AZ AZ - Tucson, WhtMale UP16302, 25-40, cranium under mesquite tree, Sep'82

[The4TierBridge]

This case was recently taken on for genetic genealogy by Ramapo College, but does not have a thread here.

Cases In Progress

www.ramapo.edu

"Mesquite Tree John Doe 1982 (AZ)

On September 5, 1982 the cranium of an adult male was discovered beneath a mesquite tree in a desert area near Tucson, Arizona. Due to the limited remains recovered, the decedent’s height and weight could not be determined, and his age was estimated at 25-40 years old.
Ramapo College IGG Center will collaborate with the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner to identify Mesquite Tree John Doe."

 

[The4TierBridge]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

Unidentified Person/NamUs #UP16302
Male, White/Caucasian
Date Body Found: September 5, 1982
Location Found: Tucson, Arizona
Estimated Age Range: 25-40 Years

ME/C Case Number: ML82-842

Biological Sex: Male
Race/Ethnicity: White/Caucasian
Possible First Name--
Possible Middle Name--
Possible Last Name--
Nickname/Alias--
Estimated Age Group: Adult - Pre 50
Estimated Age Range (Years): 25-40
Estimated Year of Death: 1980-1982
Estimated PMI: Months
Height: Cannot Estimate
Weight: Cannot Estimate

Type: Unidentified Deceased
Date Body Found: September 5, 1982
NamUs Case Created: February 7, 2017
ME/C QA Reviewed--

Location: Tucson, Arizona
County: Pima County
GPS Coordinates (Not Mapped)--
Found On Tribal Land--
Circumstances of Recovery: Cranium recovered from beneath a mesquite tree in desert area

Inventory of Remains: Torso not recoveredOne or more limbs not recoveredOne or both hands not recovered
Condition of Remains: Not recognizable - Partial skeletal parts only

Other - Uploaded: March 23, 2020
Red star/circle indicates recovery location

All other fields in NamUs were left blank.

 

[The4TierBridge]

Archived NamUs page: The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[The4TierBridge]

This case does not appear to be in the Arizona Migrant Death Index (Arizona OpenGIS for Deceased Migrants), so I'm assuming that investigators think this person was from the USA.

I also read in one source elsewhere that this death was a homicide and the skull suffered multiple gunshot wounds, but could not find corroboration; I'm assuming that this was once in the NamUs file and was later removed. It is listed with the police department and not just the medical examiner, which I think supports the idea of homicide.

@PatLaurel when you have the time, could you check newspapers.com for info about this case? Especially regarding the COD/Manner of death? Thanks again!

 

[PatLaurel]

Not much info here:
UP16302