she was not married.

[Andy]

Thank you Mitch..........Is there more we should know ? I think you've just about said everything I was gonna say, way too many unsolved murders.

[Gwenny]

http://www.troopers.state.ny.us/Wanted_and_Mi...
If you look here there are others. Not from the same area necessarily, but hey. you never know.
Anyone know about A death at the holland Ny School district in the 1970's?

[Gwenny]

http://www.troopers.state.ny.us/Wanted_and_Mi...

[Andy]

I have been searching for anything on the holland murder and no luck yet.

[Gwenny]

Is there more info on Josephine Despard? Info is far and few here...
I didnt hear of the Holland Case via the force or net, I actually heard that from a friend who went to a school close by in the 1970's. She wasnt sure of the cause of death, only that it was suspicious, and that it was never fully investigated, and that it was a boy, I cant find anything either. Let me know if you here.

[Lynda]

This case isnt listed anywhere that I can find on the net(other than the short piece, wondering if theres family in the area, who was questioned and such. anyone have any more info?

[What]

Is there any family of Karen residing in the area? If so has anyone listed her information with unsolved/missing persons etc from the family? I noticed her information is not included with Cattaraugus county or the state of NY missing / unsolved crimes or cold case information.

[leave]

I am particularly saddedened that no family memebers have posted. Is anyone looking into this?
Please post any information. Andy, what do you have? Please Share.
A common denominator resided near her. One we discussed before.

[Andy]

leave wrote:

I am particularly saddedened that no family memebers have posted. Is anyone looking into this?
Please post any information. Andy, what do you have? Please Share.
A common denominator resided near her. One we discussed before.

Geeezzz, I have been looking but some of the older crimes/missing etc. are hard to locate any info. I read through all the older newspapers til I'm cross-eyed and come up with nothing..

[Janey]

Buffalo news
April 6,2006

Article Text:

A new cold case unit in the Cattaraugus County sheriff's office has already identified a possible suspect in the 26-year-old murder of a Salamanca woman, Sheriff Dennis B. John announced Wednesday.

Karen Damon, 23, was reported missing from her Salamanca home on April 13, 1980. Nine years and two days after her disappearance, her skeletal remains were found in a shallow grave in a wooded farm area in the Town of Napoli.

Now, with the assistance of three retired law enforcement investigators assigned part-time to the new Cold Case File Unit, there are breaks in the case. Besides a suspect, investigators have identified an old green pickup truck seen by a witness at Damon's home during the early morning hours on the day she disappeared.

"Even with the significant amount of time which has passed, several individuals have come forward with information that has generated additional leads," John said.

The sheriff's office formed the new unit within the department to re-investigate unsolved homicides in the county.

"We have found an avenue to dedicate personnel to cases that have never been closed," John said. "We are fortunate to have three veteran investigators working here who will run the Cold Case File Unit."

[what]

Karens parents have both deceased, so we must keep this post going. Please If anyone knows anything post..... the slightest tip could bring a killer to the justice they deserve.

[what]

Andy wrote:

<quoted text>My friend just found ALOT on this case plus many more,my friend is much better on these google searches then I am.It's unreal how many unsolved murders there is in the Olean area.If I can figure out how to get his info. to you,I will.It's UNBELIEVABLE.

How can I get this information from you? no sooperation from the family, and webslueths on nightraits are trying to get info. the local le is tightlipped.