citizen_sleuth
Verified family member - Orie Donald Esh thread
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NamUs #UP3060 / DoeNetwork 3293UMCA
Demographics
Sex: Male
Race/Ethnicity: White / Caucasian
Estimated Age Group: Adult
Estimated Age Range (Years): 26-32 (news reports say 20 to 40)
Estimated Year of Death: 1982
Estimated PMI: 3 Months
Height: 5'7" (67 inches), Measured (news reports say between 5'6" and 5'8")
Weight: Cannot Estimate (news reports say approx. 150 lbs)
Cause of Death: Homicide
Circumstances
Type: Unidentified Deceased
Date Body Found: October 6, 1982
NamUs Case Created: January 25, 2009
ME/C QA Reviewed: N/A
Location Found: Santa Cruz, California
County: Santa Cruz County
Circumstances of Recovery: The decedent was found by a hiker laying face down at the base on thick brush along the east bank of Moore Creek in Natural Bridges State Park at around 4:30 p.m. on October 6, 1982.
The location was in a eucalyptus grove along a service road. Detectives said the death was being investigated as a homicide.
Inventory of Remains: All parts recovered
Condition of Remains: Not recognizable - Mummified
Physical Description
Hair Color: Brown
Head Hair Description: Light brown to blonde hair
Facial Hair Description: Sparse reddish-blonde beard hairs, 2 inches in length
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinctive Physical Features: Tattoo on left wrist of a red rose with 3 green leaves; tattoo on right forearm of Indian face with red eyes and red-tipped feathers
Clothing and Accessories
- Blue denim "Levi's" jacket with tan color flaps; maroon color vest; dark red and blue plaid long sleeve Gino Fabrini shirt; blue jean trousers; blue canvas pants (On the Body)
- Blue Action-Pro shoes (size 10) with brown leather replacement laces, described as "well-worn". (On the Body)
News Coverage
"Decomposed body found in state park," Santa Cruz Sentinel, 7 October 1982, A2.
A hiker found the badly decomposed body in Natural Bridges State Park Wednesday afternoon, but investigators were unable to determine whether the body was male or female after a preliminary investigation.
[...]
The body was found about 4:30 p.m. laying face down at the base of thick brush near Moore Creek.
"Foul play suspected in death," Santa Cruz Sentinel, 8 October 1982, A2.
Police are asking for help in identifying the man. The body was found about 4 p.m. on the east slope of Moore Creek near some bushes, said Detective Lt. Dan Fite of the Santa Cruz Police Department.
The man is described as anywhere from 20 to 40 years old, about 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing about 150 pounds. He wore two pair [sic] of blue jeans, a red plaid long-sleeved shirt, a dark red or maroon vest, and had a Levi's jacket.
Fite also said the man was wearing a well-worn pair of blue running shoes with brown shoelaces.
[...]
Fite said the body was "mummified" when found, indicating it had been there for some time.
[...]
"We're investigating it as a homicide, but we won't know a whole lot about it until we determine who he is," said Fite.
At this point in the investigation, detectives have declined to comment on why they suspect foul play.
"Lab tests on body reveal two tattoos," Santa Cruz Sentinel, 11 January 1983, A12.
Santa Cruz police Lt. Dan Fite said the man had a tattoo of a red rose with three green leaves on his left forearm and a tattoo of an Indian skull on his right forearm.
The tips of the feathers on the Indian's headdress and the eye sockets were colored in red, the remainder of the drawing was done in black, said Fite.
Demographics
Sex: Male
Race/Ethnicity: White / Caucasian
Estimated Age Group: Adult
Estimated Age Range (Years): 26-32 (news reports say 20 to 40)
Estimated Year of Death: 1982
Estimated PMI: 3 Months
Height: 5'7" (67 inches), Measured (news reports say between 5'6" and 5'8")
Weight: Cannot Estimate (news reports say approx. 150 lbs)
Cause of Death: Homicide
Circumstances
Type: Unidentified Deceased
Date Body Found: October 6, 1982
NamUs Case Created: January 25, 2009
ME/C QA Reviewed: N/A
Location Found: Santa Cruz, California
County: Santa Cruz County
Circumstances of Recovery: The decedent was found by a hiker laying face down at the base on thick brush along the east bank of Moore Creek in Natural Bridges State Park at around 4:30 p.m. on October 6, 1982.
The location was in a eucalyptus grove along a service road. Detectives said the death was being investigated as a homicide.
Inventory of Remains: All parts recovered
Condition of Remains: Not recognizable - Mummified
Physical Description
Hair Color: Brown
Head Hair Description: Light brown to blonde hair
Facial Hair Description: Sparse reddish-blonde beard hairs, 2 inches in length
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinctive Physical Features: Tattoo on left wrist of a red rose with 3 green leaves; tattoo on right forearm of Indian face with red eyes and red-tipped feathers
Clothing and Accessories
- Blue denim "Levi's" jacket with tan color flaps; maroon color vest; dark red and blue plaid long sleeve Gino Fabrini shirt; blue jean trousers; blue canvas pants (On the Body)
- Blue Action-Pro shoes (size 10) with brown leather replacement laces, described as "well-worn". (On the Body)
News Coverage
"Decomposed body found in state park," Santa Cruz Sentinel, 7 October 1982, A2.
A hiker found the badly decomposed body in Natural Bridges State Park Wednesday afternoon, but investigators were unable to determine whether the body was male or female after a preliminary investigation.
[...]
The body was found about 4:30 p.m. laying face down at the base of thick brush near Moore Creek.
"Foul play suspected in death," Santa Cruz Sentinel, 8 October 1982, A2.
Police are asking for help in identifying the man. The body was found about 4 p.m. on the east slope of Moore Creek near some bushes, said Detective Lt. Dan Fite of the Santa Cruz Police Department.
The man is described as anywhere from 20 to 40 years old, about 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing about 150 pounds. He wore two pair [sic] of blue jeans, a red plaid long-sleeved shirt, a dark red or maroon vest, and had a Levi's jacket.
Fite also said the man was wearing a well-worn pair of blue running shoes with brown shoelaces.
[...]
Fite said the body was "mummified" when found, indicating it had been there for some time.
[...]
"We're investigating it as a homicide, but we won't know a whole lot about it until we determine who he is," said Fite.
At this point in the investigation, detectives have declined to comment on why they suspect foul play.
"Lab tests on body reveal two tattoos," Santa Cruz Sentinel, 11 January 1983, A12.
Santa Cruz police Lt. Dan Fite said the man had a tattoo of a red rose with three green leaves on his left forearm and a tattoo of an Indian skull on his right forearm.
The tips of the feathers on the Indian's headdress and the eye sockets were colored in red, the remainder of the drawing was done in black, said Fite.