Identified! WI - Webster, WhtMale Adult Pre 60, UP70151, con man "John Lehman", Feb'99 - Robert James Pearson

[Grungster]

Also, if Rex does turn out to be him, we can all agree that what he did was horrific and unacceptable, in the end he still had a family who deserves closure. So do the people he hurt - I'm sure the thought of knowing would give them some peace.

 

[Grungster]

NAMUS is down. A few days ago, his profile had been updated to reflect a "different" possible name. It wasn't necessarily a new name but I won't share it in case this is his real name.

 

[ntt1]

Old school detective work - John Doe from 1999 finally identified

Robert James Pearson, IDed by fingerprints while DNA was in processing. He went to school in Illinois.

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Old school detective work - John Doe from 1999 finally identified

Robert James Pearson, IDed by fingerprints while DNA was in processing.

“We are relieved to announce that John Doe has been identified as Robert James Pearson,” Sheriff Finch revealed. “Mr. Pearson is survived by his brother who has been notified of his death.”

 

[Grungster]

Rest in peace Mr. Pearson.

 

[Curious_in_NC]

Old school detective work - John Doe from 1999 finally identified

Robert James Pearson, IDed by fingerprints while DNA was in processing. He went to school in Illinois.

He may, or may not, have been a con man, but it turns out he wasn't a fugitive. Maybe we'll eventually learn why he changed his name.
From the linked article:

The family had been looking for Mr. Pearson for years, since about 1999, and said that he liked to travel around and was “a bit of a drifter,” but they again found no real reason for his changed name.

“He wasn’t wanted (by law enforcement),” Dep. Henry said. “He had been living up here for a while before his death ... but the family had never reported him missing, since they didn’t know where he was missing from.”

 

[Nancy Drew RN]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
Previous girlfriend stated in 1999 and when re-interviewed in 2020 that he was a con man and also used the identity Bobby James Pearson. The previous girlfriend does not know what his actual name was. Deceased was buried as a JOHN DOE.

So . . . he was exactly who he said he was? I've had to look for "similar" names in situations like this, where a possible name is known, and it is admittedly very hard to go through all the possible permutations.

 

[Friday Fan]

Previous girlfriend stated in 1999 and when re-interviewed in 2020 that he was a con man and also used the identity Bobby James Pearson

. .

So . . . he was exactly who he said he was? I've had to look for "similar" names in situations like this, where a possible name is known, and it is admittedly very hard to go through all the possible permutations.

Good find!!
It was right there all along!