Identified! KY - Owensboro, OH River, WhtMale 40-50, UP15138, prior facial trauma, scar & fixation device outer edge of eye, May'16 - Wilbur Allen Grant

[Romulus]

NamUs UP Case 15138

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

Unidentified White Male
* Found May 11, 2016 in Daviess County, KY
* Estimated Year of Death: 2016

Vital Statistics
* Estimated age: Adult
* Approximate Height: 67
* Approximate Weight: 140
* Distinguishing Characteristics: Scar and fixation device near the outer edge of the eyebrow or the outer edge of the eye. May be a result from skull fracture, eye socket fracture, facial fracture, blow out fracture. Device can be described as either pins, steel plate, etc.

Clothing/Jewelry: Dark pants or jeans over long blue shorts. Brand name appears to be "OLD SKOOL,".

* Dental: Dental information / charting is available and will be entered later
* DNA: Sample available - Not yet submitted

Case History: Body recovered from the Ohio river by Daviess County SO (Kentucky) on 5/11/2016. Remains sent to state medical examiner's office in Louisville for further examination.

<MOD NOTE: Several original links throughout the thread were broken and have been edited to include the current link (when available) and images as of July 3, 2023>

 

[KaylaraOwl]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) Mark Trent, maybe.

 

[Tulessa]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) Mark Trent, maybe.

It's always worth a shot.

 

[bflocket]

I think this guy may be, at least in some way, related to Sarah Lindsay Ipock (from southern Indiana near Louisville). There were three bodies found, basically within the same day. One was a suicide. One was Sarah Lindsay Ipock and the other was this guy. He had around the same decomposition level as Ipock, so they're likely related. Or at least victims close together in time.

 

[Dionysia]

Dan Shea?

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

Sean Sidi?

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

 

[Legally Bland]

The Daviess County Sheriff’s Office has released a composite sketch of an unidentified man who was found dead near the Natcher Bridge in Owensboro in May of 2016.

The Daviess County Sheriff’s Office and the Daviess County Coroner’s Office have been working to identify the man who was found in the Ohio River just days after Indiana State Police found a woman’s body in the Ohio River in Troy. That woman was later identified as 30-year-old Sarah Ipock.

Composite sketch released of unidentified man found in 2016 near Owensboro

 

[creepedout]

I searched based on the above sketch and immediately saw similarity in this guy:

Missing Person Case

His description compared to this JD, however, is borderline.

 

[Shin Masamura]

Marshall "Andy" Priestley, 39
*Placing this here since I posted the UID on his thread, trying to get more information. Andy's Aunt sent me a photo to find out what building structure it was. After some terrific sleuthing, it was determined to be a Casino in Indiana as he was traveling in the Indiana/Kentucky area during his disappearance back to West Virginia. She made it sound like to me he was there for possible dubious reasons. The victim was reported missing by his mother on 03/16/2016. Height, location, somewhat timeframe seem right.. not sure how much decomposition could have played a part in his tattoo's and the time frame the mom and sister gave dna to the authorities.
WV - WV - Marshall "Andy" Priestley, 39, Cross Lanes, "Grateful Dead tattoo", 29 Feb. 2016

 

[Nancy Drew RN]

This cluster of bodies in the Ohio River got quite a bit of coverage at the time.

At the time of discovery, it was believed that the body had been in the water 5-8 days, possibly up to two weeks. His body was more decayed than that of Sarah Ipock. "We believe there's obviously some connection between the two bodies."

May 2016 Ohio River WhtMale - Newspapers.com
Ohio River May 2016 WhtMale - Newspapers.com

"[A]n examination by the state Medical Examiner's office in Louisville next day determined the man had been shot in the back of the head, and had ligature marks on his neck."

Ohio River May 2016 WhtMale COD - Newspapers.com

 

[carbuff]

Updated Namus link: Unidentified Person Case

No ruleouts.

 

[RookieInvestigator]

Thomas William Barkfelt

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Barkfelt, circa 2015; Pickup truck similar to Barkfelt's vehicle
Missing Since: 10/12/2015
Missing From: Pineville, Missouri
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date of Birth: 06/05/1959 (59)
Age: 56 years old
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 165 - 175

Clothing: Possibly a baseball cap

Medical Conditions: Barkfelt had a brain tumor removed in February 2015. His behavior changed after the operation. He is in need of medication and may be delusional.

Distinguishing Characteristics:
Caucasian male. Graying brown hair, blue eyes. Barkfelt has scars on his head and face from multiple brain surgeries, and a scar on his left forearm from where a tattoo was partially removed. He has tattoos on both upper arms.

THE CHARLEY PROJECT

**He's taller than the UID, but the brain tumor surgery caught my attention

 

[carbuff]

The scars/surgery make an interesting connection for Barkfelt, and there's considerable facial resemblance. 5'7" to 5'10" isn't that much discrepancy, especially since people tend to lose height as they age. He's a bit older than the decedent is estimated to be, though not enough to be a big concern.

There's easily enough time from fall 2015 to spring 2016 for him to have traveled to Kentucky. With mental issues like he had, he could easily have fallen into homelessness and drifting.

I would have thought that after only a week or two in the water, at least part of the upper arm tats would have been visible, though.

 

[RookieInvestigator]

I've visited Owensboro before...It had a small town feel...The trip there was unremarkable...Most people that travel through this area are headed to the casinos in Paduckay, KY or the Metropolis in IL...Unless they are headed to Louisville, KY...

Another possibility, but since he has ties to the area they may have ruled him out...

Wilbur Anthony Pate

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Pate, circa 2012; Pate's Ford Escape

• Missing Since: 11/14/2012
• Missing From: Evansville, Indiana
• ClassificationEndangered Missing
• Age: 55 years old
• Height and Weight: 5'5 - 5'10, 160 - 170 pounds

• Clothing/Jewelry Description A dark-colored t-shirt with a left front breast pocket, a lightweight dark-colored jacket and tan pants. The outfit is shown in the picture above.
• Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian male. Gray hair, hazel eyes. Pate's nickname is Willie. He wears eyeglasses and has a scar on his left eyebrow.

CHARLEY PROJECT

WEB SLEUTHS THREAD

 

[Liv27]

Hi everyone! I’ve got a new UID case for y’all to look at.

In May of 2016, a white male aged 40-50 was recovered from the Ohio River in Davies County, Kentucky.

He was around 5’7’’ and 122 pounds.

Not much else is known.

Here’s the NAMUS link-

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[Tssiemer]

I’m making a note to check this out later.

 

[natureaker]

Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP15138
Demographics
Sex: Male
Race/Ethnicity: White / Caucasian
Estimated Age Group: Adult - Pre 60
Estimated Age Range (Years): 40-50
Estimated Year of Death: 2016
Estimated PMI: --
Height: 5' 7"(67 inches) , Measured
Weight: 122 lbs, Estimated
Circumstances
Type: Unidentified Deceased
Date Found: May 11, 2016
NamUs Case Created: May 17, 2016
ME/C QA Reviewed--
Location Found Map
General Location--Ohio River @ Daviess Cnty, Kentucky
County: Daviess County
GPS Coordinates--
Circumstances of Recovery: Body recovered from the Ohio river by Daviess County SO (Kentucky) on 5/11/2016. Remains sent to state medical examiner's office in Louisville for further examination.

Details of Recovery
Inventory of Remains: All parts recovered
Condition of Remains: Not recognizable - Decomposing/putrefaction

Physical Description
Hair Color: Unknown or Completely Bald
Head Hair Description: the majority of the scalp is absent; no hair present on remaining scalp
Body Hair Description: black pubic hair
Facial Hair Description--
Left Eye Color: Unknown or Missing
Right Eye Color: Unknown or Missing
Eye Description: Scar and fixation device near the outer edge of the eyebrow or the outer edge of the eye.

Distinctive Physical Features
Scar/mark
Decedent may have presented with a scar near the outer edge of the eyebrow or outer edge of the eye.

Other distinctive physical characteristic
Scar and fixation device near the outer edge of the eyebrow or the outer edge of the eye. May be a result from skull fracture, eye socket fracture, facial fracture, “blow out” fracture. Device can be described as either pins, steel plate, etc.

Clothing and Accessories
Accessories
dark (possibly brown) belt two dimes in back pocket of pants
Near the Body

Clothing
Dark pants or jeans, waist 33, Length 32, made in USA over long blue cargo shorts, brand name "OLD SKOOL," size 30. (see images) gray boxers brand FTL
On the Body

 

[RookieInvestigator]

**BUMP**

I have not received a response from my NAMUS submission...

Per NAMUS...No R/Os...

 

[carbuff]

Namus almost never responds these days. Sigh.

 

[Liv27]

I usually go straight to LE and skip over NamUs. You can find their info on NamUs.

 

[Shin Masamura]

I usually go straight to LE and skip over NamUs. You can find their info on NamUs.

Now I have talked to the lead detective at the end of last year in regards to Andy Stanley, he assured me "NO tattoos" whatsoever on this UID but were looking at him and other in January of this year. Last time I talked to him via email..