Theory: The Biometric and Circumstantial Match for Hermantown John Doe (UP10270)
After conducting a forensic profile reconstruction of the unidentified remains found in Hermantown, MN (NamUs UP10270), I have identified a high-probability candidate who matches the decedent’s statistical, medical, and professional profile. The following analysis has been submitted to the Hermantown Police Department for review, but the conclusions drawn below represent my own theory (IMO) regarding the identity of the John Doe.
The Statistical Improbability: The Biometric Match
The primary hurdle in identifying the Hermantown Doe has always been the decedent’s stature. The remains belong to a white male estimated to be between 30 and 50 years of age, with a biological height of approximately 5 feet 3 inches.
This stature is a statistical anomaly for adult males of that era. Anthropometric surveys of U.S. Army personnel in 1946 indicate that the 1st percentile for height was approximately 63.5 inches or 5'3.5" (White, 1978).
IMO, this eliminates many missing persons from the pool. However, Eldon Elmer Shore (NamUs MP20676), a veteran pilot who disappeared in 1965, stood exactly 5 feet 3 inches tall. Furthermore, Shore was documented as weighing 185 pounds, yielding a BMI of 32.8. This specific "short and stocky" build aligns perfectly with the forensic anthropological description of the remains found in Hermantown.
Forensic Medical Consistency: The "Limp" and the Teeth
The original pathology report noted a skeletal defect suggesting the decedent walked with a limp favoring his right side. While originally theorized as a childhood disease, IMO, this is more likely a healed traumatic fracture consistent with Shore's profession. As a career pilot active since WWII, Shore was at high risk for crash-related injuries that often result in long-term orthopedic issues (Paja et al., 2012).
Additionally, the decedent was found with a specific "hybrid" denture set: porcelain upper teeth and plastic lower teeth. This was a recognized restorative technique in mid-20th-century dentistry to minimize clicking sounds while maintaining aesthetics (Proactive Dental Studio, 2020). IMO, this high-quality dental work points to a professional concerned with appearance—specifically a commercial airline transport pilot like Shore—rather than a transient or drifter.
The Context of Disappearance: The CIA Link
Eldon Shore did not merely wander off; the circumstances of his disappearance from Opa-locka, Florida in 1965 suggest a staged exit. Shore was employed by "American Air Taxi," a company historically linked in declassified federal files to Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operatives and anti-Castro paramilitary activities (Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI], 1964).
FBI documents regarding anti-Castro activities explicitly name Shore's employer, Robert Lee of American Air Taxi, alongside Frank Sturgis, a known CIA operative. On July 6, 1965, Shore filed a flight plan listing three persons on board but allegedly departed Key West alone (The Miami News, 1965). IMO, in the context of covert aviation, such a discrepancy is tradecraft used to mask the transport of operatives (CIA Center for the Study of Intelligence, 2022). His disappearance coincided with the operational shift from Cuban operations to the Vietnam War, a prime window for the demobilization of irregular assets. It is highly plausible that Shore fled the volatile Miami environment for the anonymity of the Iron Range.
Environmental Evidence: The Personal Effects
The items found with the body—specifically a Japanese "ATC" military lighter and heavy wool chopper mittens—are often cited as evidence that the Doe was a local.
However, IMO, these items corroborate the Shore theory. The lighter fits the profile of a World War II veteran who served in the Pacific theater or occupied Japan. The "chopper" mittens and heavy wool clothing indicate a man who, despite originating from Florida, had deliberately outfitted himself for the northern climate. This suggests a planned relocation rather than a tourist caught unprepared.
Proposed Timeline and Property Connection
The remains were discovered in 1976 in the backyard of a newly constructed home on Lavaque Road. Since the body was already skeletal, the homeowners were innocent finders. IMO, the key to this case lies in the chain of title. The individual responsible for the body is likely the person who owned that land between 1965 (Shore's disappearance) and 1976 (the discovery). Identifying the grantor of that property will likely reveal the link between the Florida pilot and the Minnesota woods.
Conclusion
My theory stands that Hermantown John Doe is Eldon Elmer Shore. The statistical rarity of the 5'3" height, combined with the matching "stocky" build, the pilot-consistent orthopedic injury, and the high-end dental work, creates a compelling profile. The CIA-linked nature of his employment provides a viable motive for his presence in a remote location under an assumed identity.
References
CIA Center for the Study of Intelligence. (2022).
President Eisenhower and CIA Prisoners in China. Central Intelligence Agency.
Federal Bureau of Investigation. (1964).
JFK Assassination Records Collection: Anti-Castro Activities (DocId: 32300010). National Archives and Records Administration.
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/32300010
National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. (2012).
Unidentified Person Case UP10270. U.S. Department of Justice.
Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP10270
National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. (2013).
Missing Person Case MP20676: Eldon Shore. U.S. Department of Justice.
Missing Person / NamUs #MP20676
Paja, L., et al. (2012).
Joint Fusions in Palaeopathology: Diagnosis and Epidemiology. University of Szeged.
Proactive Dental Studio. (2020).
A Brief History of Dentures & What They Are Made Of.
The Miami News. (1965, July 7).
14 Craft Seek Lost Copter. [Archived Article].
White, R. M. (1978).
United States Army Anthropometry: 1946-1977. U.S. Army Natick Research and Development Command.
https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA068576
Miami-Dade County, Florida 
