Identified! TN - Crossville, Sycamore Ln, BlkMal 17-25, UP1580, AA Jr. pilot wings, “I’m her’s...” shirt, Aug’83 - Kenneth Thompson

[MadMcGoo]

UNIDENTIFIED John Doe 1983

Date Body Found: August 26, 1983
Location Found: Crossville, Cumberland County, Tennessee
Sex: Male
Race / Ethnicity: Black / African American
Estimated Age: Adult - Pre 20; 17-21
Estimated Year of Death: 1983
Estimated PMI: 1 Week
Measured Height: 5' 8" (68 inches)
Measured Weight: 165 lbs.
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Likely smoker

Clothing: Blue jeans (size W29/L32), light blue or blue/gray Apple T-shirt (made in Canada) with a decal on the front which states "I'm Her's Because She Deserves the Best" (size Large).
Additional Personal Items: American Airlines JR pilot flight wings and a pack of Kool filtered cigarettes in his pant pocket.

Details
An unidentified male was found deceased off Sycamore Lane in Cumberland County, TN on August 26, 1983. He had been deceased for about one week before being found. The male is African American, 17-25 years old. He stood 5’8” tall and weighed approximately 160-170 pounds. He had black hair and brown eyes. He had a small gap in between his top two teeth that might have been noticeable in life. He had also seen a dentist in life as he had several fillings in his teeth. The male was found clothed wearing blue jeans (size W29 x L32) and a light blue-gray t-shirt with a decal on the front that read “I’m her’s because she deserves the best” (size large). An enhanced image of the shirt is above. The male was carrying American Airlines JR pilot flight wings and a pack of Kool, filtered cigarettes in his pant pocket. The additional images above are a facial reconstruction completed by a NCMEC Forensic Artist and depicts what the male may have looked like in life.

Investigating Agencies
Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office: (931) 484-6176
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
Amy Emberton: (800) 824-3463
University of Tennessee, Forensic Anthropology Center
Lee Jantz: (865) 974-4408

ME/C Case Number: UT83-29F
NCIC Case Number: U650002098

Dentals: Available. Small gap between his top top teeth (anterior diastema #8-9). Several fillings.
Fingerprints: Available
DNA: Available

1 Missing Person Exclusions
MP13 Charlie Hall 12/31/1981 Davidson TN

Sources
NamUs UP1580
NCMEC 1193984
The Doe Network 1832UMTN
University of South Florida
WBIR

 

[victoriarobinson642]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
Missing from California in 1982 and resembles the recon-however, you'd think they would have noticed his tattoo-also a bit out of the age range

 

[MadMcGoo]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
Missing from California in 1982 and resembles the recon-however, you'd think they would have noticed his tattoo-also a bit out of the age range

The age range on one says 17-21, the other says 17-25...I meant to go back and specify that. So the age fits, and actually, they look very similar. I did overlay the images and they line up the way I think they should. I don’t know about the tattoo and piercings though. I’m looking for any other photo of Relman to see if he may have a gap in his teeth. I did find this on an Ancestry message board. It’s a family member looking to find Relman.

Ok... I found a photo of him, thankfully I checked the actual yearbook because Ancestry had the wrong name attached to Relman’s photo!

He definitely has a gap between his two front teeth! The photo is from Dewey High School in Oakland, CA 1976. I think you should submit this one! (IMO)

 

[MadMcGoo]

They had a suspect in this case, according to NamUs! It’s looking a whole lot like Tennessee needs some “Kentucky” level attention!

 

[Laughing]

Hmm, the Sheriff said there could be an arrest this afternoon -- in 1983???

The suggested Missing Person does resemble the reconstruction!

 

[MadMcGoo]

Hmm, the Sheriff said there could be an arrest this afternoon -- in 1983???

The suggested Missing Person does resemble the reconstruction!

I really think it could be him! That article from NamUs said the body was badly decomposed so depending on, well lots of things, the tattoo may not have been detectable. Same with piercings. (IMO)

 

[victoriarobinson642]

I submitted the match to NamUs-I guess we'll wait and see.

 

[MadMcGoo]

I submitted the match to NamUs-I guess we'll wait and see.

Nice! Yes, now comes the fun part
I still say it was a great find!!

 

[BrownBear]

2 Exclusions
MP27335 James Foster 07/30/1980 Pierce, WA
MP13 Charlie Hall 12/31/1981 Davidson, TN

 

[HopeRains]

American Airlines JR pilot flight wings

That's an interesting piece of information. Not something typical to carry around in your pocket. Given to kids on an AA flight.

Crossville is on I-40, about 70 miles west of Knoxville and 115 miles east of Nashville.

 

[dotr]

June 8 2023​

Exclusive: Bryan police use DNA evidence to arrest suspect in double murder cold case

Two men were brutally stabbed on Ehlinger Drive in Bryan in 1989. More than 30 years later, police say the victims’ co-worker is now a suspect in the killings.

www.kbtx.com

Cumberland County – 1983​

On August 26, 1986, the TBI said a Black male, possibly a teenager, was found in Cumberland County. Age estimates that the victim was between 15 and 20 years old.

In NamUs, a 1983 Crossville Chronicle article is attached to the profile, which says Sheriff Charles Shadden had a suspect in the suspicious death. According to the article, the young man’s “badly decomposed” body was found by a farmer about 20 feet from the roadside on Sycamore Lane at around 7:30 a.m., and while the sheriff said he could not speculate as to what the cause of the victim’s death was, a chief deputy said it was believed to be the result of a stabbing.

According to the young man’s NamUs profile, it was believed he had been dead for around a week when he was found, however, he was 5’8″ and 165 pounds. He had black hair and brown eyes. NamUs said he was found wearing blue jeans, and an apple brand, size large, light blue t-shirt that had an emblem on the front saying “I’m hers because she deserves the best.”

 

[othram]

SOLVED: Cumberland County John Doe (1983) is Identified

 

[victoriarobinson642]

SOLVED: Cumberland County John Doe (1983) is Identified

Unfortunately, the only photo of Kenneth that surviving family members could find was taken when he was a child. Anyone who knew Kenneth Thompson during his life and has access to a photograph of him that was taken in late 1970 or early 1980 is encouraged to reach out to TBI. TBI can be reached at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

How sad

 

[HopeRains]

Kenneth's YOB is listed as 1965 (November). His remains were recovered in August 1983, making him 17 years old at the time of recovery. Give his later birthday month, November, he may not have started 1st grade until 1972 after his 6th birthday. Perhaps yearbooks will have a photo of him - as a highschooler. Kenneth Thompson is a very popular name.

How about Wayne County (Detroit) school records? They'd show where he was in school and when, which could then lead to yearbooks, archived class photos in library, etc. There are many, many high schools in Detroit, a number of which have closed.

 

[Friday Fan]

https://dnasolves.com/articles/tbi-cumberland-kenneth-levall-thompson/In May 1984, as a result of the investigation, the individual was charged and later pled guilty to Second Degree Murder in exchange for a 20-year prison sentence.

I wonder what Kenneth was doing in TN?

I'm sure the guy who killed him knew something.....He pled guilty. He must have provided some circumstances.

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Rest in peace, Kenneth Levall Thompson

TBI identifies Cumberland County homicide victim 40 years later

Skeletal remains were found near Crossville in 1983. Thanks to forensic genetic genealogy testing, officials now know the identity of a man killed four decades ago.

www.wbir.com

 

[MadMcGoo]

I wonder if his killer was a teen as well. I couldn’t find any old newspaper articles about his arrest or conviction other than a portion of one in a MSM article. The Crossville Chronicle does not have archived issues for that time (that I could find).

I’m glad his killer was caught and held accountable. Rest peacefully now Kenneth.

 

[SimsGuy67]

I may have found a yearbook photo of Kenneth from 1981. It's only a possibility though. The only issue is that it's in Grand Rapids...

Join Ancestry®

Begin your discovery today by exploring the world's largest online family history resource!

www.ancestry.com

 

[SimsGuy67]

Comparison with the childhood photo:

 

[arielilane]

Pleased to share Othram assisted the @TBInvestigation in identifying Kenneth Level Thompson, a murdered teenager whose skeletal remains were found in 1983. His killer is known but Kenneth was not identified until now. #dnasolves

https://twitter.com/x/status/1699413133406662818

https://twitter.com/OthramTech