CA CA- San Francisco, WhtMale, 25-55, UP5839, decomposed and floating in the bay, dressed in a shirt and tie outfit. February 1974.

[cheemsg]

This is one of the John Doe cases I hold pretty dear to me, but its quite obscure and only has a NamUs page. Hopefully I can give this case a boost finally.
He was found floating in the S.F. Bay, and he was decomposed, sounds severely so by the description as his hair/eye could not be determined. No PMI is given.
He was 5'10 and 160 pounds. He wore grey plaid suit pants with a black leather belt, a white short sleeve shirt and a tie.
Who was this man? What was he dressed for?

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[PatLaurel]

No rule-outs.

UP5839 - Newspapers.com

Is this our UP?

 

[cheemsg]

No rule-outs.

UP5839 - Newspapers.com

View attachment 383855
Is this our UP?

I believe so! Great find. It's better to know he was in his 40s, 25-55 is a bit too broad IMO.

 

[cheemsg]

Juan Guzman should maybe be compared. He fits the H/W (kind of, his exact H/W was unknown) and was last known to be living in San Fran in early 1974 but I don't really feel strongly that it's him based on several inconsistencies, but he'd probably be worth ruling out.

Honestly, I don't think there's any missing man I think is a really good match in NamUs. I presume he was unreported missing. I always think he must have had kids somewhere who wonder where he is. My theory was always that he was on his last leg, had been fired from his job and killed himself that day, hence why he was in work clothes, as I see it. I suppose he was an older loner whose parents weren't around anymore, if he had kids they didn't live with him, and he just didn't have anyone to really look for him by the time he died. That's why his case sticks with me so much.

 

[beavt]

Have you considered Richard Strehle? He went missing from South Lake Tahoe (less than 200 miles from San Francisco) on 7/5/1973 at the age of 26 with a height of 6’2” and weight of 170. Described as quiet, reliable, and responsible. He worked as a realtor and was mildly depressed due to a break up at the time has was last seen. Richard grew up in California and had a sister.

Richard Edward Strehle – The Charley Project

 

[summergirl1]

This case certainly makes you wonder. Yes, it does sound like a suicide. Hopefully he wasn't cremated without anything to get DNA from.