IA IA - Decorah, WhtMale Skeletal 2UMIA, 30-40, in barn, Mar'86

[John/Jane Doe]

Possible match? Has Ronald LeRoy Zellmer been ruled out?

Ronald LeRoy Zellmer – The Charley Project

 

[BrownBear]

Possible match? Has Ronald LeRoy Zellmer been ruled out?

Ronald LeRoy Zellmer – The Charley Project

He's not listed as an exclusion on NamUs

 

[Schmurm]

There is no DNA sample from the unidentified man. The state will collect DNA with a court order and if someone will pay for an exhumation. That makes rule outs difficult.

 

[summergirl1]

This page says he was cremated. Getting DNA from just ashes is a very new idea as of now..Unidentified White Male, Winneshiek County | Iowa Cold Cases

 

[Alleykins]

This page says he was cremated. Getting DNA from just ashes is a very new idea as of now..Unidentified White Male, Winneshiek County | Iowa Cold Cases

I was reading up on DNA testing on cremated remains. It's not impossible, as long there are large enough bone fragments and teeth left, but it's difficult because the high temperatures needed to cremate a body destroys DNA in most cases.

 

[Schmurm]

I was reading up on DNA testing on cremated remains. It's not impossible, as long there are large enough bone fragments and teeth left, but it's difficult because the high temperatures needed to cremate a body destroys DNA in most cases.

That's too bad they creamated him. I did a quick look to see about DNA from ashes. There are labs that do it, so maybe there is still a chance. The money remains the issue though.

 

[John/Jane Doe]

This month marks the 36th anniversary of the discovery of the Winneshiek County John Doe.

 

[Family_trees]

That's too bad they creamated him. I did a quick look to see about DNA from ashes. There are labs that do it, so maybe there is still a chance. The money remains the issue though.

With the rising popularity of Othram and DNA Doe Project perhaps a harder to solve case such as this will come to their attention.

 

[John/Jane Doe]

2UMIA

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Description	White male, 33-36 years of age, 5'6" to 5'9", 145 - 160 lbs., brown hair, medium build
Details	Skeletal remains found March 31, 1986, between hay bales at a farm site in Winneshiek County, Iowa
Clothing	Plaid white-tan-black pile-lined jacket, medium white-tan short sleeve terry cloth shirt, blue cords with 33" waist, black socks, extra-large blue windbreaker and brown shoes
Possessions	A one dollar bill, pink blanket and a match book
Cause of Death	Unknown. Estimated date of death: April 1985
Agency	Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office 563.382.4268

Unidentified Bodies | Iowa Department of Public Safety

The State of Iowa has six unidentified bodies on file. These cases have been entered into the National Crime Information Center Computer System for possible matches against the missing person file. However, if the individual has never been entered as missing by any agency there will be no match...

dps.iowa.gov

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Courtesy Iowa Department of Public Safety
Skull reconstruction pictures indicate what the individual may have looked like. The pictures show the clothing the victim was wearing at the time of death.

Unidentified White Male​

STATUS: Unidentified

AGE: Approx. 30 – 40

CASE NUMBER: Winneshiek County – 1986

NAMUS CASE NUMBER: UP2620

IOWA DCI CASE NUMBER: 8601490

SKELETAL REMAINS FOUND: March 31, 1986

ESTIMATED DATE OF DEATH: April 1985

DESCRIPTION: White male, 30-40 years of age, 5’6″ to 5’9″, 145 – 160 lbs., brown hair, medium build.

DETAILS: Skeletal remains found March 31, 1986, between hay bales at a farm site in Winneshiek County, Iowa. The individual may have been traveling from Ohio to California.

CLOTHING: Plaid white-tan-black pile-lined jacket (mackinaw type farmers or cowboys jacket) with a Sears-Roebuck Oakbrook Sportsman/Sportswear label, medium white-tan short sleeved terry cloth V-neck polo shirt (Wedgefield brand), blue Levi cords with 33-inch waist and ranger tag on back of pants, black socks, Fruit of the Loom jockey shorts size 30-32, extra-large blue windbreaker (Madison brand), and brown shoes, 3/4-inch high suede, size 6 or 9. Shoes are each 11-1/4 inches long.

POSSESSIONS: A one dollar bill, a pink blanket (Esmond brand), and a match book

Winneshiek County in Iowa
CAUSE OF DEATH: Unknown

DENTAL: Dental information / charting is available and entered.

INVESTIGATING AGENCY: Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office, 319-382-4268 and Winneshiek County Medical Examiner’s Office, 563-382-9671.

EXCLUSIONS: The following individuals have been ruled out as being this decedent:

• Michael Limesand (DOB 1958)
• Melvin Synder (DOB 1985)

Questions and comments may be addressed to:

Winneshiek County Medical Examiner’s Office — 563-382-9671

Unidentified White Male, Winneshiek County | Iowa Cold Cases

On March 31, 1986, an unidentified white male's skeletal remains were found between hay bales at a farm site in Winneshiek County, Iowa.

iowacoldcases.org

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Someone else suggested his name for this decedent so I‘ll bring it over as the face is similar: IA - IA - Harry Dennis Milligan, 21, Albia, 1 July 1984

 

[John/Jane Doe]

@Caring1 Hey could you post the NamUs exclusion list for this John Doe?

 

[Caring1]

@Caring1 Hey could you post the NamUs exclusion list for this John Doe?

2 Missing Person Exclusions

Missing Person / NamUs #MP14757Melvin Snyder
Date of Last ContactMay 25, 1985
StatePA
CountyFranklin

Missing Person / NamUs #MP18951Michael Limesand
Date of Last ContactMay 25, 1985
StateIL
CountyStephenson

 

[lightofmine99]

There is ONE new exclusion:

Michael Bearup (MP29540) - Missing from St. Johns, Michigan since 1985.

 

[chaddylex]

There is ONE new exclusion:

Michael Bearup (MP29540) - Missing from St. Johns, Michigan since 1985.

Yep I turned that in to the St John's Sheriff's Department back in March of this year. They were waiting for the Dental odontologist from NamUs to make the comparison. I guess better late than never.

 

[summergirl1]

This page also has someone in the comments who mentions, besides the unfortunate fact his remains were cremated, that maybe when the autopsy was done, something was saved that DNA could be gotten from. It wouldn't have been intentionally saved for DNA, but if there's anything they could possibly get DNA from (and then probably do genetic genealogy on) that would be the best hope of identifying this man..

Unidentified White Male, Winneshiek County | Iowa Cold Cases

On March 31, 1986, an unidentified white male's skeletal remains were found between hay bales at a farm site in Winneshiek County, Iowa.

iowacoldcases.org

They can get DNA from hair nowadays as I was reading in regards to a recently solved Midwestern cold case murder where the now identified suspect left behind hairs on a stocking cap.

 

[summergirl1]

This is where the John Doe's ashes were buried- Unknown Unknown (unknown-1986) - Find a Grave...

 

[chaddylex]

Another Exclusion added to John Doe's NamUs profile - James Welter

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

 

[John/Jane Doe]

Daniel Joseph Hilkey

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov