CA CA - Stanislaus, WhtMale 18-22, 3076UMCA, In trash can in Delta Mendota Canal, Sep '82

[BrownBear]

3076UMCA - Unidentified Male

Date of Discovery: September 8, 1982
Location of Discovery: Stanislaus County, California
Estimated Date of Death: 1-2 weeks prior
State of Remains: Decomposed
Cause of Death: Homicide by beating

Physical Description
Estimated Age: 18-22 years old
Race: White
Sex: Male
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 160 lbs.
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown

Identifiers
Dentals: Available.
Fingerprints: Not available.
DNA: Not available.

Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: Blue Levi denim jeans (31 x 34), gold T-shirt, with "Franciscan 1973" on front, winery in Napa Valley, CA.
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown

Circumstances of Discovery
The victim was located in the Delta Mendota Canal, in a trash can.

Investigating Agency(s)
Agency Name: Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department-Coroner's Division
Agency Contact Person: Garry Found DDS FACD
Agency Phone Number: 209-567-4500
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 82-09-23 or S2-17755

NCIC Case Number: U766527505
NamUs Case Number: 4946
Former Hot Case Number: 1301

Information Source(s)
NamUs
Stanislaus County Coroner

Admin Notes
Added: 12/4/08; Last Updated: 4/2/18

 

[BrownBear]

NamUs link
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

2 Exclusions
MP20082 Mark Addison 09/04/1982 San Luis Obispo CA
MP21141 Glenn Morris 01/01/1959 Los Angeles CA

 

[citizen_sleuth]

Daryl Farnsworth, "Body found floating in trash can," Modesto Bee, 9 September 1982, B1.

The decomposed body of a man was found Wednesday stuffed head-first inside a trash can floating in the Delta Mendota Canal.

The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department reported that the body was found near Needham and Stark roads. Homicide detectives said the unidentified victim probably had been in the water about a week.

[...]

The body was found about 10 a.m. by a ditchtender who saw the victim's legs protruding from a large metal can that was floating against the canal's water control gates, according to Detective Capt. Rod Wells.

[...]

Detectives said it is possible that the body floated down the canal from San Joaquin County. They said there are no water control gates between where the body was found and the San Joaquin County line.

[...]

Late Tuesday, west side rancher Phil Stadtler and well driller Rudy Johnson saw the can in the canal but did not see the body so they didn't report it, Johnson said. He said they were going to check the can again Wednesday.

"Autopsy shows man in canal was bludgeoned," Modesto Bee, 10 September 1982, B2.

An autopsy performed by county Pathologist Dr. William Ernoehazy determined that the victim suffered massive head injuries caused by a blunt instrument, according to detective Michael Dulaney.

Dulaney said the victim's identity still is unknown. He said the victim's fingerprints were not on file at the sheriff's department or the Department of Justice in Sacramento.

The victim is described as Caucasian, in his late 20s, 5-feet, 11-inches tall, 150 pounds with brown, medium-length hair. There were no tattoos on the body. The victim was dressed in a gold or yellow T-shirt with "Franciscan Winery, 1973, Napa, Calif." stenciled on the front.

Daryl Farnsworth, "Expert reconstructs slaying victim's face," Modesto Bee, 11 November 1982, B3.

Wells said the victim's fingerprints are not on file with the sheriff's office, state Department of Justice or the FBI.

"Apparently the man had never been fingerprinted," Wells said. "That means he's never been arrested and never been in the armed services.

"Without knowing the victim's identity, we don't have much to go on," Wells said. "We have no motive, no suspects and few leads. Maybe someone will be able to identify the victim from the photo of the cast," he added.