Suicide of Joyce Meyer Sommers
Joyce Marilyn Meyer Sommers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Joyce Marilyn Meyer July 20, 1927[1] Davenport, Iowa, U.S. |
| Disappeared | c. 1981 Tucson, Arizona, U.S. |
| Status | Identified on May 11, 2022[2] |
| Died | (aged 69) Annandale, Virginia, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Suicide[3] |
| Body discovered | December 18, 1996 |
| Other names | Christmas Tree Lady |
| Known for | Former unidentified decedent |
| Height | Around 5 ft[4] |
| Spouse |
James E. Sommers
(m. 1959; div. 1977) |
Joyce Marilyn Meyer Sommers (July 20, 1927 - December 18, 1996), also known as the Christmas Tree Lady, was a formerly unidentified American woman who died by suicide in a cemetery in Annandale, Virginia on December 18, 1996. She was identified more than 25 years later on May 11, 2022.[1]
Life
Sommers was born to Arthur Meyer and Margaret Meyer and had four siblings. She was raised in Davenport, Iowa and later attended Iowa State University. Sommers then relocated to Los Angeles to work at a magazine. After she left the magazine, she taught second grade at a local Los Angeles elementary school.[1]
In the 1960s, Sommers and her mother had an argument when she felt that her mother was treating her terribly. Sommers then moved to Seattle and married James E. Sommers in 1959, but later divorced in 1977. She then moved to Tucson, Arizona where her siblings visited her. This was the last time they saw her. Her siblings later hired private investigator to locate her, but this failed.[1]
In the early 1990s, Sommers's brother traveled to Tucson in an attempt to locate her, only to find her trailer abandoned. In it, he discovered a book, "The Target Child", written by Sommers. In the book, she wrote about her supposed abusive upbringing.[1]
Suicide
On December 18, 1996, a little after 9 a.m., workers at the Pleasant Valley Memorial Park Cemetery in Annandale, Virginia, discovered the body of a woman. She was found near the section of the cemetery where infants are buried. They then called police. It was discovered that she put a bag over her head and secured the bag with tape. She was wearing a red shirt, a sweater, blue pants, and an Eddie Bauer jacket. An 8 in (200 mm) Christmas tree and her backpack were found next to her. She was also found to be listening to a cassette tape using a tape player and headphones. Two notes were found with one saying, "Now I lay me down to sleep, soon to drift to the eternal deep. And though I die and shall not wake, sleep sweeter will be than this life I forsake." The second message read "Deceased by own hand. Prefer no autopsy. Please order cremation, with funds provided. Thank you, Jane Doe." Two $50 bills were found with her. One of the bills was for the cemetery, and the other bill was for the coroner. Authorities determined that she committed suicide by suffocation, but were unable to identify her.[3][2][5][6]
Investigation
The unidentified woman, nicknamed the Christmas Tree Lady, was reported to be a Caucasian woman, had a height of around 5 ft 0 in (1.52 m), and was between 50 and 70 years old. Alcohol and valium was found in her system. Hoping to find a match, authorities looked at many nearby cases which involved missing people, but they failed. In 2000, a colored sketch of the Christmas Tree Lady was released.
In January 2022, the Texas lab, Othram, conducted tests using DNA. The tests were made possible by donations. In May 2022, Othram discovered that a man, David Meyer, could be the Christmas Tree Lady's brother. After David Meyer looked at the drawing of the Christmas Tree Lady, he was not able to say whether or not she was his sister because the last time he saw her was decades ago. The detectives were then told to go to his sister, Clough. After seeing the drawing, Clough said that she was definitely Joyce. DNA was taken from Clough, and the Christmas Tree Lady was identified as 69 year old Joyce Marilyn Meyer Sommers. She was not reported missing.[7][4][2][1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f Jackman, Tom (July 7, 2022). "She died and became the 'Christmas Tree Lady.' Now we know her name". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
- ^ a b c Lyons, Ivy (July 7, 2022). "Fairfax Co. police identify 'Christmas Tree Lady' 25 years after death". WTOP News. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
- ^ a b Bonvillian, Crystal (July 11, 2022). "Genealogists help solve mystery of 'Christmas Tree Lady' found dead in cemetery in 1996". KIRO 7. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
- ^ a b Vogen, Michael (July 7, 2022). "Fairfax County Police Department Partners with Othram to Identify "Christmas Tree Lady"". DNA Solves. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
- ^ "Identity of 'Christmas Tree Lady' determined over 2 decades later". Yahoo!. July 11, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
- ^ Jackman, Tom (December 5, 2000). "Unsettling Tales of the Unknown Dead". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- ^ "'The Christmas Tree Lady': DNA match helps solve 25-year-old cold case". ABC 4 News. July 7, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.