Above: Linda circa, 1976
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: February 18, 1976
Missing From: Orlando, Orange County, Florida
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date Of Birth: December 15, 1960
Age: 15 years old
Height and Weight: 5’7″ and 106 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian Female, Blonde hair, Blue eyes, Linda has a scar on her right leg, she might be using the name “Dawn”
Clothing/Jewelry Description: A white blouse, brown pants, Linda was last known to be wearing a promise ring on her left hand and a diamond ring on her right
Details of Disappearance
Linda Kerr was last seen in Orlando, Florida on February 18th 1976. She lived on 2121 Dawley Street at the time and was last seen walking to her boyfriends home which was located 3 blocks away from her home at the time. Linda never arrived to her boyfriends home and she never returned home. She has never been seen or heard from again.
Linda’s family reported her missing in the early morning hours of February 19th after she never came back home. Police believed that Linda was a runaway and that they were to discontinue the investigation into her disappearance initially. Her family never believed she left on her own. She left behind her purse shoes at her home.
There were reported sightings of Linda in the local area after she disappeared. A few months after her disappearance, there was a report that Linda was dancing at a topless bar located in Jacksonville, Florida. She was apparently using the name “Dawn”. This bar was known to be frequented by members of the Outlaws motorcycle gang.
Authorities stated there was evidence that Linda had left willingly with gang members. The witness at the bar who identified the girl as Linda also recalled her scar that she had on her leg. Linda’s father, Andrew, stated he did not believe the young woman at the bar to be his missing daughter. He stated that Linda would’ve have called home on her mothers birthday if she was able to do so.
Andrew believes that she was abducted and taken against her will. 10 days after Linda’s disappearance, two people attempted to extort money from Linda’s father. The callers stated they had Linda in their custody and would be released 24 hours after an amount of $20,000 was left in a location out of Orange County. Kerr stated he knew the call was hoax because the man could not answer vital questions about his daughter.
The two people, Judy and Carl Thomas, we’re arrested at their apartment in the Aloha Apartments on Rio Grande Avenue. They did not have Linda and they are not considered suspects in her case. Investigators have been unable to locate any evidence that Linda was abducted and have no strong suspects in the case.
Investigators have considered the possibility that Linda’s disappearance could be connected to her friends testimony at a prostitution solicitation trial about a year before her disappearance. Linda didn’t actually testify at the trial but knew some of the people whom did. Her father believes this is a likely reason for his daughters disappearance.
In May of 1983, the investigation into Linda’s disappearance was reopened and investigators focused on the possibility that foul play was involved in the case. Her older brother, Keith Kerr, was charged with killing his sister in law, Carol Harker Kerr. She was murdered on March 9th 1982 and was killed by a single gunshot.
Keith also allegedly called over 40 women who were employed at Disney World in Florida and threatened to kill them in a similar fashion that Carol was slain in. Carol was a Disney World Boat pilot. There’s no evidence in Linda’s case that suggests her brother was involved but his arrest in Carols murder caused police to become “curious” enough to reopen the missing persons case.
At the time of her disappearance, Linda was a student at Boone High School. She was originally born in Washington D.C. Her parents have both passed away. Linda’s disappearance remains unsolved and foul play is possible in the case.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Orange County Sheriffs Office (407) 254-7200
Source Information
The Orlando Sentinel 02/25/1976
The Orlando Sentinel 04/05/1976
The Orlando Sentinel 02/29/1976
The Orlando Sentinel 03/11/1976
The Palm Beach Post 05/04/1983
The Palm Beach Post 05/05/1983
The Orlando Sentinel 02/25/1976