She Disappeared In 1978 — Her Remains Were Identified This Week, But How Did She Die?

CAMPBELL COUNTY, TN — On April 3, 1985, the skeletal remains of a girl were found in the Big Wheel Gap of Elk Valley in Campbell County, Tennessee. Who was she? Why was she in the remote area? How did she die?

Nearly 40 years later, one of those questions is finally answered, but the rest are still a mystery. Authorities announced Tuesday that the remains, long known affectionately as “Baby Girl,” were those of Tracy Sue Walker, who was about 15 when she went missing in 1978 from the area of Lafayette, Indiana.

The discovery decades in the making is “an amazing case, and one that speaks to the power of the advancements in science and the tenacity of our investigators,” according to Josh Devine, communications director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

The events that led to the identification of Walker began in 2007, when a sample of her remains was submitted to the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification, the bureau reported, adding a profile was developed for the remains and entered into multiple DNA systems. Six years later, a bureau agent and intelligence analyst revisited the case and began searching for new leads.

In 2022, a sample of the girl’s remains was sent to a private lab, which conducted forensic genetic genealogy testing and, in June, disclosed a possible relative in Indiana, according to the bureau. An analyst found potential family members around Lafayette, who confirmed they had a relative go missing decades ago, the bureau reported, and agents obtained DNA for the girl’s possible siblings.

This week, Walker’s identity was confirmed, creating new unanswered questions. Agents are asking the public to provide any information that may help explain the details leading up to Walker’s death and the discovery of her remains in Campbell County. Those with tips about the case or who Walker may have been with before her death are asked to call 1-800-824-3463.