Murder of Sharon Lee Gallegos

Not to be confused with the Murder of Karen Price

Little Miss Nobody is the name given to an American child murder victim found in Prescott, Arizona in July, 1960.

The body of a female child between the ages of 5 and 7 was found in Sand Wash Creek Bed on Old Alamo Road, partially buried, on July 31, 1960. The forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy reported that she had been deceased 1-2 weeks and had a full set of baby teeth.

Yavapai County sheriff's deputies along with the media and private citizens worked to discover her identity. County Sheriff Cramer and other law enforcement traveled hundreds of miles by air and by land following leads. Suspects in other crimes involving small children were questioned. The sheriff's office received dozens of letters, telephone calls and telegrams asking information on the little girl. On August 8, 1961, the sheriff led a party of law enforcement officers and a camera crew to film the location where the child was found. Later in the afternoon, the sheriff and Yavapai County attorney George Ireland brought out evidence found that included adult sized rubber "flip-flops" which had been cut down to fit the child. The film was shown on local television in the hope that someone recognized what he called "fragmentary mementos of crime" to provide a clues that would lead to solving the case. Cramer stated, "Somewhere there is someone who has the answer that we have been looking for; maybe this will be the thing that will bring that person forward".

A campaign for funds to provide an appropriate burial was spearheaded by radio announcer Dave Palladin, of Prescott radio station KYCA. Palladin, who referred to the unknown child as "Little Miss Nobody", said he "couldn't stand to see the little girl buried in a 'Boot Hill'", also known as a paupers grave. As a result of his efforts, the child's circumstances were embraced by locals who paid for and attended her funeral. A card on her child-size casket bore the inscription "God's little child, date of birth unknown, date of death unknown".

A local florist, the cemetery's caretakers, and a local mortuary provided services associated with the burial. The funeral was held on August 10, 1960 with Dr. Charles Franklin Parker of Prescott's Congregational Church conducting the rites. During the eulogy, Dr. Parker told the attendees, "Somewhere, someone is watching to learn what happened to a little girl left on the desert. If there has been a misdeed, probably a disquieted conscience will go on and on." The funeral was attended by over 70 mourners.