FL Broward County- Male/Multiple- 30-60- Found in aftermath of Hurricane Dennis- UP1024- July 10, 2005

[PatLaurel]

https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/1024

1 Missing Person Exclusions

Missing Person / NamUs # MP573 Carlo Pfaff, Male, White / Caucasian
Date of Last Contact March 6, 1999
StateSC
County Richland

 

[PatLaurel]

1380UMFL

Date of Discovery: July 10, 2005
Location of Discovery: Broward County, Florida
Estimated Date of Death: Within 24 hours prior to discovery
State of Remains: Recognizable face
Cause of Death: Unknown, Body found in aftermath of Hurricane Dennis

Physical Description​

Estimated Age: 30-60 years old
Race: White and/or Hispanic
Sex: Male
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 116 lbs.
Hair Color: Black, 1-inch long, wavy
Eye Color: Unknown, described as "dark"
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Short, scruffy, black and gray beard and mustache

Identifiers​

Dentals: Unknown
Fingerprints: Unknown
DNA: Unknown

Clothing & Personal Items​

Clothing: Speedo-style yellow swimsuit with dark trim. The seams are hand-stitched and the drawstring is handmade. The hand-stitched swim suit suggests the decedent may be Cuban.
Jewelry: None
Additional Personal Items: None

Circumstances of Discovery​

The body was located on the jetty to Port Everglades inside John U. Lloyd Beach State Park in the aftermath of Hurricane Dennis. The hand-stitched swim suit suggests the decedent may be Cuban.

 

[PatLaurel]

Bumping for "hand-stitched swimsuit" John Doe and wondering why it suggests he may be Cuban.

MOO JMO

 

[PayrollNerd]

Bumping for "hand-stitched swimsuit" John Doe and wondering why it suggests he may be Cuban.

MOO JMO

Sewing in Cuba uses repurposed fabrics due to few resources. As a sewer myself, they’re many items made out of fabrics you wouldn’t think would be used. Like dresses made from feed sacks decades ago. His swimsuit could have been made out of old pants or shirt fabric.

 

[PatLaurel]

Sewing in Cuba uses repurposed fabrics due to few resources. As a sewer myself, they’re many items made out of fabrics you wouldn’t think would be used. Like dresses made from feed sacks decades ago. His swimsuit could have been made out of old pants or shirt fabric.

I’m aware of that, but a hand-stitched piece doesn’t really say where you’re from. He could be Haitian, Bahamian, Dominican... All countries with few resources.
Once, on a fishing trip, I ripped my bikini briefs on the boat ladder and ended up stitching them up using a fish hook and fishing line. I can only imagine what people would think my background was if they saw it!

 

[PayrollNerd]

I’m aware of that, but a hand-stitched piece doesn’t really say where you’re from. He could be Haitian, Bahamian, Dominican... All countries with few resources.
Once, on a fishing trip, I ripped my bikini briefs on the boat ladder and ended up stitching them up using a fish hook and fishing line. I can only imagine what people would think my background was if they saw it!

I hear you! I’m in a quilt group and last meeting we learned a hand stitch that has been around for 800 years. It was an older black lady demonstrating how the pieces of fabric scraps were connected and type of threads. I’m wondering if it was something similar.

 

[PatLaurel]

I hear you! I’m in a quilt group and last meeting we learned a hand stitch that has been around for 800 years. It was an older black lady demonstrating how the pieces of fabric scraps were connected and type of threads. I’m wondering if it was something similar.

One of the things I’ve always wished I could do is dressmaking, but I really don’t have talent for it. I can sew on a button and patch up a small hole, though…
Making a quilt is on my list. Do you think I can find that 800 year old hand stitch online? I know something different and historical would definitely keep me motivated.

As for our Doe, I doubt LE could determine someone’s origin based on a type of hand stitch alone. Maybe that suggestion came from their experience with other Cuban refugees in the past? Or perhaps the fabric itself had some kind of identifying mark.