The Kern County Sheriff's Office is renewing its appeal for public assistance in a disturbing 2011 cold case involving a dismembered and bloodless woman discovered in a Kern County vineyard. The case, which initially stumped investigators for over a decade, has recently seen progress thanks to advancements in investigative genetic genealogy.
In March 2011, the mutilated remains of a woman were found abandoned along a dirt road near a grape vineyard in Arvin, California. The victim, who was 64 years old and lived in Santa Clarita, was unknown to authorities for years and was referred to as "Jane Doe 2011." Every conventional investigative effort, including fingerprint comparisons and the absence of any missing person reports, failed to identify her.
The circumstances of her death were particularly gruesome. Investigators determined that her head was missing, both thumbs had been removed, and her blood had apparently been drained before her body was left in the vineyard. The killer had also reportedly taken extraordinary measures to conceal her identity and destroy evidence.
Former Kern County Sheriff's detective Ray Pruitt described the scene as surreal, stating that he and other investigators were left speechless by what they encountered. Sgt. David Hubbard of the Kern County Sheriff's Office Homicide unit echoed this sentiment, calling the act "very unusual."
Authorities believe the perpetrator intentionally staged the body, suggesting a deliberate effort to ensure its discovery. The intentional dismemberment and blood drainage were seen as attempts to prevent identification.
Identification and Renewed Investigation
In January 2024, the Kern County Sheriff's Office announced that the victim had been identified as Ada Beth Kaplan Moore through investigative genetic genealogy. Moore was originally from New York, having attended Forest Hills High School. Records indicate she once aspired to be a prima ballerina before relocating to California and marrying.
An August 2011 letter to the editor in The Santa Clarita Valley Signal from Moore's estranged husband, who stated they had separated in 2009, claimed she had left him for "a multimillionaire." Investigators have not publicly confirmed if this information is relevant to the homicide.
Despite the victim's identification, the person responsible for her death remains unidentified and at large. The Kern County Sheriff's Office is now urging anyone who knew Ada Beth Kaplan Moore, under either her maiden or married name, to come forward with any information. Detectives believe that even seemingly minor details regarding her relationships, daily habits, employment, or acquaintances could provide a crucial breakthrough in the 15-year-old case.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Thompson at (661) 861-3110. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to the Kern Secret Witness Line at (661) 322-4040.