PRESS RELEASE
Cold Case Tuesday: New York State Police in Batavia continue to investigate the 1983 murder of Shari Lynne Ball.
On October 29, 1983, a body was found by a hunter off the shoulder of State Route 63 in the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, in the town of Shelby, Orleans County. The victim was found in a severely decomposed state and was believed to have been there for several months.
In 1984, the Center of Human Identification was used by the NYSP to make a facial reconstruction from the remains (pictured). The reconstruction was done to give the public a possible identity to compare and also render sketches.
In October of 2013, the still unidentified body was exhumed and DNA testing was performed. Through a multi-step investigation, the body was identified as Shari L. Ball.
Shari Lynne Ball was reported missing by her family in June 1983 to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in Florida. She had told her family that she was going to New York State with an unknown friend to pursue a modeling career.
At the time of her disappearance, Ball, 20, was living in Boca Raton, FL. She is described as a white female, 5’ 4, 100 pounds, with hazel eyes and blonde hair. Shari Lynne was also known to use the last name of Timmerman.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Batavia by calling (585) 344-6200. Please refer to SJS # 3032334.
