Related Sections: Books News Weird Stuff
Mysterious 'Jane Doe' tied to fantasy novel
What if you had amnesia, were found wandering a city street and could only remember snippets of a fantasy novel? What book would it be?
In a bizarre real-life case reported by CNN, a young woman turned up two weeks ago in New York, claiming to have no memory of her family, her home or even her own name.
But she does recall bits of the fantasy novel Fool's Fate by Robin Hobb, CNN said:
"I just want to know who I am," the girl says in a statement released by the New York City Administration for Children's Services. The teen, who is being referred to as Jane Doe, continues, "I want to know who I am and what happened to me."The Caucasian young woman, described by New York ACS as "very soft-spoken," is 5 feet, 6 inches tall, light-skinned, with short, straight, cropped blond hair and blue eyes. Doctors are estimating her age to be between 14 and 17. ...
New York City Administration for Children's Services and police are asking anyone with information about the young woman or her family to contact the NYPD Missing Persons Squad at 212-694-7781 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
By Elizabeth at 7:20 PM ON 10/23/09
Poor girl. It sounds like she could have a dissociative disorder. Hopefully someone will recognize her soon.
By FanaticalWhovian at 7:25 PM ON 10/23/09
Yea... I hope someone steps forward. I can't imagine not remembering who I am. I feel for her.
By asfm at 9:11 PM ON 10/23/09
I feel really sorry for her. Fool's Fate is a terrible book.
By q at 12:25 AM ON 10/24/09
Not to sound unsympathetic but maybe it's a good thing-- her life could have been a nightmare, in which case she may be better off not remembering. But then again....
By cfolliot at 2:36 AM ON 10/24/09
Sometimes all I wish I could remember are my favorite books.
By Obi Window Washer at 3:41 AM ON 10/24/09
She remembers nothing of her life, but remembers the plot of a book?
It's like a lame version of "John Doe"! Hope someone steps up before Fox cancels her.
By Grace at 8:27 AM ON 10/24/09
Poor girl! I feel sorry for her I hope someone claims her. :( HA! This does sound like it could be on a show or something...maybe csi, but then someone would have to be dead wouldn't they?
By bladerunner101 at 9:54 AM ON 10/24/09
we are in bad times i hope this is for real and not a way to have someone take this poor child and into state care. there are many desperate people out there right now who also are looking for a lil bit of celebrity. we can look to the past and see this hapening again.
By zosolias at 10:19 AM ON 10/24/09
Wow!
Am I the only one cynical enough to think that just maybe this girl is a runaway who is conning people to get some sympathy and attention?
I hope I'm wrong, but it's happened before....
By Merlin at 2:24 PM ON 10/24/09
This story reminds me more of the balloon boy hoax than of an amnesiac story like Casper Hauser.
By Merlin at 2:25 PM ON 10/24/09
This story reminds me more of the balloon boy hoax than of an amnesiac story like Casper Hauser.
By kizer at 12:46 PM ON 10/25/09
With Teeth and a Haircut like that she forgot the numbers to her dentist and hair stylist too.
That does suck thou. I hope she finds her way back home.
By Psychcomp at 1:15 AM ON 10/26/09
It sounds like she is experiencing a fugue state. A fugue is when one awakes in a different place, has no idea of their identity and does not remember how they got there. It is a disorder listed in the DSM under Dissociative Disorders. It sounds like she may be experiencing this.
Usually people within a few hours or days begin to remember the past and resume their lives. On rare occasions, they never remember who they were or why they ran. Some assume a fugue state comes due to severe stress, in which the mind creates a new identity or forgets the old one as a type of defense mechanism.
If this is true, then she may be in serious trouble and may never regain her memories. Even worse, whatever made her go into the fugue state may return. In any event, if this is real, this girl needs help.
By jolinar at 2:31 PM ON 10/26/09
She has just been identified by the NYPD, her name is Casey Elise Peterson. She is from Washington State. Her father says that this is not the first time she has disappeared & lost her memory.
If anybody is wondering, I just learned this off of Headline News.
Visit mobile.syfy.com/wire on your mobile device.
jolinar:
She has just been identified by the NYPD, her name is Casey Elise Peterson. She is from Washington State. Her fathe...More »