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NamUs #UP88214 / Doe Network 2755UMCA
Demographics
Sex: Male
Race/Ethnicity: Uncertain
Estimated Age Group: Adult - Pre 40
Estimated Age Range (Years): 20-40
Estimated Year of Death: 1990
Estimated PMI: N/A (News reports say 2-4 weeks)
Height: 5'6"-6'0" (66-72 inches), Estimated
Weight: Cannot Estimate
Cause of Death: Homicide, possible head trauma
Circumstances
Type: Unidentified Deceased
Date Body Found: December 30, 1990
NamUs Case Created: January 20, 2022
ME/C QA Reviewed: N/A
Location Found: Ragged Point, California
County: San Luis Obispo County
Circumstances of Recovery: At around 6:20 p.m. on December 30, 1990, a hiker discovered what appeared to be human remains at the based of a 680-foot cliff about a mile north of Ragged Point, near the Monterey County line. The hiker alerted authorities, who quickly arrived on the scene. Unfortunately, thick fog and high tides prevented the sheriff's search and rescue squad from beginning a recovery mission until the following afternoon.
Once conditions improved, the body -- which was dismembered and placed in two black plastic garbage bags -- was airlifted to San Luis Obispo for an autopsy via helicopter and officers continued to comb the base of the cliff for additional evidence. Divers were also dispatched to the scene to search the ocean for evidence that may have been washed away by the tides.
From the beginning, authorities classified the case as a homicide due to the dismemberment of the victim, although they weren't able to pinpoint the exact cause death, which was listed as probable head trauma. In addition to the body, deputies also recovered additional evidence from the scene, including a distinctive 18-inch long gold necklace with a 1.5-inch long cornucopia pendant on the victim's body.
In addition to the necklace, believed to belong to the victim, police also recovered a chainsaw, double-edged ax, and an empty plastic packaging for cord wedged in between two rocks at the base of the cliff. Deputies conducted a search of hardware stores between Monterey and Oxnard in the hope of identifying the purchaser. They discovered that a hardware store in Oxnard sold a chainsaw, double-edged ax, and cord matching the brands of the items found at the base of the cliff within the 2-4 week timeframe deputies believe the murder occurred. Unfortunately, the clerk at the hardware store was unable to recall who purchased the items.
Authorities said that the believe the victim was likely deceased for 2 to 4 weeks prior to discovery and that he was already dead at the time of dismemberment. It is believe that the victim was killed elsewhere and his remains, along with the items used to dismember his body, were tossed over the cliff by his killer or killers in an effort to conceal the crime.
Inventory of Remains: One or more limbs not recovered; One or both hands not recovered
Condition of Remains: Not recognizable - Partial skeletal parts only
Physical Description
Hair Color: Black
Head Hair Description: Long black hair, approximately 10 inches long
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinctive Physical Features: Received good dental care
Clothing and Accessories
- 18-inch gold chain necklace with cornucopia (horn of plenty) charm, approximately 1.5 inches in length (On the Body)
News Coverage
"Body found at Ragged Point," Telegram-Tribune [San Luis Obispo, CA], 1 January 1991, A3.
A passerby first reported seeing what he believed to be the remains of a body Sunday at about 6:20 p.m. The body was at the base of a 680-foot cliff about a mile north of Ragged Point near the Monterey County line.
Mulhall said foggy conditions and high tides Sunday night prevented the sheriff's search and rescue squad from looking for the body until Monday afternoon.
The body was airlifted by helicopter to San Luis Obispo and turned over to the County Coroner.
Detectives are investigating the case as a "probable homicide" based on evidence gathered so far, said Mulhall.
Gary Taylor, "Ragged Point homicide victim is still unknown," Telegram-Tribune [San Luis Obispo, CA], 3 January 1991, A1, A4.
[part 1] [part 2]
"We don't know the time or the location," Mulhall said. "But we do know this is a homicide. There's no doubt about that."
[...]
An autopsy on the body was completed Wednesday, but detectives are not releasing any information about the cause of death because of the investigation.
Gary Taylor, "Clue revealed in man's death," Telegram-Tribune [San Luis Obispo, CA], 15 January 1991, A4.
Detectives recovered an 18-inch gold chain necklace and "Italian horn" pendant from the victim's body, sheriff's Sgt. Jim Mulhall said this morning.
The pendant, described by Mulhall as well-worn, is about 1 1/2 inches long.
[...]
No identification was found on the badly decomposed body, which was wrapped in plastic. Detectives were able to determine the victim was white and had probably been dead for several weeks.
[...]
Dental findings indicate the man, who was initially believed to be between 30 and 40 years old, was probably between 25 and 30 years old. He was likely killed between two and six weeks before his body was found, Mulhall said, instead of the 10 weeks cited earlier by detectives.
The victim also had black hair that was about 10 inches long, Mulhall said, and stood between 5 feet, 8 inches tall and 5 feet, 10 inches tall. The victim also had a medium to stocky build.
Although investigators have been tight-lipped about the case, detectives did disclose they believe the man was probably killed outside of San Luis Obispo County and dumped near Ragged Point.
Danna Dykstra, "Years later, clues still scarce in case of body dumped at Ragged Point," Telegram-Tribune [San Luis Obispo, CA], 9 May 1997, B1, B2.
[part 1] [part 2]
Authorities have yet to identify the dismembered man whose parts were stuffed in two black garbage bags that appeared to have been thrown from the top of a rugged cliff facing scenic Highway 1.
The man's killer or killers used a chainsaw and double-edged ax to sever his body. The tools, along with packaging from an undisclosed brand of nylon cord, were found lodged in rocks during an extensive search.
[...]
"Whoever did this tossed what they could from the edge of the cliff hoping it would get to the ocean," said detective Sgt. Bill Wammock, the lead investigator on the case. "Obviously some of it didn't make it to the ocean."
An autopsy indicated the man died before he was mutilated, possibly from some type of head trauma, although his cause of death has never been confirmed.
The man was killed an estimated two to four weeks before his remains were found.
"Obviously this was a body dump," said Wammock. "We have no idea where he was killed or how far he had been transported."
There was evidence that attempts were made to prevent the man from being identified, although Wammock declined to be more specific.
"This was no professional hit; it was amateurish. But based on the mutilation, our only means of identifying him are through dental records. We just need to know who he is and we need to know his dentist to find records."
[...]
Detectives got a slight break in the case when a search of thousands of sales receipts from hardware stores between Monterey and Oxnard turned up one receipt in Oxnard for a chairsaw, two-edged ax and 50-foot cord.
All merchandise matched the brands of the evidence recovered from the cliff.
"The clerk who sold the merchandise was interviewed, but she couldn't remember who she sold it to," said Wammock. "The date on the receipt was within the time frame of the killing."
[...]
Findings also indicate he had good dental care.
Demographics
Sex: Male
Race/Ethnicity: Uncertain
Estimated Age Group: Adult - Pre 40
Estimated Age Range (Years): 20-40
Estimated Year of Death: 1990
Estimated PMI: N/A (News reports say 2-4 weeks)
Height: 5'6"-6'0" (66-72 inches), Estimated
Weight: Cannot Estimate
Cause of Death: Homicide, possible head trauma
Circumstances
Type: Unidentified Deceased
Date Body Found: December 30, 1990
NamUs Case Created: January 20, 2022
ME/C QA Reviewed: N/A
Location Found: Ragged Point, California
County: San Luis Obispo County
Circumstances of Recovery: At around 6:20 p.m. on December 30, 1990, a hiker discovered what appeared to be human remains at the based of a 680-foot cliff about a mile north of Ragged Point, near the Monterey County line. The hiker alerted authorities, who quickly arrived on the scene. Unfortunately, thick fog and high tides prevented the sheriff's search and rescue squad from beginning a recovery mission until the following afternoon.
Once conditions improved, the body -- which was dismembered and placed in two black plastic garbage bags -- was airlifted to San Luis Obispo for an autopsy via helicopter and officers continued to comb the base of the cliff for additional evidence. Divers were also dispatched to the scene to search the ocean for evidence that may have been washed away by the tides.
From the beginning, authorities classified the case as a homicide due to the dismemberment of the victim, although they weren't able to pinpoint the exact cause death, which was listed as probable head trauma. In addition to the body, deputies also recovered additional evidence from the scene, including a distinctive 18-inch long gold necklace with a 1.5-inch long cornucopia pendant on the victim's body.
In addition to the necklace, believed to belong to the victim, police also recovered a chainsaw, double-edged ax, and an empty plastic packaging for cord wedged in between two rocks at the base of the cliff. Deputies conducted a search of hardware stores between Monterey and Oxnard in the hope of identifying the purchaser. They discovered that a hardware store in Oxnard sold a chainsaw, double-edged ax, and cord matching the brands of the items found at the base of the cliff within the 2-4 week timeframe deputies believe the murder occurred. Unfortunately, the clerk at the hardware store was unable to recall who purchased the items.
Authorities said that the believe the victim was likely deceased for 2 to 4 weeks prior to discovery and that he was already dead at the time of dismemberment. It is believe that the victim was killed elsewhere and his remains, along with the items used to dismember his body, were tossed over the cliff by his killer or killers in an effort to conceal the crime.
Inventory of Remains: One or more limbs not recovered; One or both hands not recovered
Condition of Remains: Not recognizable - Partial skeletal parts only
Physical Description
Hair Color: Black
Head Hair Description: Long black hair, approximately 10 inches long
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinctive Physical Features: Received good dental care
Clothing and Accessories
- 18-inch gold chain necklace with cornucopia (horn of plenty) charm, approximately 1.5 inches in length (On the Body)
News Coverage
"Body found at Ragged Point," Telegram-Tribune [San Luis Obispo, CA], 1 January 1991, A3.
A passerby first reported seeing what he believed to be the remains of a body Sunday at about 6:20 p.m. The body was at the base of a 680-foot cliff about a mile north of Ragged Point near the Monterey County line.
Mulhall said foggy conditions and high tides Sunday night prevented the sheriff's search and rescue squad from looking for the body until Monday afternoon.
The body was airlifted by helicopter to San Luis Obispo and turned over to the County Coroner.
Detectives are investigating the case as a "probable homicide" based on evidence gathered so far, said Mulhall.
Gary Taylor, "Ragged Point homicide victim is still unknown," Telegram-Tribune [San Luis Obispo, CA], 3 January 1991, A1, A4.
[part 1] [part 2]
"We don't know the time or the location," Mulhall said. "But we do know this is a homicide. There's no doubt about that."
[...]
An autopsy on the body was completed Wednesday, but detectives are not releasing any information about the cause of death because of the investigation.
Gary Taylor, "Clue revealed in man's death," Telegram-Tribune [San Luis Obispo, CA], 15 January 1991, A4.
Detectives recovered an 18-inch gold chain necklace and "Italian horn" pendant from the victim's body, sheriff's Sgt. Jim Mulhall said this morning.
The pendant, described by Mulhall as well-worn, is about 1 1/2 inches long.
[...]
No identification was found on the badly decomposed body, which was wrapped in plastic. Detectives were able to determine the victim was white and had probably been dead for several weeks.
[...]
Dental findings indicate the man, who was initially believed to be between 30 and 40 years old, was probably between 25 and 30 years old. He was likely killed between two and six weeks before his body was found, Mulhall said, instead of the 10 weeks cited earlier by detectives.
The victim also had black hair that was about 10 inches long, Mulhall said, and stood between 5 feet, 8 inches tall and 5 feet, 10 inches tall. The victim also had a medium to stocky build.
Although investigators have been tight-lipped about the case, detectives did disclose they believe the man was probably killed outside of San Luis Obispo County and dumped near Ragged Point.
Danna Dykstra, "Years later, clues still scarce in case of body dumped at Ragged Point," Telegram-Tribune [San Luis Obispo, CA], 9 May 1997, B1, B2.
[part 1] [part 2]
Authorities have yet to identify the dismembered man whose parts were stuffed in two black garbage bags that appeared to have been thrown from the top of a rugged cliff facing scenic Highway 1.
The man's killer or killers used a chainsaw and double-edged ax to sever his body. The tools, along with packaging from an undisclosed brand of nylon cord, were found lodged in rocks during an extensive search.
[...]
"Whoever did this tossed what they could from the edge of the cliff hoping it would get to the ocean," said detective Sgt. Bill Wammock, the lead investigator on the case. "Obviously some of it didn't make it to the ocean."
An autopsy indicated the man died before he was mutilated, possibly from some type of head trauma, although his cause of death has never been confirmed.
The man was killed an estimated two to four weeks before his remains were found.
"Obviously this was a body dump," said Wammock. "We have no idea where he was killed or how far he had been transported."
There was evidence that attempts were made to prevent the man from being identified, although Wammock declined to be more specific.
"This was no professional hit; it was amateurish. But based on the mutilation, our only means of identifying him are through dental records. We just need to know who he is and we need to know his dentist to find records."
[...]
Detectives got a slight break in the case when a search of thousands of sales receipts from hardware stores between Monterey and Oxnard turned up one receipt in Oxnard for a chairsaw, two-edged ax and 50-foot cord.
All merchandise matched the brands of the evidence recovered from the cliff.
"The clerk who sold the merchandise was interviewed, but she couldn't remember who she sold it to," said Wammock. "The date on the receipt was within the time frame of the killing."
[...]
Findings also indicate he had good dental care.
