AZ AZ - Phoenix, WhtMal, 60-80, Michael Sidney Hill (DOB 4/28/1937), Feb'13

[Curious_in_NC]

The only physical characteristic noted at NamUs is this "Chronic arthritic misalignment of the toes ("hammertoes")"

Was this something so debilitating he would have worn orthotics (maybe traceable, but probably thrown out with the soiled clothes if they ever existed)? It doesn't sound like this guy got around very well on his own.

from Foot Arthritis, Nerve & Tendon Issues | Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin
Deformities of the “lesser toes” occur when the joints are contracted, becoming stiff or immobilized. They are classified as hammer toes, claw toes, or mallet toes and are caused by improper footwear, arthritis, loss of intrinsic muscle function or trauma.

Surgery may be required to remove the contracted joint or correct contracted tendons.

 

[annemc2]

My dad had those hammertoe things. They were painful like when walking or standing for a long period of time and became more painful as time went on. He had worn these foam or silicone toe separators but eventually decided on surgery where the offending toe was amputated.

He walked with a sort of shuffle and could only wear certain shoes, but it wasn't really obvious that he had any foot issues unless you saw his gnarly toes. He was sooo mad that they wouldn't let him keep his toe (he wanted to make it into a necklace).

 

[TwoDaysL8r]

Came here from stumbling across this in NAMUS. What's weird is there's not a ton of "soil" in downtown Phoenix. There's a park about two miles away - but you'd really have to work to cover yourself in soil from where he was. This is the view in 2013

 

[Bit of hope]

There are some slight changes in the narrative, but I have still a lot of questions.

The subject who is reportedly from the United Kingdom contacted a friend approximately one week prior to his death and informed him he would be in the United States in (not for) approximately one week. The friend who knew the subject as "Michael Sydney Hill"(d.o.b.4/28/1937) is also from the United Kingdom and stated he had not seen the subject in approximately 20 years but the two men remained in contact by telephone the least once a year.

The subject arrived by an unknown means of transportation at the friend's residence near the 4800 block of N. 15th Ave. in Phoenix, Arizona on February 25, 2013 at 1100, hours. When he arrived he had no belongings other than the clothes he was wearing. The subject left the friend's residence at approximately 1300, hours and returned four hours later.

His clothing was heavily soiled and was thrown out and his friend provided him with new clothes. The subject then began complaining of not feeling well and went and laid down in a guest bedroom.

A short time later he began to convulse and went unresponsive. The friend called 911 and emergency service personnel responded to the scene and death was pronounced at that location.

The subject had no identification with him to confirm the identity of" Michael Sydney Hill".

 

[Bit of hope]

I found this, but I'm not sure the S stands for Sydney.

 

[Vespertine]

I found this, but I'm not sure the S stands for Sydney.

View attachment 467319

I think there is a good chance that S stand for Sidney. Lydia A Carmichael is married to a Sidney G Hill. This child already has part of his mothers maiden name why not give him part of his fathers name as well.

 

[Bit of hope]

I think there is a good chance that S stand for Sidney. Lydia A Carmichael is married to a Sidney G Hill. This child already has part of his mothers maiden name why not give him part of his fathers name as well.

Yes, I realize now that a. I spelled Sidney wrong and b. this is the only one I could find born in 1937 in England. I would love to know what part of England the UID and his friend came from. There must be more details in the police report.

 

[Melquiades]

Interesting that one description reads ‘covered in soil’ (weird) and the other reads ‘heavily soiled’ (less weird).

I suspect that the UID probably shat themselves as part of the ‘not feeling well’ that lead to their death and this is why the clothes were immediately thrown out and that somewhere something was lost in translation and we’ve ended up with a guy covered in soil instead.

 

[Deleted member 306904]

Interesting that one description reads ‘covered in soil’ (weird) and the other reads ‘heavily soiled’ (less weird).

I suspect that the UID probably shat themselves as part of the ‘not feeling well’ that lead to their death and this is why the clothes were immediately thrown out and that somewhere something was lost in translation and we’ve ended up with a guy covered in soil instead.

As in soiled himself perhaps.

 

[The4TierBridge]

This is now a case being investigated for genetic genealogy by Ramapo College (and it seems to have been up on their website since at least ten months ago when somebody posted a write-up about this case on r/gratefuldoe). Hopefully they can untangle this bizarre mess. Cases In Progress

 

[kforbes862]

Hopefully there will be good matches right away for them and an easy identify.

 

[Fake Protagonist]

I found the Michael S Hill birth record mentioned above within a minute of searching FreeBMD for a Michael Hill born in England/Wales in 1937. There is only one who has S as a middle initial. The birth was registered in the Apr-Jun quarter, which aligns perfectly with the stated late April birthdate, as births are legally required to be registered within 42 days in England.

I strongly suspect this could be a match. I searched England & Wales death records from 1937 up until 2023 (which is as late as I can search) and couldn't find a match to the above birth record. I saw a few people named Michael Sidney Hill in the death index, but their birth years differ significantly. I also searched the British Newspaper Archive for any relevant articles but Michael Hill is such a common name that there were over 10,000 hits. I also searched for Michael S Hill and Michael Sidney Hill in the archives but found nothing relevant.

As a genealogist, it really frustrates me that police seemingly didn't search that hard for him. English birth and death records from 1837 til 2023 are publicly available to search online, and physical copies can be ordered for less than $20 USD each. There is no excuse for keeping his family and loved ones in the dark about his death for over 12 years when the info was right there (if indeed the above birth record is his) the whole time.

 

[Hochman]

NamUs file is down.

 

[iulia]

Remains of Brit found dead 12 years ago finally identified

Michael Hill, who died aged 75, has become the first British citizen to be identified through a breakthrough new technology

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

The remains of a British man who was found dead in the US 12 years ago have been identified thanks to cutting-edge new DNA technology.


Michael Hill died aged 75 in February 2013 whilst visiting a friend in Arizona.


ETA: Ramapo College announcement:

British Citizen Cold Case Resolved with Help from Across the Pond

This is the first UK citizen to be identified with investigative genetic genealogy, thanks to U.S. college team MAHWAH, NJ– An unidentified British man who died in Arizona in 2013 has been given his name back, thanks to students and staff in the Ramapo College Investigative Genetic Genealogy...

www.ramapo.edu

 

[Susikatze]

So that likely was the guy from the record. And all the information the friend gave was correct.

 

[MarziPanda]

Interesting that staff/students from Sheffield Hallam seem to have been the ones doing much of the work. I think that makes this one of the first times genetic genealogy has been used for this purpose on British soil, albeit for a US case which is probably why it was allowed. I hope this is a sign that things will change and genetic genealogy will be used for UK Does.

Still very odd that Michael had nothing with him except his clothes. But maybe he'd left his stuff at a locker or hotel somewhere.

RIP Michael Hill.