Pamela Dianne Duffey, 21, was found dead in a shallow grave in the Mojave Desert near Ludlow, California, in November 1980 alongside 20-year-old William Everette Lane. Both victims were unclothed and had suffered gunshot wounds and blunt force trauma; investigators estimated the bodies had been buried six to eight months.

For decades Duffey’s identity was unknown. Investigative genetic genealogy led to her positive identification in 2021 after her daughter, Christine Salley, conducted a DNA search that located biological relatives. Authorities identified Ludlow resident Howard Neal as the primary suspect. Neal, who had a history of violent crimes, later told investigators he had picked up Duffey and Lane while they were hitchhiking, said he shot Lane during an argument over advances toward Duffey, and admitted killing Duffey after sexually assaulting her. He offered little biographical detail about Duffey beyond that she may have been from Arkansas and had a daughter before traveling.

Does anyone have information about Pamela’s life before she left Arkansas or about the people she might have been traveling with?