Elba Soccarras
Elba Leonor Diaz Soccarras (born c. 1935) is a Colombian-born American amnesiac whose origins and identity were unknown to New Jersey authorities from 1994 to 2009.
History
[edit]Soccarras was found in 1994 at the Woodbridge Center in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey. She spoke Spanish, had no memory of her identity, and did not carry any identification. She recalled her name as "Elba."
Elba was placed in the Garrett Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital in Hunterdon County, New Jersey where she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.[1][2]
In 2008, New Jersey officials renewed a canvassing campaign across the state, as well as in Colombia and Venezuela, in an effort to discover her true identity.[1]
In March 2009, through tips from the public and aid from the Colombian consulate, authorities were able to identify her as 74-year-old Elba Leonor Diaz Soccarras, who had immigrated from Colombia to the United States in 1969. As a single mother, she had worked for years in a factory. By establishing her citizenship, authorities were able to transfer her from Garrett Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital to a nursing home.[3][4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "NJ Woman Still Unidentified After 14 Years". Archived from the original on September 10, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
- ^ Hartocollis, Anemona (2008-10-21). "For a Jane Doe, Seeking an Identity and Immigration Status". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
- ^ "NJ Jane Doe Found in 1994 is Identified". Retrieved 2009-03-22. [dead link]
- ^ McShane, Larry (May 10, 2009). "Dumped like trash at a mall". New York Daily News.
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