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NAMUS UP12931
Unidentified MaleLocation Found: Canyon, Contra Costa County, California
Date Found: December 3, 1977
Race: Other
PMI: 4 weeks
Estimated year of Death: 1977
Estimated Age: 35-40 Years
Height: 5' 9"(69 inches) , Measured
Weight: Cannot Estimate
Hair: Unknown
Eye Color: Unknown
Clothing: Pink shirt, white shorts, blue jeans.
Circumstances: The remains of a male homicide victim (John Doe) was found near Pinehurst Road, 0.2 miles west of Canyon Road, in Canyon CA. on 12-03-1977. The remains were severely decomposed. John Doe is a Caucasoid: Pacific Ocean or Mexican American, male, 35 to 40 years-old, about 5'-9" tall.
Condition of Remains: Not recognizable - Mummified
Inventory of Remains: All parts recovered
Agency Info:
ME/C Case Number: 77-1082
Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff- Coroner Division - (925) 313-2850
Agency Case Number: 77-1082
0 Exclusions
Case Media:
Looks like this body was initially thought to be female but was changed to male. In the first article this individual was thought to be Caucasian female, before being changed to a Black male in the next article, before finally being thought to be a Caucasian, Pacific Islander, or Hispanic male.
"Woman's Body Found By Hikers Near Canyon," Contra Costa Times, December 4, 1977, pg 3.
"The body of an unidentified [individual]...was found Saturday afternoon by two hikers south of Canyon off of Pinehurst Road."
"The body was found on East bay Municipal Utility District land."
"a fairly new .38 caliber casing was found near the scene."
"One officer noted that on October 29, a hole had been discovered a short distance from where the body was found Saturday. The hole closely resembled a grave site."
"Body Found Saturday Thought to be a Male," Contra Costa Times, December 5, 1977, pg 6.
"Coroner's officials believe the victim had been dead three to six months."
"Body Found by Hikers Unidentified," Oakland Tribune, December 5, 1977, pg 12.
"Two bodies found in East Bay," The San Francisco Examiner, December 5, 1977, pg 40.
"Body's identity sought," The Independent, December 6, 1977, pg 18.
"The body was located about 180 feet down a canyon below the road, half buried, in a sleeping bag and with its legs tied 10 inches about the ankle with a white plastic cord."
"Investigators were uncertain if the body had been tossed from the roadside or carried down the slope."
"A .38-caliber bullet casing [was found] along the road directly above the scene."
"Coroner Asks for Help Identifying Dead Body," Contra Costa Times, December 14, 1977, pg 14.
"The badly decomposed body found near Canyon 11 days ago was that of a man about 35 to 40 years old, possibly a Caucasian or Pacific Islander."
"The dead man suffered from blindness in the right eye, possibly caused by an old bullet wound."
"The dental condition of the man was poor. A diseased or inflamed mouth was indicated in the report."
"A fractured rib was noted by the anthropologist, and the dead man had several healed fractures of the skull."
"Partial fingerprints were removed from the body but the prints were "of questionable value."
