AZ AZ - Yavapai Co, WhtMale, 40-70, Broken Wrist, In Tent in Verde River, Mar'18

[Coffee56]

David Emmett Alford. Above photo found on his FB page linked from the FB missing post below. Shirt looks very similar to me. Missing possibly in Utah or Arizona

Idaho Cold Cases

David Emmett Alford – The Charley Project

And on a closer look (minus the contacts and reading glasses needed for work) I can see that they are not similar. One is striped. One is plaid.

 

[bombardier]

I don't know when he was added but since I emailed the NamUs representative, Douglas Crum has been added as a rule-out This UP now has 3 rule-outs.

 

[bombardier]

bump
Glad this case is obviously still active, cuz this guy now has four rule-outs.
Shaun Steward 2008 Maricopa County
Peter Johnson Jr 2007 Pinal County
Douglas Crum 2014 Maricopa County
Joseph Cangemi 2013 Maricopa County (this is the new one)

 

[bombardier]

This case always sticks in my head and affects me, I guess because it's so sad to imagine an elderly gentleman dying alone in a tent and no one realizing until he's literally a (sleeping)bag of bones. The great facial reconstruction really adds to it.
also: I thought I was really onto something when I saw this gentleman with his arm literally in a cast in his photos, but its his right arm, not left per the UID

 

[bombardier]

Here are some more men that I think are possibilities - please let me know what you think.
Looking for Caucasian or Hispanic (just to broaden options) men between 40 and 70, around 5'5", relatively average weight due to wearing a M shirt and size 32 jeans, short light (white?) head hair, greying facial hair with some of the original black color, good dental health, and the high cheekbones, flat chin, and long nose.
Robert William Wright - 63 y/o, missing from Johnstown CO (800 miles away), DLC in 2016. Mailed away his personal belongings first so this seems like a self-harm (or voluntarily missing) situation. Something that dissuades this possibility is that his truck was found in the opposite direction from AZ.

James Kirby Meek - 80 y/o, From Tulsa OK (1000 miles away), DLC in 2015, only info is that he was last seen in his house. I creepily zoomed in on his teeth and he seems to have some nice ones, needs a brushing but I wouldn't doubt that he would have crowns.

Richard Neria - 77 y/o, from Odessa TX (800 miles away), DLC in 2016. Veteran with dementia who was living as a transient. The tip of his nose was removed due to skin cancer (this poor guy couldn't catch a break) but I don't think that would show up on the skull itself?

Robert Tellez - 58 y/o, from Artesia CA (400 miles away), DLC in 2015. Was in a AL facility due to having schizoaffective disorder (and perhaps other disabilities). I included the better picture but the other picture on NamUs kind of looks like he has no bottom teeth? Like he has dentures but took them out? This would disqualify him from being the UID.

 

[Julessleuther]

I live near this area. Flash floods are common on the Verde River during monsoon season and people have been caught unexpectedly and perished. We have several cases the past few years of entire families being wiped out by Verde River flash floods. (For reference: Into the water: How one Arizona flood wiped out a generation of family) If he were camping near the river, it is not a surprise that he washed downstream. As a matter of fact, several of the roads in this area have been periodically closed to outside traffic because of flood risk (Seven Springs area in particular).

What is a surprise is that LE did not find an abandoned vehicle in the area. This backcountry is not easy to get to, the Sheeps Bridge area can only be accessed by a high clearance vehicle. Even if he hiked in, he had park a vehicle somewhere, either in Cave Creek, New River, Black Canyon City, Cordes Junction, etc. So, how did he get there? Did someone else bring him in? Did he live in the area and hike into the backcountry to camp?


Although the Verde River does have a high flood risk in the early spring and during monsoon season (July - Sep), other times of the year some sections of it are low or even dry, so his tent likely was affected by flooding during one of these two times of year (Feb - April; July - Sep). This might pinpoint when he camped.

A few other bits of information: He was found in March, but this area can get quite a bit of snow from Nov - Mar, so he likely did not camp during those months, which means he went missing the previous year or two during spring, summer, or fall (during monsoon season, when his tent was flooded downstream). Summer is very hot and dry in this area, not conducive for hiking, so that leaves spring or fall. Also, this area has been plagued by several wildfires over the past 10-15 years. There were active fires near this area in 2004, 2005, 2011, 2014, 2018, and 2020. He likely had to have gone missing during a time when there were no fires or his body and the tent were protected from whatever fires may have been in the area because of the proximity to the water.

 

[bombardier]

bump
Glad this case is obviously still active, cuz this guy now has four rule-outs.
Shaun Steward 2008 Maricopa County
Peter Johnson Jr 2007 Pinal County
Douglas Crum 2014 Maricopa County
Joseph Cangemi 2013 Maricopa County (this is the new one)

2 more rule-outs added since 2020:
David Verburgt 1994 Maricopa County
Robert Turner 1999 LA

 

[bombardier]

Some more guys I found (organized from most likely IMO to least likely): please let me know what you guys think!

Edward Joseph Cox - DLC May 2015, last seen driving towards Forest Road 269 in Yavapai County, and his car was later found abandoned with a flat front fire near Sheep Bridge. Our guy was found 4 miles upstream from the bridge. He had bipolar disorder in the past. I noticed in the pdf included in his NamUs that one of his last known locations was a hotel room...wonder if he was having trouble finding somewhere to stay long term? Maybe decided to try off the grid camping instead?
I was getting ahead of myself with excitement when I noticed that Ed Cox had already been mentioned in this thread by @carbuff I think we agreed that it was a mistaken rule-out because carbuff was looking at another related casefile? Either that or LE went in and removed previous ruleouts? So he hasn't actually been ruled out for this specific UID as of March '22.

Harland Stanley Rowland - DLC April 2017, missing from Yuma AZ and was last seen camping in the region of River Ranch (can't really find exactly where that is, but I found a River Ranch in Buckeye AZ which is ~4hrs drive from this UID). 5'8" (so a bit taller), 170lbs, partially grey, bald on top with length on the sides. Cannot find anything else on him.
Him camping close by is a strong lead for me, but he would have had to cut his hair very short, and he looks like a ponytail guy...from what I know, ponytail guys are very attached to that ponytail!

Donald Schambers - DLC April 2017, from LA CA(~8hr drive). He abandoned his apartment, leaving his electronics, but taking all his clothing. 5'6", 140lbs, brown hair (though you cannot really see it on the one photo provided). No more info.

Donald William Tobin - DLC July 2010, from Riverside CA (~8hr drive). Was last seen driving to put some belongings in a storage unit, but his car (with items still inside) was later found parked at a nearby dog park. 5'8", 160lbs, gray/brown hair. I agree with police that the circumstances do sound moreso like foul play, but you never know. His disappearance coincided with him about to start a new job driving for a healthcare service, so I'm wondering if he was feeling low about starting a new job in his 50's.
I mention him because I believe he's a good facial match.

 

[bombardier]

[cont]
Anthony Paul Manghelli - DLC Oct 2010, from Santa Paula CA (~9hr drive). He quit his job, put his things in storage, and was gone. No mention of a car but he does have a motorcycle associated with his profile. 5'5-6'3 (thanks...), I'm guessing moreso around 5'8 or 5'9"?, gray hair. This seems to be the only photo available.
He was last known to be a good distance away from Yavapai County but the circumstances does sound like he wanted a new start (or suicide, but I'm being positive).

 

[carbuff]

Yes, there's another very similar case in Yavapai County and either I looked at the wrong case or (I think) LE entered the exclusion here when it should have been the other case, then corrected the mistake later.

I think Cox ought to be submitted again just to be sure. Maybe contact the Yavapai sheriff's office directly to inquire? I can't imagine he hasn't been looked at, especially with the car found so near.

I also like George Hernandez with the broken arm. I wouldn't take an online photo as definitive about right and left; what with front and back cameras and all that, they're easily flipped. He disappeared the fall before this decedent was found, so that would fit. The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)


Here's the current list of exclusions (thanks @bombardier for the update!) with the updated Namus link, just to make future reference easier.
MP23230 Joseph Cangemi 11/18/2013 Maricopa AZ
MP33102 Douglas Crum 06/17/2014 Maricopa AZ
MP7406 Shaun Steward 02/01/2008 Maricopa AZ
MP19960 Peter Thomas Jr 08/03/2007 Pinal AZ
MP9324 Robert Turner 07/02/1999 Clark NV
MP19249 David Verburgt 02/08/1994 Maricopa AZ

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[carbuff]

[cont]
Anthony Paul Manghelli - DLC Oct 2010, from Santa Paula CA (~9hr drive). He quit his job, put his things in storage, and was gone. No mention of a car but he does have a motorcycle associated with his profile. 5'5-6'3 (thanks...), I'm guessing moreso around 5'8 or 5'9"?, gray hair. This seems to be the only photo available.
He was last known to be a good distance away from Yavapai County but the circumstances does sound like he wanted a new start (or suicide, but I'm being positive).

Manghelli seems possible. Plenty of time to get from CA to AZ. He sounds like the kind who moved around a lot even before he disappeared, and with a motorcycle, travel would be easy. He seems like the kind of restless energetic man who would think nothing of a long solo hiking trip in the desert.

 

[bombardier]

Yes, there's another very similar case in Yavapai County and either I looked at the wrong case or (I think) LE entered the exclusion here when it should have been the other case, then corrected the mistake later.

I think Cox ought to be submitted again just to be sure. Maybe contact the Yavapai sheriff's office directly to inquire? I can't imagine he hasn't been looked at, especially with the car found so near.

I also like George Hernandez with the broken arm. I wouldn't take an online photo as definitive about right and left; what with front and back cameras and all that, they're easily flipped. He disappeared the fall before this decedent was found, so that would fit. The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)


Here's the current list of exclusions (thanks @bombardier for the update!) with the updated Namus link, just to make future reference easier.
MP23230 Joseph Cangemi 11/18/2013 Maricopa AZ
MP33102 Douglas Crum 06/17/2014 Maricopa AZ
MP7406 Shaun Steward 02/01/2008 Maricopa AZ
MP19960 Peter Thomas Jr 08/03/2007 Pinal AZ
MP9324 Robert Turner 07/02/1999 Clark NV
MP19249 David Verburgt 02/08/1994 Maricopa AZ

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

i'll definitely e-mail them about Cox! He seems like the MP who would have been looked at first so maybe he got ruled out so early by LE it never got added to the exclusions.
I also really liked George Hernandez at first but I don't think the image is flipped because the 'cold drinks' sign in the back is right way round, if that makes sense. However, now that I review this UID case, his left wrist was fractured but his remains inventory said "one or more limbs/hands not recovered" so I'm guessing his right arm/hand might have been lost, and therefore we can't rule out that he also had right-handed trauma? Perhaps in his 2016 fall, George injured both arms?
Wish there was more info available about George's level of dementia. Was he entirely dependent on aid or could he had gotten all the way to AZ by himself?

 

[carbuff]

Good point about the sign being right way around. It doesn't look like he's got a cast on the other arm, but he could easily have fractured it at some other time.

 

[bombardier]

Time got away from me there and I finally emailed LE about Edward Cox The detective on his case replied back within the hour, very receptive, and said he would add those two cases to his list for review My feeling is that Ed has probably been already ruled out internally thru NamUs/through LE directly, but it's always nice to see that confirmed on an accessible comparison list.

 

[carbuff]

Nice work! Here's hoping we hear something soon!

 

[carbuff]

I don't see anything new on his Namus page. No new exclusions or anything.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

 

[RickshawFan]

I don't see anything new on his Namus page. No new exclusions or anything.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

I wish we had photos of ALL the stuff. We might be able to figure out a date missing from the vintage of the gear, style and brand.

IMO this fella was camping upstream and simply got washed off the bank during the middle of the night. It's possible we could estimate a date if we matched flood events with the rough-ish year of the gear.

He prolly just had his hands outside the sleeping bag when he went to sleep, and that's why they're gone. Good munchy material for rodents.

Also note: that dental work suggests he had quite a bit of money.

 

[carbuff]

I wish we had photos of ALL the stuff. We might be able to figure out a date missing from the vintage of the gear, style and brand.

IMO this fella was camping upstream and simply got washed off the bank during the middle of the night. It's possible we could estimate a date if we matched flood events with the rough-ish year of the gear.

He prolly just had his hands outside the sleeping bag when he went to sleep, and that's why they're gone. Good munchy material for rodents.

Also note: that dental work suggests he had quite a bit of money.

Good points.

 

[Teamir]

This case always sticks in my head and affects me, I guess because it's so sad to imagine an elderly gentleman dying alone in a tent and no one realizing until he's literally a (sleeping)bag of bones. The great facial reconstruction really adds to it.
also: I thought I was really onto something when I saw this gentleman with his arm literally in a cast in his photos, but its his right arm, not left per the UID

Has anyone been able to clarify if it was a casted broken wrist, a fully healed historical broken wrist, or was it broken and untreated at time of death? I was Thinking he was caught in a flood, and during the flood it broke.

 

[carbuff]

Has anyone been able to clarify if it was a casted broken wrist, a fully healed historical broken wrist, or was it broken and untreated at time of death? I was Thinking he was caught in a flood, and during the flood it broke.

Apparently it was an old injury. From Namus:

Several left wrist bones showed evidence of past injury (fractured scaphoid). Individual likely fell and broke wrist. This likely continued to cause him pain in life.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov