IN Indiana - Gary, BlkMale 20-29, The decedent had ID from the Arizona Boys Ranch, Jan '01

[Aurora90]

Case Information​

Case Numbers​

NCMEC Number--
ME/C Case Number01-01-22-0055

Demographics​

SexMale
Race / EthnicityBlack / African American
Possible First Name--
Possible Middle Name--
Possible Last Name--
Nickname/Alias--
Estimated Age GroupAdult - Pre 30
Estimated Age Range (Years)20-29
Estimated Year of Death--
Estimated PMI--
Height5' 7"(67 inches) , Measured
Weight154 lbs, Measured

Circumstances​

TypeUnidentified Deceased
Date Body FoundJanuary 22, 2001
NamUs Case CreatedJanuary 31, 2015
ME/C QA Reviewed--

Location Found Map​

LocationGary, Indiana
CountyLake County
GPS Coordinates (Not Mapped)--
Found On Tribal Land--
Circumstances of Recovery: The victim was located in Gary, Indiana on January 22, 2001. The decedent had an ID on him that belongs to someone else. The ID is from the Arizona Boys Ranch. Gary Police Department has investigated this case.

---

Details of Recovery​

Inventory of RemainsAll parts recovered
Condition of RemainsNot recognizable - Traumatic injuries

Physical Description​

Hair ColorBlack
Head Hair Description--
Body Hair Description--
Facial Hair Description--
Left Eye ColorBrown
Right Eye ColorBrown
Eye Description--

---

Distinctive Physical Features​

Item
Description
Scar/mark
Possible birthmark on his right shoulder area

Tattoo
Tattoo's - possible letter "R" on his left shoulder

• 
• 

Clothing and Accessories​

Item
Description
Clothing
Red and white leather-type jacket with the word CHICAGO on the front; reversible side was blue with the word NEW YORK; the jacket was a YUTU SPORTSWEAR size XXL. A black mesh shirt TRU ATHLETIC size XL, and a red tank top; blue jeans JC JORDAN CRAIG 32X32; black nylon boxers size medium; a large "Do Rag";
On the Body

Footwear
Shoes were black Sketchers size 10.5; socks were white
On the Body

Jewelry
A gold (in color) necklace/chain
On the Body

 

[Aurora90]

There are a lot of articles online regarding the many problems at the Arizona Boys Ranch.

Abuse allegations have Arizona Boys Ranch surrounded​

By Deseret News
Aug 28, 1998, 12:00am MST
Dennis Wagner, The Arizona Republic

The death of 16-year-old Nicholaus Contreraz last spring was part of "a pattern of abuse and neglect" at Arizona Boys Ranch that led to at least 29 other reported incidents, state officials say.

Linda Blessing, director of the state Department of Economic Security, said some of the mistreatment occurred even as authorities swarmed over the ranch to investigate Contreraz's death.Blessing announced Wednesday that she has denied Boys Ranch a new license based on an exhaustive investigation that uncovered multiple violations of state law and rules.

"The circumstances surrounding his death, and the repeated treatment of other residents, demonstrate a pattern of abuse and neglect by Arizona Boys Ranch, and a lack of concern by senior management and line staff for the rights of youths placed in their care and custody," she said.

Details of the allegations are contained in about 4,000 pages of documentation released Wednesday by the Licensing and Child Protective Services branches of DES.

very interesting thing to note that might help ID this young man.

California, which provided about three-quarters of the placements at Boys Ranch, has cut off funding and individual counties have withdrawn nearly all of those juveniles. Other states also have pulled back placements.

The majority of Boys Ranch residents are placed by juvenile courts and probation departments. But now enrollment has dwindled from nearly 600 youths at seven locations to 150 boys staying at the main campus in Queen Creek and a summer camp on Mount Lemmon near Tucson.

Each lost youth represents about $3,600 per month, and Thomas said 60 of the remaining boys are on scholarship because government agencies won't fund them.

snipped by me.

There is so much in this one article alone. I was tempted to quote the whole thing.

Surely there is a record of who this kid might have come in contact with and might be. How did this male get ID from a teenager at this ranch?

 

[Aurora90]

I wonder if the owner of the ID was ever located? Not to derail this thread, but this other LA Times article on a death a few years prior is quite a sad read.

A Puzzling Death at Boys Ranch​

 

[Aurora90]

There is a post mortem on the his profile on Doe Network.

There are also a few possible males it could be, but the net is unfortunately quite wide without knowing more details on the circumstances regarding how and where he was found....


Can anyone find any articles on this unidentified john doe?

 

[Laughing]

I wonder if the owner of the ID was ever located? Not to derail this thread, but this other LA Times article on a death a few years prior is quite a sad read.

A Puzzling Death at Boys Ranch​

Yes -- did LE show a picture of the deceased to that person?

 

[Aurora90]

without more info, I have submitted this male for review:

Yusuf Abdul Wilson
Date of Last Contact: October 1, 1999
Missing From: Eastpointe, Michigan
Missing Age: 17 Years

 

[Aurora90]

Yes -- did LE show a picture of the deceased to that person?

I wish I knew.

If there are no leads, why not reach out to the public. Surely someone is missing this person...

 

[Aurora90]

Romulus Lovens (no picture)
Date of Last Contact: August 6, 2000
Missing From: Miami, Florida
Missing Age: 15 Years

 

[Aurora90]

Bumping

 

[dotr]

Who is Lake County John Doe (2001)?

Gary Police Department and Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force Teams with Othram to Identify a 2001 John Doe

dnasolves.com

''In January 2001, the remains of an unknown individual were discovered in Gary, Indiana. Gary is located in Lake County on the southern shore of Lake Michigan. Investigators responded to the scene and determined that the remains were that of a Black male who was 20 to 29 years old with black hair and brown eyes. The man weighed approximately 157 pounds and stood 5’7” tall. An autopsy was conducted where several identifying characteristics were noted, including a bump described as either a cyst or a birthmark near the right elbow along with a tattoo on the left shoulder, believed to be the letter "R". It was determined that the man’s manner of death was homicide. The man could not be identified and he became known as Lake County John Doe.

At the time that his body was discovered, the man was carrying an identification card for the Arizona Boys Ranch, a now-closed boot-camp boarding school that once served 13 to 18 year old boys. The ID card belonged to another individual and it is unknown if Lake County John Doe had any connections to the Arizona Boys Ranch. At the time that his body was discovered, the man was fully-dressed, wearing a reversible jacket with the word “Chicago” on one side and the word “New York” on the other side, a black mesh shirt with a red tank top, size 32x32 blue jeans, and black Sketchers tennis shoes with white socks. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP13482. Despite investigators’ efforts to name the man, his identity has been a mystery for more than two decades.

In late 2024, the Gary Police Department and Indiana's Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force teamed with Othram to determine if advanced DNA testing could help to identify Lake County John Doe. Othram scientists will work to develop a suitable DNA extract so that a comprehensive DNA profile can be developed for the man using Forensic Grade Genome Sequencing®. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team will use this profile in a genetic genealogy search to develop new leads in the case.''

 

[othram]

Let's fund this case!

 

[Aurora90]

Was the owner of the ID was ever located?

 

[Aurora90]

California, which provided about three-quarters of the placements at Boys Ranch, has cut off funding and individual counties have withdrawn nearly all of those juveniles. Other states also have pulled back placements.

I wonder if the original ID owner belong to a state that pulled back. And the owner sold his old ID to another young male?

 

[Aurora90]

If California provided 75% of the placements at the Arizona Boys Ranch, then statistically, there may be a link to California, right?

 

[The4TierBridge]

This case was recently 100% funded:

Who is Lake County John Doe (2001)?

Gary Police Department and Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force Teams with Othram to Identify a 2001 John Doe

dnasolves.com