CA CA - West Sacramento, WhtMale UP7701, 40-45, in Sacramento River, Mar'69

[annemc2]

Doe Network Hot Case 1172
http://www.doenetwork.org/hot/hotcase1172.html

Unidentified White Male

The victim was discovered on March 18, 1969 in Yolo County, California
Estimated Date of Death: March 13, 1969
Cause of Death: Drowning.
Vital Statistics

Estimated age: 40-45 years old
Approximate Height and Weight: 5'6"; 150 lbs.
Distinguishing Characteristics: Brown hair; brown eyes.
Clothing: Dark brown trousers, blue plaid shirt, khaki shirt, brown sports coat with 4 patch pockets, undershirt, dark socks with garters, white jockey shorts. Light brown 6 inch open-top field boots.
Jewelry: Yellow metal Watham pocket watch found in right upper jacket pocket. Serial number: 6789681, bearing name of "McErin" on inside of back of watch. Dated 04/22/1956. Watch stopped at 4:07.
Dentals: Not available. Missing the four lower front teeth.
DNA: Not available
Fingerprints: Partial right thumb print on file with CA Bureau Criminal Identification and Investigation, 1969. Double loop type with right slant.
Case History
The victim was located in the Sacramento River, 3 miles North of Freeport Bridge, West Sacramento, CA.

Investigators
If you have any information about this case please contact:
Yolo County Coroner Office
Laurel Weeks
530-668-5292
Email
You may remain anonymous when submitting information.

Case Number:
2582-31-1969

Source Information:
Yolo County Coroner Office

 

[annemc2]

Yellow metal Watham pocket watch found in right upper jacket pocket. Serial number: 6789681, bearing name of "McErin" on inside of back of watch. Dated 04/22/1956. Watch stopped at 4:07.

The information about the watch makes this case seem solvable. McErin is not a very common surname, and if the data on oldwatch.com is correct (and if my brain is in accordance) the watch was manufactured in 1894. (see http://www.oldwatch.com/walthamdate.html)

Maybe it was given to him by his father? Father in law on his wedding day? Or heck, maybe he picked it up at a pawn shop. Just thought I'd throw this out there for you guys to have a crack at it. Looks intriguing, anyway.

 

[annemc2]

Can't find any McErin's on the Social Security Death Index (maybe I'm doing it incorrectly?) but did get some hits on Ancestry. Anyone have an account and want to take a look? There aren't many but the West Coasters look worth checking out, at least (several in OR & WA).

 

[Donjeta]

Namus names no ruleouts:
https://identifyus.org/cases/7701

 

[Melt71]

So many little details on this case but still no ID. Can anyone see if there are yet any ruleouts (there were none at the time of the last post in 2011).

 

[YaYa_521]

So many little details on this case but still no ID. Can anyone see if there are yet any ruleouts (there were none at the time of the last post in 2011).

No ruleouts listed.

 

[snooptroop88]

Waltham Watch Company was in a period of flux from 1950 to time when it folded in terms of US production (at least partially) in 1957. For most of its history up till then, it was based in Massachusetts. During this critical period in the 50s, for part of that time, the company was importing Swiss movements cased in the US. It was also moving things out to Waltham Intl in Switzerland. This watch we're discussing could be a US made model; a Swiss movement model cased in US; or an early made-in-Switzerland model. I'm guessing US made, but it's only a guess.

The only McErin I could find is someone working in the lumber industry in Indiana around 1920. And the "open top field boots"? From what I can see, these are strongly associated with equestrians. Again, based on sources, these are English riding boots. I'd imagine they could easily be converted to other uses, however.
So the closest I can come is this MP, who was a hermit in Michigan:

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

Charles J. Pinger, May 1968, Bergland, Ontonagon County, Michigan
DOB: April 29, 1905 (this is very close to the April 22 on the Doe's pocket watch)
This MP was known to carry a pocket watch.
Known to wear six-inch work shoes.
MP lived in a shack in the woods as a hermit and hadn't picked up his social security checks in a couple of months. 5'6" 155lbs, 64yo, this is older than projected for the Doe. MP had blue eyes, but I'm seeing eye color can change from blue to brown depending on conditions within 48-72 hrs.