Resolved NY - Queens, Living Male, Hispanic/Latin under 40, nonverbal, Oct'17 - Name withheld

[snakes]

As the Aided Record request was denied, and consultation might not be immediately forthcoming, I'm personally a bit more willing to wade into speculation, conjecture, educated postulation, and reasonable theory, in the meantime.

@annemc2 : [Regarding whether or not UIDL was encountered on Tribal Lands] According to Suffolk County EMS Advanced Life Support Protocol Manual, it is not very likely that a patient would be transported more than 20 minutes away, with exceptions for needing a specialty unit not found nearby. Between Suffolk and Queens, there is also Nassau County with all its medical resources available. It would also be possible that the Tribal Lands were somewhere else. Of course, it's also possible that that could be some kind of filing, typo, or data entry error.

@annemc2 , @elmomom , @Dylansmom08 [regarding chapped lips] As an individual with a loved one in a care facility, I am aware that quality of care issues can arise, and I always hope care is at higher levels. It had been my preference to consider first that the UIDL had not been admitted long enough to remedy that issue. Given denial of record and other information, it does seem possible that UIDL had been under medical care previous to the creation of the NamUs file; it would seem likely a photo current to that time would have been used. There is more information to be found on NYP-Q; at this time, I am aware of a short-term care facility (their Transitional Care Unit) located there. Whether or not UIDL is still present at NYP-Q ("Booth" or "Booth Memorial"), as of today, is unclear.

 

[snakes]

Could the scars possibly be instead vitiligo? However, isn't vitiligo supposed to be more visible? Idk. Just me overanalyzing.
If they are burn scars (which they look like to me), then he possibly came from someplace where he was being physically abused. This is just a possibility
Another question I have is where did they find him? I think that maybe wherever they found him might bring light to the case.

greetings. based on the denial of the Aided Record Request, and other circumstantial information, it seems possible that the UIDL Individual was not first encountered at Booth, which is the the only location information given in the NamUs file, aside from the 'found on Tribal Lands?' answer of 'yes'. Having a better idea of initial location does seem like it would be helpful. Suggestions as to obtaining that information are welcome.

 

[snakes]

Sent out another record request last week, using alternate information. Not sure whether or not it will make any difference, but thought it was worth the trying.

 

[Sleuth91]

Sent out another record request last week, using alternate information. Not sure whether or not it will make any difference, but thought it was worth the trying.

Good job, @snakes. Keep us posted. I'd really like to see this guy go home with his loved ones.

 

[Giuc0]

Could the scars possibly be instead vitiligo? However, isn't vitiligo supposed to be more visible? Idk. Just me overanalyzing.

Vitiligo is not necessarily more visible. It really depends of people.
My friend's daughter has it and they are similar. Her vitiligo is similar to the guy.

Cigarette burns don't have this aspect at all. Boiling water scars are very different.

When I saw the scar, IMO, it screams "vitiligo".

People with vitiligo are stigmatised, so they can also be abused. Vitiligo and abuse are not mutually exclusive.
People often think that it's contagious. Vitiligo is not contagious.


More about on Wikipedia: Vitiligo - Wikipedia

BTW, Édouard Philippe, our ex-Prime Minister, suffers from vitiligo: Dans les coulisses de la campagne d'Edouard Philippe au Havre

Certains s’inquiètent de la tache blanche sur sa barbe, lui conseillent de la teindre. Il s’en amuse, exclut de se raser. « C’est une maladie – un vitiligo – sans gravité, ni douloureuse ni contagieuse », nous révèle-t-il, sans souligner que cette dépigmentation est activée par le stress.

BBM

 

[Giuc0]

Could the scars possibly be instead vitiligo? However, isn't vitiligo supposed to be more visible? Idk. Just me overanalyzing.

Ok, I called the LE agency per NamUS contact:

Investigating Agencies

New York City Police Department - Missing Persons Squad
(212) 694-7781

Agency Case Number8979

The LE agency confirmed to me that hospital doctors diagnosed the scar as vitiligo. They didn't mention it in NamUS because they wanted the next of kin give this kind of detail for a match.
I kindly replied to him that even if I don't know him and can't say who is he, it was obvious only by looking at the scar that it's vitiligo because my friend's daughter has it too.

So, you don't need to specifically know the person to see that the scar/mark is vitiligo, at least when you've known a person with vitiligo.
He thanked me for this piece of information. He thought that only people who know him could recognise the scar as vitiligo. Not quite!

So, vitiligo has been confirmed by LE agency.

Which is a very valuable clue for finding a potential match.

 

[Giuc0]

By looking at his NamUS photo, he looks more Asian than Hispanic.

Have there been cases when the race classification turned out to be wrong?

 

[Giuc0]

Potential match, but the photo is so grainy that it's very difficult to see any feature: Pedro G. Aguilar – The Charley Project

Too old.
However, he was known to suffer from memory loss.

Wondering if our UID could be of First Nations, as he's been possibly found on tribal island.

 

[ghostINshell]

By looking at his NamUS photo, he looks more Asian than Hispanic.

Have there been cases when the race classification turned out to be wrong?

Or Native American too. If he was Native American, what tribe was he from??? Or what is the tribal land that he was found on, to be more clear.

 

[Dylansmom08]

Or Native American too. If he was Native American, what tribe was he from??? Or what is the tribal land that he was found on, to be more clear.

I was thinking he looked more Native American too. I have been trying to track down this tribal land that he was found on but have had no luck. I don't even know where to start unless maybe going back to the history of Native Americans in New York area would yield results.

 

[cvaldez1975]

since the namus is so vague is it possible he was critically injured in the bus accident that date?

 

[Grungster]

I wonder how he's doing now?

 

[houndpounder]

Edgar Diaz-Cabanas

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[Truman]

Edgar Diaz-Cabanas

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Very similar in appearance, great find. My concern is that our unknown seems to have a number of moles on his face that Edgar doesn't appear to have. Here is Edgar's Charley info, he is missing with his brother, and there were indications of violence/foul play.
Edgar Diaz-Cabanas – The Charley Project

 

[snakes]

Greetings.

There was a snag in obtaining more information through records; unfortunately, I don't have anything more to share about that, at this time.

There have been a few questions recently posed, some of which have already been addressed in this thread but could maybe benefit from revisiting. I'm experiencing some technological and connectivity issues, lately, but I'll try to address them when i can, as I do have some additional information regarding some points raised.

 

[snakes]

@ghostINshell @victoriarobinson642 @Giuc0

Vitiligo Research Foundation | About Vitiligo

According to the Vitiligo Research Foundation, there are a number of conditions that may look like vitiligo: "The only way to know if a depigmented patch on the skin is vitiligo or not is to consult a Dermatologist with special interest in Pigmentary Disorders of the skin." -- Do we know for sure whether or not a qualified expert specialist made the diagnosis, after thorough examination and careful consideration? If not, any resemblant patches on the skin could instead be leukoderma. (Please see Question 9 of their informational brochure, for examples). Vitiligo Research Foundation | Download Center

If the UIDLI (UnIdentified Living Individual) does have vitiligo, there's around a 50/50 chance of the condition having been previously apparent in this individual -- it's not necessarily an identifying factor; actually, if, for example, there were a traumatic event / prolonged sun exposure / particular medication / physical injury, pertaining to their current condition, the appearance of vitiligo could have onset after they were Aided and admitted. In that case, loved ones would not associate vitiligo with this UIDLI.

 

[snakes]

@Giuc0 @ghostINshell @Dylansmom08

Personally, I dislike race-typing someone by appearance. There's no one way to 'look like' your own particular, unique, ethnic and racial background. Plus, with differences in appearance attributable to conditions like vitiligo, for one, and a world of cosmetic avenues available to those who wish to avail themselves, appearances often tell only part of a tale, and can be misleading.

Whether or not someone was found on Tribal Lands, or in Japan, or in Tennessee, does not necessarily mean that is where they are from, nor that their genetic heritage has any connection to that place.

Regarding the 'found on Tribal Lands' detail from the NamUs file: I would hope to have a bit more clarification sometime in the coming week. Based on the 'found' location of Queens, as previously stated, the nearest Tribal Lands seem to be Shinnecock and Poospatuck, both of which are considered Suffolk County, not New York County. With however much of Suffolk, all of Nassau, and then some of New York from Point A to Booth Memorial (New York Presybeterian), it would be unlikely that the UIDLI would have become Aided on either of those two Tribal Lands and taken directly to Booth (well outside the 20 minute guideline transportation guideline for Suffolk County EMS).

So: (a) UIDLI was not found on Tribal Lands; (b) circumstances, such as medical necessity, made the transport needed or preferred; (c) admittance to Booth came some time after whatever was the Aided incident. (There may be other possibilities, as well).

Edit to Add: http://www.suffolkremsco.com/clientuploads/Protocols/ALS Protocols/2020/2019_2020_ALS_Protocols_and_Policies_Manual_FINAL_6_17_2020.pdf. (Please see, for instance: Introduction, section 3 -- "SELECTION OF DESTINATION HOSPITAL" -- pages 6 and 7).

 

[snakes]

since the namus is so vague is it possible he was critically injured in the bus accident that date?

As per NYCPD, Aided status does not include motor vehicle (nor bicycle) injuries.

(Previous comment regarding Aided status might include a link for reference).

 

[snakes]

I wonder how he's doing now?

That's a great question. Hopefully, better. Thank you for bringing focus back to *the person*. I'm sure we all wonder how they are, now. It's important to ask empathetic questions like this, at least from time to time, I believe.

This week, I hope to make a few phone calls. There's a lot going on for me at this time, so I'm not sure what I'll be able to accomplish. It's questionable, considering HIPAA, what anyone may or may not be able to have answered, regarding the health and wellness of the UIDLI. That said, I would think a general caring question would be appreciated, whether or not anyone can give even a vague and generalized reply.

Thank you for your concern.

 

[snakes]

@houndpounder @Truman

In the past few weeks, along with other research, I've been looking through NamUs Missing Persons, too. In addition to comparing demographic information, circumstances, dates, and photos by visual appearance, I've also utilized a few programs which break down and analyze key points of facial structure / composition, giving a mathematical / algorithmic comparison between two faces, and in some cases (depending on the program and how well technology cooperates at the given time) the likelihood of two images being the same person. I should point out these have not been official programs, and some of the results have seemed 'interesting' to me.

The MP case brought up was one I'd considered. According to the notes I have at hand at the moment, results for comparison of the UIDLI with Edgar Diaz-Cabanas (NamUs #MP39754) yielded possibilities / similarities of 42% and 48%, with possible 'matches' starting at higher percentages (thus, the likelihood of being the same person was not very high).

Truman brings up a great point. Regarding facial or body markings such as moles, there are a few things to keep in mind. (Apologies for not having my sources handy). One thing is that, restricted to nature, these markings are likely to develop but not disappear -- i.e., an earlier picture might lack them, while a later photo might have them. Secondly, such markings may be surgically removed (which yields results basically the opposite of the first note). Third, it's important to know what kind of mark one is looking at. Scars may fade; an acne blemish may heal quickly; a malignant growth might change. One source I read included anecdotes about looking for someone, including and excluding potential candidates based on a mark that wasn't what they thought (for instance, mud or a photographic artifact).