MI - Blissfield, Lenawee Co JD, HispMale 20-40, UP8975, "Roberto from Texas?", no head/hands, Nov'97 *arrests in 2023*

[imstilla.grandma]

“Roberto” is shown in a sketch from the Michigan State Police dated Nov. 8, 2016. NamUs said this was based on a witness interview. Michigan authorities now say that Richardo and Michael Sepulveda murdered him

Authorities have a sketch of “Roberto” from Texas, with a possible age of between 20 and 40. The body was found on Nov. 19, 1997, in Blissfield Township, Michigan, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). Blissfield Township is about 75 miles southwest of Detroit.

The body, described as a light-skinned Hispanic, was found off a highway partially covered in snow. Both hands and head were missing. It had no scars or tattoos.

A witness provided a possible name, “Roberto.” That witness, according to NameUs, said he was married with children and had a house where he raised chickens between McAllen and Weslaco, Texas. When “Roberto” left home, he was supposed to be traveling only to Chicago and then back, the website said.

Brothers Arrested in 1997 Cold-Case Killing of Man Whose Headless, Handless Body Remains Unidentified

Two brothers have been arrested for a grisly cold case murder.

lawandcrime.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

On Nov.19, 1997, police were dispatched to Blissfield Twp. in response to the discovery of human remains in a cornfield owned and farmed by the caller. When police arrived to examine the remains, they observed the body of an unidentified, unclothed male that was missing the head and both hands. The hands appeared to have been cut from just above the wrist. Officers also observed what appeared to be saw striations on the ends of the bones.

In September 1999, a DNA profile of the victim was developed, but it has not led to an identification of the victim, so far. Detective Sgt. Larry Rothman of the Michigan State Police First District’s Cold-Case Unit said the DNA profile has been uploaded to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, as well as genealogy websites.

“We’re constantly getting information back,” Rothman told The Daily Telegram. “So far, we haven’t had a positive identification, but hopefully we’ll be able to identify the victim sooner or later, especially now that we’ve arrested a couple of people in the case.”

The Michigan State Police First District Cold-Case Unit worked with other local and federal agencies and prosecutors to gather evidence, establish a timeline of events, and locate the defendants. The investigation is still ongoing, if anyone has information related to this investigation, please contact Michigan State Police D/Sgt. Larry Rothman at 313-407-9379.

The brothers are being extradited on the following charges:

• Count 1 - First Degree Premediated Murder, a felony that carries a life sentence without the possibility of parole;
• Count 2 - Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Premediated Murder, a felony that carries a life sentence without the possibility of parole;
• Count 3 - Assault with Intent to Maim, a ten-year felony;
• Count 4 - Conspiracy to commit Assault with Intent to Maim, a 10-year felony;
• Count 5 - Tampering with Evidence, a ten-year felony; and,
• Count 6 - Conspiracy to Commit Tampering with Evidence, a 10-year felony.

Republished courtesy of Michigan AG.

 

[Grungster]

Rick is supposed to be the one who physically killed him (according to his brother). He owed Roberto from a drug deal and he must have not been unable to pay. I don't understand why they overreacted the way they did.

And you know what else - that "witness" who helped do the sketch was none other than Michael!

Police: Drug debt may be motive in 1997 murder

Paperwork filed with Lenawee County District Court sheds light on the investigation into the death in 1997 of “John Doe.”

web.archive.org

 

[djanga]

Rick is supposed to be the one who physically killed him (according to his brother). He owed Roberto from a drug deal and he must have not been unable to pay. I don't understand why they overreacted the way they did.

And you know what else - that "witness" who helped do the sketch was none other than Michael!

Police: Drug debt may be motive in 1997 murder

Paperwork filed with Lenawee County District Court sheds light on the investigation into the death in 1997 of “John Doe.”

web.archive.org

if Michael started to testify, I hope he will give the law enforcement Roberto's real name

 

[imstilla.grandma]

A little more than 25 years ago, a farmer found the remains of a body in a cornfield near Blissfield. The man’s head and hands had been cut off, making identifying the victim difficult.

On Tuesday, Michigan authorities announced that two Ohio men have been arrested and charged with the man’s murder. But the victim’s identity remains a mystery.

Richardo Sepulveda, 51, of Cincinnati and Michael Sepulveda, 49, of Toledo were arrested Tuesday by the U.S. Marshals Service after being charged with the 1997 cold case homicide of “John Doe,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced.

The two men are being extradited to Lenawee County on the following charges: first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, assault with intent to main, conspiracy to commit assault with intent to main, tampering with evidence and conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence. The murder charge is punishable by up to life in prison without parole. The other charges have maximum penalties of 10 years in prison.

Michael Sepulveda has waived extradition, and Richardo Sepulveda has a hearing Wednesday, the attorney general’s office said.

An autopsy determined that the body is that of a man between 20 and 40 years old. He stood between 5 feet, 5 inches and 5 feet, 10 inches tall and was of medium build

Police searched the cornfield and surrounding area but did not find the body parts, lending credence to a theory that the man was killed elsewhere before being dumped in the county. Many local residents felt the man was killed in Toledo during a drug deal gone bad.

Michigan State Police Detective Hugh Welsh, the original investigator in the case, sifted through missing persons reports from the region and eliminated a majority of them.

In September 1999, a DNA profile of the victim was developed, but it has not led to an identification of the victim, so far. Detective Sgt. Larry Rothman of the Michigan State Police First District’s Cold-Case Unit said the DNA profile has been uploaded to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System as well as genealogy websites.

Arrests made in 1997 cold case murder; headless, handless body was found near Blissfield

Two Ohio brothers are accused of murdering a man who has yet to be identified due to his head and hands being cut off. The body parts were not found.

www.lenconnect.com

 

[djanga]

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7115973436492565806

 

[JerseyGirl]

Ohio men head to trial for 1997 slaying in which victim was found with no head, hands

To date, the victim has yet to be identified, but he is believed to be a 32-year-old man from the Corpus Christie, Texas area, officials said.

www.mlive.com

Two Ohio men accused of killing a man in Michigan and cutting off his head and hands are going to trial.

Richardo Sepulveda, 51, of Cincinnati, and Michael Sepulveda, 49 of Toledo, were bound over for trial Thursday, Aug. 3, on six felony charges in connection with a the slaying of an unidentified man found decapitated and maimed in a Blissfield cornfield in Lenawee County, according to the Michigan Attorney Generals Office.

To date, the victim has yet to be identified, but he is believed to be a 32-year-old man from the Corpus Christie, Texas area, officials said.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Ohio men will stand trial for murder charges in 1997 southern Michigan cold case

Attorney General Dana Nessel says two Ohio men have been bound over for trial in connection with a 1997 slaying in southern Michigan. Nessel says 51-year-old Richardo Sepulveda of Cincinnati and 49…

www.news-herald.com

 

[doggybag2355]

I think the investigators really need to start back at square one in this case. From what I could gather the witness statements regarding his description and ties to Texas were FROM the people arrested. Roberto may not be close to his real name. I think this is a case that could really benefit from a phenotype reconstruction from Parabon.

 

[Shewacky]

I came here to post this exact thought. Everything fits, except the witness statement, but there's probably no way to know if that's accurate. Was there any follow up on this?

 

[Aurora90]

Is it possible the John Doe said Colorado and not Chicago? Or given his time around shady characters, didn't want to give truthful information?

Has Samuel Lee Hernandez been ruled out? #MP960

DOE Network- Circumstances of Disappearance:
Hernandez went missing from El Paso, TX after last being seen on July 19, 1997. He called his family from a payphone and told them he was leaving El Paso and would be going home to Denver, CO. He did not tell them how he planned to travel that distance, but he never made it to Colorado.

Hernandez used his sister's address in Utah to receive his social security checks, but she supposedly lost contact with him in 2010. His wife received a call from his sister in 2000 saying that Hernandez was living in a tent in Utah and that he wanted to talk with his wife and sons, but his sons did not want to speak to him and the phone call with his wife and sons never took place. Foul play is possible.

I find it odd that the sister says she was in and out of contact until 2010 but never contacted law enforcement or anything. Didn't she ask any questions? If she spoke with him, I would expect more info.

Where was he staying? Was he working? Why live in a tent and visit your sister at her house sporadically throughout the years? Why not try to find housing? Or get support from family? Was there no one else in the house who could give credibility to her statements?

Is it possible she was cashing his cheques, hence the "he's alive" alibi?

Lastly, if the family/his sons did not wish to have contact with Samuel anymore, they might not have entered their DNA in a database. There doesn't appear to be a sense of urgency in finding him.

I know he's a bit older than the estimated age range of 20-40 at 46 years old, and the weight is off so this likely isn't him. I just thought I would run it by other sleuthers.

Samuel Hernandez vs Sketch of John Doe

 

[Aurora90]

Ohio men head to trial for 1997 slaying in which victim was found with no head, hands

To date, the victim has yet to be identified, but he is believed to be a 32-year-old man from the Corpus Christie, Texas area, officials said.

www.mlive.com

Two Ohio men accused of killing a man in Michigan and cutting off his head and hands are going to trial.

Richardo Sepulveda, 51, of Cincinnati, and Michael Sepulveda, 49 of Toledo, were bound over for trial Thursday, Aug. 3, on six felony charges in connection with a the slaying of an unidentified man found decapitated and maimed in a Blissfield cornfield in Lenawee County, according to the Michigan Attorney Generals Office.

To date, the victim has yet to be identified, but he is believed to be a 32-year-old man from the Corpus Christie, Texas area, officials said.

Oh. As per the bolded segment above, do they have an idea as to who this John Doe is?

I guess never mind regarding my possible suggestion of Samuel Hernandez!