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NAMUS UP132428 (1977)
Unidentified Male
Location Found: Fairbanks, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska
Date Found: January 16, 1977
Race: White / Caucasian
PMI: Unknown
Estimated year of Death: 1977
Estimated Age: Adult (Pre 60’s)
Height: Unknown
Weight: Unknown
Hair: Unknown
Eye Color: Unknown
Clothing: Unknown
Circumstances: Portion of a skull was found by a dog in the area of 3 1/2 mile Steese Hwy.
Condition of Remains: Not recognizable - Partial skeletal parts only
Inventory of Remains: Unknown
Agency Info:
ME/C Case Number: 2024-01476
Alaska Medical Examiner's Office - (907) 334-2200
Agency Case Number: 2024-01476
Alaska State Troopers - Fairbanks Post - (907) 451-5100
Agency Case Number: Unknown
0 Exclusions
Case Media
This case is interesting as it is presumed that this skull is that of Harold G. Pettus. He disappeared on July 26, 1976 and was last seen at his home at 1010 Evergreen Street in Fairbanks. He was a high ranking Teamster at the H & S Warehouse-Earthmovers Inc. at the North Star Terminals in Fairbanks. The rest of his remains (minus his head and spine) were found on May 21, 1977 and were confirmed by X-Ray. This skull and his remains were found under a mile apart. The cause of his death was never determined.
It is presumed the death of Pettus is connected to that of John “Jack” P. Martin, who was also a high ranking teamster at the North Star Terminals. Martin went missing from his home in Fairbanks on July 18, 1976. His remains were found on August 3, 1976 at 11 Mile Steese Highway. He had been shot two times in the head.
The deaths of both Pettus and Martin remain unsolved. It is suspected that they may have been killed in connection with drug trafficking at the North Star Terminal.
"Skull identified by anthropologist," Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, January 18, 1977, pg 3.
"The skull found at 4 Mile Steese Highway...is that of a white man between the ages of 35-45."
"The skull was dug up by a dog in the area of a trailer court on the Steese."
“The face of the skull is gone and the anthropologists could not determine the cause or time of death due to decomposition."
"Body still unidentified, cause of death a mystery," Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, May 25, 1977, pg 9.
"The body found Saturday in a wooded area off a dirt road near 3 Mile Steese Highway is presumed [later confirmed] to be that of missing Teamster boss Harold G. Pettus."
"The skull and neck portion of the body down to about the fourth rib is missing."
"The body is [presumed] to be that of Pettus, who disappeared from his Fairbanks apartments last July"
"Pettus and John "Jack" (or Red) Martin both disappeared about the same time. Both men were Teamster bosses at the South Cushman Street union warehouse...Martin's body was found at about 11 Mile Steese Highway last August."
"Last January part of a skull was found in the area of a Steese Highway trailer park about one-fourth mile from where the body of Pettus was found on top of the ground in a wooded area Saturday."
Unidentified Male
Location Found: Fairbanks, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska
Date Found: January 16, 1977
Race: White / Caucasian
PMI: Unknown
Estimated year of Death: 1977
Estimated Age: Adult (Pre 60’s)
Height: Unknown
Weight: Unknown
Hair: Unknown
Eye Color: Unknown
Clothing: Unknown
Circumstances: Portion of a skull was found by a dog in the area of 3 1/2 mile Steese Hwy.
Condition of Remains: Not recognizable - Partial skeletal parts only
Inventory of Remains: Unknown
Agency Info:
ME/C Case Number: 2024-01476
Alaska Medical Examiner's Office - (907) 334-2200
Agency Case Number: 2024-01476
Alaska State Troopers - Fairbanks Post - (907) 451-5100
Agency Case Number: Unknown
0 Exclusions
Case Media
This case is interesting as it is presumed that this skull is that of Harold G. Pettus. He disappeared on July 26, 1976 and was last seen at his home at 1010 Evergreen Street in Fairbanks. He was a high ranking Teamster at the H & S Warehouse-Earthmovers Inc. at the North Star Terminals in Fairbanks. The rest of his remains (minus his head and spine) were found on May 21, 1977 and were confirmed by X-Ray. This skull and his remains were found under a mile apart. The cause of his death was never determined.
It is presumed the death of Pettus is connected to that of John “Jack” P. Martin, who was also a high ranking teamster at the North Star Terminals. Martin went missing from his home in Fairbanks on July 18, 1976. His remains were found on August 3, 1976 at 11 Mile Steese Highway. He had been shot two times in the head.
The deaths of both Pettus and Martin remain unsolved. It is suspected that they may have been killed in connection with drug trafficking at the North Star Terminal.
"Skull identified by anthropologist," Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, January 18, 1977, pg 3.
"The skull found at 4 Mile Steese Highway...is that of a white man between the ages of 35-45."
"The skull was dug up by a dog in the area of a trailer court on the Steese."
“The face of the skull is gone and the anthropologists could not determine the cause or time of death due to decomposition."
"Body still unidentified, cause of death a mystery," Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, May 25, 1977, pg 9.
"The body found Saturday in a wooded area off a dirt road near 3 Mile Steese Highway is presumed [later confirmed] to be that of missing Teamster boss Harold G. Pettus."
"The skull and neck portion of the body down to about the fourth rib is missing."
"The body is [presumed] to be that of Pettus, who disappeared from his Fairbanks apartments last July"
"Pettus and John "Jack" (or Red) Martin both disappeared about the same time. Both men were Teamster bosses at the South Cushman Street union warehouse...Martin's body was found at about 11 Mile Steese Highway last August."
"Last January part of a skull was found in the area of a Steese Highway trailer park about one-fourth mile from where the body of Pettus was found on top of the ground in a wooded area Saturday."
