Identified! CO - Lake Co., WhtMale 2530UMCO, 18-30, Hwy 82, covered by rockfall, Jun'70 - Gardner Paul Smith

[apearn]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

On Marvin Shahan mentioned above, it seems a long way from where he was last seen and no obvious reason for him to be in CO. But stranger things have happened!

He seemed to have lived in Ohio so I was thinking he may have been on the way back home.

 

[Melt71]

He seemed to have lived in Ohio so I was thinking he may have been on the way back home.

One report says his parents lived in Ohio.

 

[Al Ka]

Published Nov 18, 2020
John Doe resurfaces

The Herald Democrat of that time quoted the Lake County Sheriff’s Office in saying the body appeared to be that of a person in his early 20s, 5’7” to 5’8” in height. The entire left arm and rib cage of the body was missing. Months later the missing body parts were found in the vicinity by a highway maintenance man.

John Doe had expensive dental work, with gold and platinum fillings. He had dark hair and was dressed in a tattered sweatshirt and grey trousers. He wore three pairs of socks with an unworn sock over the left shoe. In his pockets were $7 and a razor. Searches failed to turn up any identification in the area.

Although there was some investigation of missing persons at the time, none turned out to be the Independence Pass John Doe. Eventually he was buried in the Evergreen Cemetery with a metal marker saying “Unidentified Male, May 1970.” (Although he was found in June, it seems that someone figured he actually died in May.)
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In fall 2013, the body was disinterred under Kent’s direction. A fingerprint and some DNA was obtained.
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The Herald mentioned Independence Pass John Doe again in 2017 when Pettem published her book, “The Long Term Missing,” which includes a section on him. At the time, the coroner said he planned to bury the body that spring.

Since that time, I haven’t thought much about John Doe, believing he was back in Evergreen Cemetery where he could be found if a family member ever shows up. This changed recently when I was reviewing the police report about the sheriff’s office executing a search warrant at the Bailey Kent Funeral Home on Oct. 2. The report referenced finding a coffin, sealed shut, with dirt on it from a disinterment in 2013. One of the photos accompanying the report showed a coffin labeled Mr. John Doe — Disinter — 10-8-13.

Although my recent inquiry to the coroner went unanswered, it seems possible that that coffin contains the Independence Pass John Doe, and he never made it back to the cemetery.

John Doe resurfaces

 

[Al Ka]

Adding sketches of John Doe

Colorado Cold Case Files - Case Detail: John Doe

 

[bombardier]

His case was just updated on NamUs today. Can anyone familiar with this case take a look and see if anything was added?
Very sad case, to potentially die in an avalanche...
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[BrownBear]

3 Exclusions
MP24219 Gary Cantlon 03/01/1969 Cook, IL
MP33342 Robert Newborg 05/01/1969 El Paso, CO
MP2677 William Arnold 07/15/1967 Lancaster, NE

ETA- Just read through the thread again and realized I missed that these have already been posted so they're not the update

 

[bombardier]

3 Exclusions
MP24219 Gary Cantlon 03/01/1969 Cook, IL
MP33342 Robert Newborg 05/01/1969 El Paso, CO
MP2677 William Arnold 07/15/1967 Lancaster, NE

No new rule-outs since 2018, at least, as mentioned in post #9.

 

[BrownBear]

No new rule-outs since 2018, at least, as mentioned in post #9.

Yeah I just skimmed through the thread and missed that post apparently

 

[JurassicParker]

I did a search of every male with brown hair that is 5'7 - 5'8 that went missing from '68 - '70 across the whole entire US. Nada outside of the comparisons already up there. What if whoever this is was never reported? He could have left home and just been a wanderer. Is there any facts that could be wrong or are the pretty certain on what they have?

 

[DS2021]

Bump

 

[subaw0067]

Case Numbers​

NCMEC Number--
ME/C Case NumberUP-6.19.1970

Demographics​

SexMale
Race / EthnicityWhite / Caucasian
Possible First Name--
Possible Middle Name--
Possible Last Name--
Nickname/Alias--
Estimated Age GroupAdult - Pre 30
Estimated Age Range (Years)18-30
Estimated Year of Death1969-1970
Estimated PMIMonths
Height5' 7"(67 inches) , Estimated
WeightCannot Estimate

Circumstances​

TypeUnidentified Deceased
Date Body FoundJune 19, 1970
NamUs Case CreatedOctober 31, 2012
ME/C QA ReviewedNovember 1, 2012

Location Found Map​

LocationColorado
CountyLake County
GPS Coordinates (Not Mapped)--
Found On Tribal Land--
Circumstances of RecoveryTwo men hiking down 2 miles east of Independence Pass Summit discovered the decedent in a ditch alongside the road. The decedent's torso was covered by a rockfall. He was found in an advanced decomposed state and was missing his left arm. Loss of the left arm was due to postmortem disarticulation.

---

Details of Recovery​

Inventory of RemainsOne or more limbs not recovered
Condition of RemainsNot recognizable - Decomposing/putrefaction

Physical Description​

Hair ColorBrown
Head Hair DescriptionNewspaper account describes hair as "Dark".
Body Hair Description--
Facial Hair Description--
Left Eye ColorUnknown
Right Eye ColorUnknown
Eye Description--

---

Distinctive Physical Features​

No Known Information

Clothing and Accessories​

Item
Description
Accessories
Seven Dollars and a Razor in his pocket.
Near the Body

Clothing
Newspaper stated Tattered Sweatshirt, Gray Trousers, Three Pairs of Socks and Tennis or Hiking Shoes (Could possibly be Jungle Boots?) with an unworn sock over the left shoe. Sheriff's report states he was wearing a pair of light colored wash and wear pants, a sweat shirt and a pair of black loafers along with having seven dollars and a razor in his pocket.
On the Body

Footwear
black loafers
On the Body

 

[subaw0067]

There are three exclusions for this case
Gary Cantlon
Robert Newborg
Arnold William

 

[imstilla.grandma]

John Doe​

Case Details​

Case Type: Unidentified
Height: Unknown
Case Status: OPEN
Weight: Unknown
Aliases:
Identifying Marks:
Incident Date: 06/19/1970
Occupation:
Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Office
City: Twin Lakes
Date of Birth: Unknown
County: Lake
Date of Death: Unknown
Agency Case #: 1970
Age: Unknown
Judicial District: 5th Judicial District
Gender: Male
Year Solved:
Race: Unknown
NamUs Case #: UP10738
Eyes: Unknown
NCMEC Case #: Unknown
Hair: Brown

About this Case:​

Two men hiking down two miles east of Independence Pass Summit discovered the decedent in a ditch alongside the road. The decedent's torso was covered by a rockfall. He was found in an advanced state of decomposition. If you have any information on this case, please contact the Lake County Sheriff's Office. Height: 5'6"-6'0" Weight: 125-150

Colorado Cold Case Files - Case Detail: John Doe

 

[iulia]

The NamUs page for this Doe has been removed.

 

[victoriarobinson642]

The NamUs page for this Doe has been removed.

Hopeful for an ID

 

[John/Jane Doe]

The NamUs page for this Doe has been removed.

I hope it has been identified.

 

[iulia]

Hopeful for an ID

I hope it has been identified.

The total number of solved UID cases for Colorado has also gone up by one case, so fingers crossed!

 

[Caring1]

The total number of solved UID cases for Colorado has also gone up by one case, so fingers crossed!

Excellent!

 

[apearn]

i hope they release some info. i was really curious about this one.

 

[DS2021]

FWIW Marvin's NamUs is down too

Marvin Shahan

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov