AZ AZ - Phoenix, 35th Ave & Peoria, WhtMal 40-70, UP1952, struck by car, transient, known as "Box Mike", Jul'98

[Grungster]

I haven't seen a thread for this guy so I decided to make one.

JOHN DOE

DESCRIPTION
- White male
- 40-70
- 5'9
- 190 pounds
- Gray hair and beard
- Blue eyes

CLOTHING
- Green pants
- Brown sandals

CIRCUMSTANCES
This man was struck by a car at 35th Avenue and Peoria in Phoenix and later died of his injuries in a hospital. He was known as a transient in that area for many years and was known to others as "Box Mike".

SOURCES
- The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) *GRAPHIC POSTMORTEM WARNING*

 

[Grungster]

He is currently a DDP case, in the active research phase.

Box Mike Phoenix 1998 - DNA Doe Project Cases

 

[djanga]

According to the recent article Mike had Eastern European ancestry, that makes it very difficult for the DDP to identify him

Murdered Phoenix Man Identified After Nearly 40 Years — But Hundreds More are Waiting

Box Mike


Another homeless John Doe has only a flickering hope of closure. He was a longtime Phoenix resident known by many as Box Mike.


On July 11, 1998, Mike was struck by a car at 35th and Peoria Avenues. He was transported to the hospital and later died of his injuries


Box Mike had gray hair, a beard and mustache, and blue eyes.
DNA Doe Project

“Box Mike is a very difficult case,” said Binder, who believes Mike was Eastern European.


It’s likely both of his parents emigrated from a country torn by communism that would have lost or destroyed many family records. Box Mike hasn’t yielded many matches in GEDmatch, Family Tree DNA, or the other databases used by forensic genealogists.


Mike was buried at the White Tanks Cemetery in Goodyear after authorities ruled the chances of being identified unlikely. He was known by many, but none beyond his nickname.

 

[John/Jane Doe]

Doe Network: International Center For Missing and Unidentified Persons

Doe Network is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to bringing awareness to missing persons and unidentified persons throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Australia.

www.doenetwork.org

 

[John/Jane Doe]

Doe Network: International Center For Missing and Unidentified Persons

Doe Network is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to bringing awareness to missing persons and unidentified persons throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Australia.

www.doenetwork.org

 

[Melt71]

His DDP page was last updated in 2023. I wish they would release a list of possible surnames.

Box Mike Phoenix John Doe 1998 | DNA Doe Project

dnadoeproject.org

His Namus does have quite a few ruleouts.

 

[djanga]

His DDP page was last updated in 2023. I wish they would release a list of possible surnames.

Box Mike Phoenix John Doe 1998 | DNA Doe Project

dnadoeproject.org

His Namus does have quite a few ruleouts.

View attachment 617640

I agree! I wonder where from Eastern Europe he was from. I am on Gedmatch but our admixtures with him are very different.