FL FL-Orlando, WhtMale, 25-40, UP531, Found in the woods off Dowden Road, Dec '98

[phantomstrider]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
Date Body Found December 15, 1998
Location Found Orlando, Florida
Estimated Age Range 25-40 years
Sex Male
Race/Ethnicity White/Caucasian
Estimated Age Group Adult- Pre 50
Estimated Year of Death 0-1998
Estimated PMI Years
Height 5'11" (71 inches), Estimated
Weight Cannot Estimate
Location Orlando, Florida 32827
County Orange County
Circumstances of Recovery A construction worker went into the woods off of Dowden Road to use the bathroom when he came across a skull and immediately called the police.
Inventory of Remains One or both hands not recovered
Condition of Remains Not recognizable- Partial skeletal parts only
Hair Color Unknown
Eye Color Unknown
Clothing The decedent had shorts, a Laker's shirt, and underwear

 

[PatLaurel]

522UMFL​

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522UMFL - Unidentified Male​

Reconstructions of Victim

Date of Discovery: December 15, 1998
Location of Discovery: Orlando, Orange County, Florida
Estimated Date of Death: 1-5 years prior to discovery
State of Remains: Partial Skeletal Remains
Cause of Death: Unknown

Physical Description​

Estimated Age: 25-40 years old
Race: White
Sex: Male
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 130 to 160 lbs.
Hair Color: Unknown
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Two healing fracture lines in left hip and pelvis; possibly associated with an unsuccessful posterior dislocation of left femur and possibly occurred several months before death.

Identifiers​

Dentals: Available
Fingerprints: Unknown
DNA: Available

Clothing & Personal Items​

Clothing: Shorts, ''Lakers'' shirt, undershorts. No jewelry, no personal effects.
Jewelry: None
Additional Personal Items: None

Circumstances of Discovery​

The victim was located in a wooded area at 7500 Dowden Road in Orlando, FL.

A construction worker went into the woods off of Dowden Road to use the bathroom when he came across a skull, and immediately called the police.

Investigating Agency(s)​

Agency Name: Districts 9 and 25 Medical Examiners Office
Agency Contact Person: Ashley Shaughnessy
Agency Phone Number: 407-836-9400
Agency E-Mail: Medical.Examiner(at)ocfl.net
Agency Case Number: 1998-01224

Agency Name: Orlando Police Department
Agency Contact Person: Detective Andre Boren
Agency Phone Number: 407-246-2973
Agency E-Mail: [email protected]
Agency Case Number: 1998-503120

NCIC Case Number: U620000581
NamUs Case Number: 531
Former Hot Case Number: N/A

​

 

[PatLaurel]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
Date Body Found December 15, 1998
Location Found Orlando, Florida

SBM

 

[Aurora90]

5860DMCA - Harold William Melching
Wanted by The Air Force Office of Special Investigations - Harold Melching

Harold William Melching was stationed at the George Air Force Base in California when he was last seen on September 8, 1980. Harold had been charged with the rape of a child when he disappeared. He had a heart tattoo with the name "Barb" located on his top left shoulder and the John Doe does not mention a tattoo. However, seeing as John Doe's remains were skeletal it doesn't rule him out.

John Doe was found wearing a Lakers T-shirt, and Melching was from California. I know it's a stretch but perhaps a reminder of home? It could also be a red herring.

John Doe has an estimated DOD of somewhere between 1-5 years before discovery (between 1994-1997) whereas Harold disappeared in 1980. Harold is also just a bit out of the age range for this John Doe. But it all depends on how old the bones are. Melching is likely around 5 years older than this Doe is currently believed to be.

I wouldn't usually recommend an MP who is from the other side of the country and was last seen significantly earlier than the John Doe was found. However, in this instance, the distance would actually make sense. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that he fled to the other side of the county to avoid prosecution.

As I type this and read it out I am starting to feel a bit crazy. Maybe he isn't Harold after all. But then I look at the side-by-side comparison and then I question it all over again!