The Murder Sheet — The Murder of Precious Hope
Date: January 26, 2026
Host(s): Áine Cain, Kevin Greenlee
Guest: Bob Ciphers

Episode Overview

This episode of Murder Sheet centers on the haunting, unsolved 1983 murder of a young, unidentified girl known as "Precious Hope" or the "St. Louis Jane Doe." Found brutally murdered, decapitated, and never claimed by family, her case remains one of St. Louis' darkest mysteries. The hosts are joined by experienced crime journalist and author Bob Ciphers, whose work investigates cold Midwestern cases, to trace the investigation, examine possible suspects, and reflect on the personal and institutional heartbreak and failures that define the Precious Hope case.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Discovery of Precious Hope (03:06–10:13)

• On February 28, 1983, a headless, bound body of a young African-American girl, estimated between 8 and 11 years old, was discovered in the basement of a derelict building at 5635 Clemens Avenue, St. Louis.
• She wore only a yellow V-neck sweater; her hands were tied behind her. No one reported her missing or came to claim her.
  • “A headless body wearing only a yellow V neck sweater and nothing else. Her hands were bound behind her back with...what may have been jump rope.” – Anya Cain [01:56]
• Early investigation errors led police to first believe the victim might have been an adult sex worker.

The Investigation’s Challenges and Heartbreak (05:02–11:32)

• With no family stepping forward, police exhausted every avenue: nationwide school and missing child checks, neighborhood searches, appeals in media and black magazines, outreach to Coast Guard, even consulting psychics.
  • “They contacted every school district throughout America to see who has not been in class. Nothing. They sent...letters to every school district in the United States. Do you have any missing children? No.” – Bob Ciphers [09:10]
• The crime scene itself was bleak—abandoned, with little chance anyone would have stumbled upon the remains.

Details of the Crime & Evidence (11:32–13:35)

• The murder was particularly brutal — sexual assault and strangulation suspected, followed by decapitation. Semen was found, but DNA was not yet a viable forensic tool.
  • “There was semen located on her body, so she's probably sexually assaulted. But again, 83 is before DNA came along. Really.” – Bob Ciphers [11:42]
• Extensive efforts to locate her head or other evidence yielded nothing.
• Her yellow V-neck sweater became an iconic image, but even that was lost after being sent to a psychic for publicity (and possibly lost in the mail).

Loss and Mishandling of Evidence (13:35–15:15)

• Authorities, in a desperate attempt at gaining insight, sent key evidence (the sweater) to a psychic in Florida; it was subsequently lost—either in the mail or during a department move.
  • “Police should not ever work with psychics. Doing this was a major mistake and it resulted in the loss of crucial evidence.” – Kevin Greenlee [15:02]
• Bob Ciphers provided other examples where evidence was mistreated or lost, indicating broader systemic issues of the era.

Persistent Detective Work & Publicity Efforts (16:59–18:12)

• Despite setbacks, Detective Joe Burgoon, a legendary St. Louis homicide investigator, tirelessly worked the case—appearing on “Oprah” and pursuing all leads, even serving as a pallbearer for the girl’s funeral.
  • “He did everything anybody could possibly do. He was a pallbearer at her funeral. He went on Oprah.” – Bob Ciphers [06:52]
• Yet, without a victim identity, investigation options dwindled.

The Main Suspect: Vernon Brown (18:12–23:10)

• Years later, the focus turned to Vernon Brown, a convicted child molester and murderer whose MO closely matched the details of the Precious Hope crime: young black female victims, binding, strangulation, vacant buildings, basements.

  • “Vernon Brown was our guy. It is likely Vernon Brown killed Precious Hope. We believe Vernon Brown killed Precious Hope, but he's dead...she doesn't have a head, and nobody's ever going to come forward.” – Bob Ciphers [22:05]

• Brown was executed in 2005 without confessing to killing Precious Hope, though law enforcement maintains he was the best (and only) suspect.

Roadblocks in Modern DNA and Genealogical Investigations (25:03–29:13)

• Forensic genealogy, a modern tool for victim identification, faces obstacles: missing family reference samples, lack of wide DNA databases (especially for African Americans), and the absence of living kin to compare potential matches.

  • “We have less data to work with. And so if you have a white Jane Doe, you might actually be starting with a better set of data than if you have a African American Jane Doe. Is that right?” – Sam [28:46]
  • “Yeah, absolutely.” – Bob Ciphers [28:58]

• Repeated exhumations failed to yield meaningful new leads because of these barriers, and further costly tests may be unlikely given resource constraints.

Legacy, Investigation Spirit & The Humanity of Detective Burgoon (31:58–38:04)

• The hosts and guest praise the commitment of Det. Joe Burgoon and his enduring heartbreak over the case.
  • “He feels a kinship to [the victim]. He's always said...solved or unsolved, Joe Burgoon showed up every day and did the best he could. And he said on this one...she doesn't have grieving people crying for her. And Joe was like...I'm crying for her.” – Bob Ciphers [36:33]
• The case is emblematic of systemic and personal agony: a murdered, unclaimed girl whose killer may have escaped justice, and a dedicated police force haunted by their inability to give her a name or closure.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You talk about the sadness of the little girl that's forgotten...she may be forgotten as some of these cases go on, as far as the work being involved, because they think they know who the killer was. There's no perfect answer.” – Bob Ciphers [30:12]

• “This is one of the most troubling cold cases out there for me. A little girl was brutally murdered...But what's worse is that no one has even come forward to claim her. How could that be?” – Anya Cain [30:29]

• “It shows you that human life matters. Every human life matters. And if you take a human life, there's going to be an attempt to hold you accountable.” – Sam [32:49]

• “Joe Burgoon is tied for first in my book. They don't...they just do not come better. I just spent time with him. He's in his 90s. They get no better.” – Bob Ciphers [33:12]

• “He would offer them… a drink or smoke and say, 'Listen, you're going down for this, and you better take advantage of it now. I'll be here to help the process along.' ... he was able to build rapport.” – Bob Ciphers on Burgoon's interrogation style [35:11]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:06] – Case introduction and details of discovery
• [05:02] – Bob Ciphers on the case’s heartbreak and difficulty
• [09:10] – Nationwide efforts to identify Precious Hope
• [11:32] – Discussion of crime scene and forensic evidence
• [13:35] – Loss of the iconic yellow sweater (evidence)
• [17:27] – Detective Burgoon’s commitment on “Oprah” and further efforts
• [18:12] – Vernon Brown as main suspect
• [25:03] – Limits of forensic genealogy and DNA analysis
• [30:29] – The emotional impact and systemic failure
• [32:49] – Reflections on the value of cold cases and Burgoon’s character

Final Reflections & Call to Action

• The hosts emphasize that even the frozen coldest cases deserve attention and closure; every life matters. They urge ongoing efforts—even as likelihood of resolution seems vanishingly small—for the sake of justice and the victim’s dignity.

  • “All cases matter, even cold ones, if there's anything that can be done, anything with DNA, anything with investigative genetic genealogy, even if it's just uploading this girl's profile… I really hope that happens.” – Anya Cain [30:29]

• If anyone has leads on the identity or murder of Precious Hope, please contact the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department at 314-444-5822 or 314-23122, or the St. Louis Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-866-317-8477 (text STL + your tip to 274637).

Resource Mentioned:

• 25 Frozen 1: Murder and Mayhem in the Midwest by Bob Ciphers – book for deeper insight into this and other disturbing cold cases.

Tone:
The conversation is journalistic but deeply empathetic and at times personal. The hosts and guest speak with respect and heartbreak about the victim, frustration at institutional errors, and admiration for dogged, compassionate police work. The tone is somber, persistent, and mindful of the importance of memory, dignity, and justice for overlooked victims.