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Mystery Solved: Little Miss Lake Panasoffkee Identified After 55 Years
Maureen L. Minor Rowan, identified as "Little Miss Lake Panasoffkee," was named after 55 years; investigation ongoing in Sumter County.
Mystery Solved: Little Miss Lake Panasoffkee Identified After 55 Years
After nearly 55 years of mystery, the identity of „Little Miss Lake Panasoffkee“ has finally been revealed as Maureen L. Minor Rowan, affectionately known as Cookie. This significant identification came from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, with Sheriff Patrick Breeden announcing the news in a press conference. Maureen, a 21-year-old mother of two hailing from Maine, was found deceased in February 1971 floating beneath an Interstate 75 bridge, a tragic end to a life marked by challenges.
Rowan’s body, wrapped with a male leather belt around her neck and covered with a piece of carpet, was discovered by a couple hitchhiking at the time. The circumstances surrounding her demise left many unanswered questions, prompting the community to refer to her simply as „Little Miss Lake Panasoffkee.“ Initially buried in an unmarked grave at Oak Grove Cemetery in Wildwood, her remains were later exhumed for further investigation as forensic technology advanced.
The Road to Identification
The case remained cold for decades, with repeated attempts to identify her using various methods including early DNA testing and fingerprint analysis. Notably, the fingerprints recovered from Rowan’s 1970 arrest for worthless checks were only added to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s database in 2013. However, it took the introduction of the IDEMIA Storm fingerprint system in 2025 for investigators to finally match her prints effectively for the first time.
In fact, a new latent prints examiner utilized this advanced system, leading to a breakthrough on October 1, 2023. This technology allowed for a match that had eluded authorities for decades, revealing that Rowan was never officially reported missing. Rowan was described as 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighing around 115 pounds, with dark hair and brown eyes. At the time of her discovery, she was dressed in checkered green pants, a matching green top, and wore a yellow gold ring with a clear stone.
Family’s Gratitude and Ongoing Investigation
The response from Rowan’s family has been one of deep gratitude towards the Sheriff’s Office, expressing that this identification allows them to begin the healing process. They are hopeful that understanding Cookie’s life and circumstances surrounding her death will ultimately bring more closure. Investigators are now digging into her life before her tragic end, looking for clues that could shed light on what happened to her.
The ongoing investigation also focuses on her estranged husband, Charles Emery Rowan Sr., who passed away in 2015 and is currently labeled a „person of interest.“ However, Sheriff Breeden clarified that he is not a suspect due to a lack of sufficient evidence linking him definitively to her death.
Authorities are urging the public to come forward with any information related to Maureen’s life or her husband, Emery. They can reach out through a dedicated tip line at 352-569-1915 or via email at sumtertips@sumtercountysheriff.org. Furthermore, anonymous tips can be provided through the Central Florida Crimeline hotline at 800-423-TIPS (8477).
The journey to uncover the truth behind „Little Miss Lake Panasoffkee“ may have taken decades, but with technological advancements and community support, hope remains that justice will prevail for Maureen L. Minor Rowan.