PA PA - PA - Philadelphia, Wht/HispMale 20-35, UP2686, burned, “bound inside mattress,” curly hair, heart tattoo, Jan’97

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Philadelphia John Doe (1997)
a.k.a "Orianna Street John Doe”
UP2686 (NU)

Satellite view of the approx. area where John Doe was found (via Google). ​

Circumstances:
The decedent is found wrapped and bound inside a mattress that was placed inside a dumpster and set aflame on the premises of a church called Iglesia DeCristo Misionera, 2400 N. Orianna St. Philadelphia, PA. (per NamUs).

The decedent was found wrapped and bound inside a mattress that was placed in a dumpster and set on fire in a vacant lot at Fourth and Cumberland Streets near Iglesia De Cristo Misionera. The body was severely charred and was found to have blunt force trauma to the head. (per Doe Network).

Spoiler: INFORMATION

Case Numbers:

• Doe Network: 1910UMPA
• NamUs: UP2686
• ME/C: 97-0122
• NCMEC: N/A

Overview:

• Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Philadelphia Co.)
• Date Body Found: January 8, 1997.
• NamUs Created: October 7, 2008.
• Tribal Land: NO.
• PMI: DAYS
• State of Remains: Not recognizable - charred/burned
  • All parts recovered.
• Cause of Death: UNKNOWN

Physical:

• Sex: Male
• Race/Ethnicity: White/Caucasian, Hispanic/Latino
• Age: 20-35 (adult, pre-40)
• Height: 6' 0" (72 inches), est.
• Weight: 151 lbs., est.
• Hair: Red/Auburn
  • Majority of head hair was burned, dark colored.
  • Tightly curled approximately 1 inch in length.
• Eye: Brown

Identifiers:

• Dentals: UNKNOWN
• DNA: UNKNOWN
• Prints: UNKNOWN
• Marks / Features:
  • pierced left earlobe.
  • tattoo of a heart with "one love inside" located on the left chest.

Personal Effects:

• Clothing:
  • charred remnants of a brown striped shirt
  • charred remnants of green blanket
• Jewelry: NONE
• Add'l Items: NONE

Notes:
NamUs states that Orianna Street John Doe was found in a dumpster on the premises of a church located at 2400 N. Orianna Street whereas Doe Network states the dumpster was in vacant lot at Fourth and Cumberland Streets near the church. It seems like the "Fourth and Cumberland" street(s) may have since been renamed to "W. York Street" and "N. 5th Street." These two approximate locations are within a five minute walk of each other and based on the satellite view (screenshot taken 10/11/2024), there are currently several vacant lots within the vicinity.

Using Google Street View to look at 2400 N. Orianna Street, it appears the building that once housed the church is either no longer there or the building is no longer a church.

Links:
NamUs: UP2686 (ARCHIVE)
DN: 1910UMPA (ARCHIVE)

** The case is currently being handled by the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office and Philadelphia Police Department. ** ​

 

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There are two exclusions on NamUs as of 10/11/2024.

Brandon Robbins (MP20143) - Missing from New Jersey since 1982.
Darius Miniotas (MP14505) - Missing from New Jersey since 1994.

 

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Doe Network cites articles published in The Philadelphia Inquirer on January 9th and 12th in 1997. I have found the January 12th article via the Inquirer's online text-only archives but you have to have a subscription to view the full text.