Identified! WA - Spokane, WhtMale, 35-45, UP457, in RR tunnel, homicide, head trauma & multiple fractures, burned, poss. transient, Jan'80 - Donald Leroy Pearson

[citizen_sleuth]

NamUs #UP457 / Doe Network 1675UMWA

Demographics
Sex: Male
Race/Ethnicity: White / Caucasian
Estimated Age Group: Adult - Pre 50
Estimated Age Range (Years): 35-45
Estimated Year of Death: 1980
Estimated PMI: 2 Days
Height: 5'6" (66 inches), Measured
Weight: 125 lbs, Estimated

Circumstances
Type: Unidentified Deceased
Date Body Found: January 21, 1980
NamUs Case Created: June 29, 2007
ME/C QA Reviewed: N/A
Location Found: Spokane, Washington 99201
County: Spokane County
Circumstances of Recovery: Body discovered by 3 transients in a railroad tunnel. Victim was curled up on left side and the torso was extensively burned. Noted head trauma, and multiple fractures apparently inflicted prior to setting this man on fire. Death due to traumatic injuries and smoke inhalation. Homicide. The age of this man was estimated by x-ray only. He may be younger or older than the autopsy report states. The man may have been a transient based on his discovery location and the layered clothing descriptions.
Inventory of Remains: All parts recovered
Condition of Remains: Not recognizable - Charred/burned

Physical Description
Hair Color: Brown
Head Hair Description: Brown
Eye Color: Brown
Distinctive Physical Features: No information entered

Clothing and Accessories
- Blue jean jacket, blue jean shirt, thin cotton plaid shirt - blue / brown in color, jacket with a nylon lining, batting type insulation and an outer cotton fabric with moderately fine blue colored weave. Heavy denim garment with an inner lining of nylon wh (On the Body)
- Pair of boots that extend to lower calf area. One boot has a cloth label that says "Hyer quality boots" made in U.S.A.. One pair of white wool socks (On the Body)

 

[BrownBear]

3 Exclusions
MP7794 George Nace 08/12/1978 Pierce WA
MP1632 Francis Cantea 07/03/1975 Kitsap WA
MP7290 Christopher Wells 12/16/1972 King WA

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[iulia]

The NamUs page for this Doe has been removed.

 

[victoriarobinson642]

The NamUs page for this Doe has been removed.

Hopeful for an ID.

 

[dotr]

Hopeful for an ID.

rbbm

After 43 years, Spokane John Doe (1980) is Identified

Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office & Spokane Police Department Partners with Othram to Identify 1980 John Doe

dnasolves.com

''Summary​

In January 1980, three transient individuals were walking in a railroad tunnel located at 700 E. Trent in Spokane, Washington when they discovered a deceased male curled up with burn marks to his torso and significant head trauma. The man's death was ruled a homicide due to traumatic injuries and smoke inhalation. The man did not have any identification and confirming his identity proved difficult as no missing person's report was ever filed for someone fitting his profile.

It was determined that the unknown male individual was between the ages of 35 and 45; he was 5’6" tall and weighed 125 pounds. An autopsy was conducted, but no DNA samples were retained, which was not an uncommon practice at the time of the man's murder. In 1980, technology and forensic testing ability were virtually unrecognizable from the capabilities of today. Spokane Police Department detectives gathered evidence, conducted interviews, and followed up on leads, but the case went cold despite their exhaustive efforts. Fingerprints were also collected, but they failed to produce an identification. The homicide victim was buried as a John Doe in February 1980 in Fairmount Memorial Park. In 2007, details of the case were uploaded to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP457. For more than four decades, his identity has remained a mystery.

Because no DNA evidence was retained from the victim, his body was exhumed in October 2022 to collect forensic samples for testing at Othram. The forensic evidence was sent to Othram's laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas. Othram used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown man. Othram's in-house genealogy team used forensic genetic genealogy to provide Spokane Police Department detectives with investigative leads, including potential family members of the unidentified man.

Using these leads, Spokane Police Department detectives and an investigator from the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office located a potential son of the unknown homicide victim in Missouri. The man's potential son provided a DNA sample for reference testing. In April of 2023, Othram confirmed the parent/child relationship using KinSNP® familial reference testing, providing an identity of the John Doe as Donald Leroy Pearson. Pearson, who was born in 1924, was 56-years-old at the time of his death. He was born in Nebraska and many of his known addresses are in the Midwest. Pearson's siblings are deceased and his children shared that their father was not present in their lives.

Investigators with the Spokane Police Department and the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office encourage anyone who knew Pearson or anyone with knowledge about the cirumstances surrounding his death to contact investigators through Crime Check at 509-456-2233 to help bring answers around his death and closure to the case. This cold case remains open with the Spokane Police Department and few leads about the suspect exist.

In July of 2022, the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office received a grant to help identify human remains using forensic genetic genealogy. This grant funded the identification of Donald Leroy Pearson as well as the identification of "Millie Doe" as Ruth Belle Waymire in February of 2023. While a suspect has been named in the death of Waymire, Spokane Police Department cold case detectives continue to seek leads in her death as well.

Detectives with the Spokane Police Department and Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office investigators extend their appreciation to Fairmount Memorial Association, Hickory County Sheriff’s Office, and also to Pearson’s relatives who shared their DNA and family history to help solve this 43-year-old case''.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

In July of 2022, the Medical Examiner’s Office received a grant to help identify human remains using genetic genealogy. Since no DNA samples were retained from the victim, his body was exhumed in October of 2022 to collect samples. They were sent to a forensic lab, Othram Inc., which specializes in working with degraded specimens to obtain a DNA profile.

Othram was successful in providing viable leads of potential relatives of the victim.

SPD detectives and an investigator from the Medical Examiner’s Office located a son in Missouri. He provided DNA and is assisting in the investigation. Then in April of 2023 Othram confirmed the parent/child relationship and revealed the identity of this John Doe as Donald Leroy Pearson. Pearson was born in 1924, which means he would have been 56 years old at the time of his death. Pearson was born in Nebraska and many of his known addresses are in the Midwest. His siblings are deceased and his children relay that their father was not present in their lives.

https://my.spokanecity.org/news/releases/2023/06/02/human-remains-identified-in-43-year-old-murder-in-spokane/

 

[dotr]