Peggy Lynn Johnson-Schroeder, Jane Doe found in Racine County, to receive proper headstone
RACINE COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A Racine County Jane Doe, whose remains were identified 20 years after her murder, will receive a proper headstone identifying her by her given name, Peggy Lynn Johnson-Schroeder.
In 1999, Peggy's remains were found in a cornfield in the Town of Raymond. She was 23 when she was killed.
A woman in Florida was arrested in connection to her death.
Sheriff Schmaling said in a news release, “Twenty years is a long time for an innocent victim to be nameless to the world. Tomorrow, we officially and formally change that. Peggy deserves this dignity and respect, especially so close to Christmas.”
The current headstone reads "Jane Doe," and will be replaced with Peggy's monument designed with the family's assistance.
The timeliness of engraving Peggy’s headstone has been possible due to the generosity and assistance of:
- Gary and Michael Langendorf of Draeger Langendorf Funeral Home
- Jim Anspaugh of Myers Racine Monument Works
A blessing will be conducted Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 10 a.m., by Racine Sheriff’s Pastor Anthony Balistreri in addition to Sheriff Christopher Schmaling and his staff at Holy Family Catholic Cemetery located at 6124 Wisconsin Highway 31, Caledonia, Wisconsin.
The hope is to move Peggy to her final resting place, on her birthday, March 4, 2020. She will be placed next to her mother in Belvidere, Illinois.
Donations to assist in the cost of Peggy’s headstone, along with her mother’s (Diane Schroeder) headstone, would be greatly appreciated and can be made payable to the following:
Draeger Langendorf Funeral Home
Attn: Peggy Johnson-Schroeder Burial
4600 County Line Rd.
Racine, WI 53403