FL FL - Miami, BlkMale 60-80, hit by car, expensive clothes, physically fit, Jan '21

[bombardier]

I checked and don't believe this man has a thread yet.
By all appearances he doesn't look to be a transient, he is well-groomed, apparently physically fit, wearing a NorthFace fleece jacket (cost, new, about $150) and Banana Republic dress shorts (cost, new, at least $50).

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
NamUs #UP77758
Height: 5' 7"-6' 2"(67-74 inches) , Estimated
Weight: cannot estimate
Estimated Age Range: 60-80
Race/Ethnicity: Black / African American
Circumstances of Recovery: The decedent was found deceased on 1/24/2021 at W Okeechobee Road & NW 170 Street In Miami, Fl.

Physical Description: The head hair is gray in color with occasional black hairs present. There is male balding pattern observed. There is a beard that is connected to a mustache. The facial hair is gray in color with occasional black hairs present. The decedent's eyes may appear gray because of corneal arcus senilis. The decedent appears to be physically fit.

Clothing and Accessories: Blue Hat that has "Florida" on it. The hat has what appears to be the letter "R" written inside of it. Wrist Brace. Black Fleece Jacket. Brand is "NorthFace", Size is L. The "NorthFace" lettering is in blue. There is a blue zipper that runs down the midline of the jacket. T-shirt, Green, Size L. T-shirt, Black, Size L. Blue Shorts (possibly dress shorts), Brand is Banana Republic, Size 36. Brown belt.

Rule-Outs:
Ruben Wilson, DLC May 27 2020, NJ

 

[bombardier]

His COD:
Investigators try to identify hundreds of bodies in Miami
"On Jan. 24 this year, an older Black man was discovered hit by a car on West Okeechobee Road and Northwest 170th Street."

 

[PayrollNerd]

The location where he was found strikes me as odd for a well dressed, well cared for man. Looking at the map, the area is near a proposed new turnpike interchange. Did he have a vehicle in the area? Did he have a business meeting in this area?

Location:
West Okeechobee Road & NW 170 Street In Miami, Fl.

Florida Interchange Portal - Florida Turnpike and NW 170th Street

 

[bombardier]

I actually can't find the location of the accident on a map, I can only see the 2 streets as separate streets that don't intersect... @PayrollNerd did you find the location?

 

[PayrollNerd]

This is as close as I could get. I’ve been thru that area. It’s been built up and there are businesses in the area. For a man to be well dressed and well cared for, there had to be a reason for him to be in that area. How did he arrive there is the question.

ETA: I put up the wrong intersection initially. Here is the correct one!!

 

[bombardier]

This is as close as I could get. I’ve been thru that area. It’s been built up and there are businesses in the area. For a man to be well dressed and well cared for, there had to be a reason for him to be in that area. How did he arrive there is the question.

ETA: I put up the wrong intersection initially. Here is the correct one!!

Thank you, I found it! You're right, a weird place for someone to be walking. I noticed there's two cemeteries in the area; it would be very sad if he was there to visit a grave that day
Honestly, no idea how he got there. It's not a nice place for a walk (especially when you're in beautiful FL), and the closest bus routes don't even go past the RR Turnpike. Could he have a friend nice enough to give him a ride but blasé enough to not contact him for the next year? Perhaps a taxi got him to the area, but why would he be walking in/near the road rather than wait somewhere safe for a another taxi to pick him up?
We're missing context here though, I don't know if he was walking in the street when he got hit, or was perhaps in the parking lot of one of the few and far between businesses and got hit.

 

[carbuff]

One exclusion:

MP70555 Ruben Wilson 05/27/2020 Bergen NJ

 

[bombardier]

i have some potential IDs to bring up... I thought this would be easy considering the good facial approximation but it turns out a lot of old men look more or less the same None exactly have me scrambling to make a call, so the search goes on... I think Roger Brown is the most likely, just because it only happened 2.5months prior.

Roger Brown - DLC Nov 4 2020, Washington DC (~15hr drive), 6'1", 59 y/o. Last seen walking from where he was living (the area does contain a seniors-only apartment complex but namus says he was staying w/ family). Does seem he was living at least semi-independently because he wasn't reported missing for another 5 days. Family received a weird phone call saying he might be dead. Got his picture from here.

James Ellis - DLC January 12 2019, Atlanta GA (~10hr drive), 5'8", 56 y/o. Was apparently a regular at pawn shops until that date. Vehicle found abandoned outside of Atlanta. I think he's a good facial match (noticed he also has eye cloudiness, and our UID has arcus senilis) but considering he pawned stuff I'm guessing money wasn't exactly flowing so I don't know if he could secretly relocate to FL and be wearing expensive clothes like the UID.

Andrew Wilson - DLC June 15 2019, Tampa FL (~4hr drive), 54 y/o, 5'10", 200-230lbs, gray or partially gray hair. Was last known to be released from hospital. Family reported missing 4 months later (so must not have been in regular contact). I can't find a photo or any news articles so I'm throwing this in the ring based solely on the metrics :/ If anyone can find a photo online of Andrew that would be amazing! Considering UID was at least 5'7" and wearing size L tops and Size 36 pants I'm guessing a weight around 200lbs would be possible.

Joseph Taylor - DLC June 16 2019, Savannah GA (~7hr drive), 79 y/o, 5'9". Circumstances IMO either point to car-jacking or a dementia-related disappearance, but it's hard to say. I think for this potential ID to work, he'd have to be cognitively well. His case is well publicized, also has a CharleyProject page where I got the image. A post of FB mentions he usually wears a baseball cap, same as the UID.

Donald Green - DLC July 11 2020, Jonesboro GA (~9hr drive), 58 y/o, 6'1". Mentioning him because of facial similarities but it does sound like he had moderate cognitive dysfunction with limited speech, so I doubt he'd be functional enough to get down to FL and figure out living arrangements. He might also have a tattoo on his left arm?, wasn't mentioned though.

 

[PayrollNerd]

The wrist brace is interesting. It doesn’t specify which hand tho. Makes me wonder if he had a current injury or maybe long term discomfort. Your wrist, thumb area takes a lot of wear and tear from keyboard and computer mouse usage. Or, maybe from swinging a golf club or hammer.

I now wear a brace to immobilize my thumb and it reduces pain. I used to wear a similar brace to immobilize my wrist and it forced my wrist muscles to heal over time. Where the metal piece is, inside the brace, will determine what it’s purpose is.

 

[cvaldez1975]

when i read well dressed this anecdote popped in my head. a man that works in my department is from Nigeria by way of UK and he is VERY VERY dapper. like dressed to the 9's, and even when dressed casually it is always high quality stuff. maybe the gentleman was a traveler from overseas and that is why hes not reported? maybe he was in that weird area because hes not from around there.

 

[Bethan]

i have some potential IDs to bring up... I thought this would be easy considering the good facial approximation but it turns out a lot of old men look more or less the same None exactly have me scrambling to make a call, so the search goes on... I think Roger Brown is the most likely, just because it only happened 2.5months prior.

Roger Brown - DLC Nov 4 2020, Washington DC (~15hr drive), 6'1", 59 y/o. Last seen walking from where he was living (the area does contain a seniors-only apartment complex but namus says he was staying w/ family). Does seem he was living at least semi-independently because he wasn't reported missing for another 5 days. Family received a weird phone call saying he might be dead. Got his picture from here.

James Ellis - DLC January 12 2019, Atlanta GA (~10hr drive), 5'8", 56 y/o. Was apparently a regular at pawn shops until that date. Vehicle found abandoned outside of Atlanta. I think he's a good facial match (noticed he also has eye cloudiness, and our UID has arcus senilis) but considering he pawned stuff I'm guessing money wasn't exactly flowing so I don't know if he could secretly relocate to FL and be wearing expensive clothes like the UID.

Andrew Wilson - DLC June 15 2019, Tampa FL (~4hr drive), 54 y/o, 5'10", 200-230lbs, gray or partially gray hair. Was last known to be released from hospital. Family reported missing 4 months later (so must not have been in regular contact). I can't find a photo or any news articles so I'm throwing this in the ring based solely on the metrics :/ If anyone can find a photo online of Andrew that would be amazing! Considering UID was at least 5'7" and wearing size L tops and Size 36 pants I'm guessing a weight around 200lbs would be possible.

Joseph Taylor - DLC June 16 2019, Savannah GA (~7hr drive), 79 y/o, 5'9". Circumstances IMO either point to car-jacking or a dementia-related disappearance, but it's hard to say. I think for this potential ID to work, he'd have to be cognitively well. His case is well publicized, also has a CharleyProject page where I got the image. A post of FB mentions he usually wears a baseball cap, same as the UID.

Donald Green - DLC July 11 2020, Jonesboro GA (~9hr drive), 58 y/o, 6'1". Mentioning him because of facial similarities but it does sound like he had moderate cognitive dysfunction with limited speech, so I doubt he'd be functional enough to get down to FL and figure out living arrangements. He might also have a tattoo on his left arm?, wasn't mentioned though.

Roger Brown does look very similar…..just hard to imagine how & why he would turn up such a long way from home, particularly having left on foot…unless he has connections with Miami.

Your idea that the deceased may have been visiting a cemetery is a good one.

Hard to believe this well-dressed, physically fit gentleman has not been missed by anyone & identified by now!

 

[mickey2942]

They should check his dental work, to see if it looks like he had any work done in the United States, or if it looks foreign.

 

[Bethan]

Can’t get this gentleman out of my mind….keep thinking he’s somebody’s son….maybe somebody’s grandad!

@bombardier , is it worth suggesting your possible matches ( particularly Roger Brown) to be compared with our chap.

I keep imagining a scenario where our fellow was determined to go on a trip to Miami ( eg visit a buddy, visit a grave, just to holiday) & family were not keen for him to travel on his own. Maybe had some mild cognitive impairment….left without telling them.

IMO only.

This may sound far fetched, or the product of an overactive imagination, but I keep thinking of the case of the (almost) 90 yr old British veteran, Bernard Jordan, which I found hilarious & fortunately ended well.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/dday-70th-anniversary-veteran-who-disappeared-from-care-home-to-attend-normandy-commemorations-on-his-way-home-9505142.html?amp

Well worth a read, if you’ve not heard this story!

 

[bombardier]

Can’t get this gentleman out of my mind….keep thinking he’s somebody’s son….maybe somebody’s grandad!

@bombardier , is it worth suggesting your possible matches ( particularly Roger Brown) to be compared with our chap.

I keep imagining a scenario where our fellow was determined to go on a trip to Miami ( eg visit a buddy, visit a grave, just to holiday) & family were not keen for him to travel on his own. Maybe had some mild cognitive impairment….left without telling them.

IMO only.

This may sound far fetched, or the product of an overactive imagination, but I keep thinking of the case of the (almost) 90 yr old British veteran, Bernard Jordan, which I found hilarious & fortunately ended well.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...mmemorations-on-his-way-home-9505142.html?amp
D-Day 70th veteran who disappeared from care home returns

Well worth a read, if you’ve not heard this story!

True, you never know what could have gone on! I think I sometimes assume that everyone 50+ is family-oriented and would never disappear on purpose and worry their loved ones, but of course it does happen. I don't know family dynamics, mental state, prior behavior, etc etc

I'll suggest Roger Brown to the NamUs correspondent, and might throw in Andrew Wilson, just due to both being in FL. I'll let you guys know if I get anything back!

 

[Bethan]

True, you never know what could have gone on! I think I sometimes assume that everyone 50+ is family-oriented and would never disappear on purpose and worry their loved ones, but of course it does happen. I don't know family dynamics, mental state, prior behavior, etc etc

I'll suggest Roger Brown to the NamUs correspondent, and might throw in Andrew Wilson, just due to both being in FL. I'll let you guys know if I get anything back!

Much appreciated!

 

[GatorFL]

That part of Okeechobee is sort of no man's land, it gets desolate as it makes the turn into US 27. It is a weird place to be walking. As a counterpoint I don't think his garments should misconstrue him as well dressed. He might have had some secondhand clothing on which he picked up for free.

 

[carbuff]

That part of Okeechobee is sort of no man's land, it gets desolate as it makes the turn into US 27. It is a weird place to be walking. As a counterpoint I don't think his garments should misconstrue him as well dressed. He might have had some secondhand clothing on which he picked up for free.

If he had car trouble on that road, is there any place he could walk to for help?

 

[GatorFL]

If he had car trouble on that road, is there any place he could walk to for help?

Yeah. There are various businesses out there, but once you are out on 27 they become sparse. I go down there every now and then for stuff, maybe I'll take a drive and investigate a bit in a couple weeks. It's also highly trafficked, it's sort of a western shortcut for truckers to avoid 95 and the turnpike.

 

[mickey2942]

No jewelry, no wallet, no car keys, no cellphone, no ID? Was he robbed?

 

[GatorFL]

No jewelry, no wallet, no car keys, no cellphone, no ID? Was he robbed?

I'm thinking homeless in that area.