KY KY - Cadiz, Lake Barkley, WhtMale 30-50, UP752, James Bond Watch, Zippo Lighter, Apr’83

[Warwick1991]

I’m not sure about the price.. There are variants with cases of stainless steel or gold with leather straps. I think the stainless version with a leather strap might have been a few hundred dollars pre-1983, but it’s hard to say without knowing the year and model. They have increased in value over time. I wish we had a photo.... There actually was a Seamaster with an orange rotating bezel (the outer rim that rotates to show elapsed time) and a black, thick rubber strap. If it was a genuine Seamaster, that might be what they mean by an orange color. The dress watches with leather straps didn’t have rotating bezels.

 

[MadMcGoo]

Thank you! That’s interesting. I was trying to get a feel for what kind of guy might have owned this watch.. but we are going to have to know more! Wouldn’t that be awesome if the serial # info is still available and can be traced?! (As in, if the actual watch is still available) At least photos. I can’t imagine they wouldn’t have tried to trace it back then, but you never know with some of these cases.

 

[carbuff]

I’ve seen his profile before! I think I was looking for international travelers. (in my carbuff voice of reason and logic) James Bond’s watch was chrome w/a black band, and he’s under the age range. PMI is off. lol, I couldn’t resist.

He’s an intriguing possibility. It somewhat implies he was lost in Yosemite somehow, but his age, the fact that he was traveling the US and specifically intending to go to Florida, the mention of a camera (see my theory about Mr. Hale and Chris Zahn), peaks my curiosity.

ETA: I didn’t see (nor look for) different colored Seamaster watches, but does “Orange” mean orange, or is it a “yellow”=gold, “gray”=silver type of thing?

I think it's the color of the trim. The watch face is usually black or white (though I have seen midnight blue and gray) and the band and case are usually black or chrome/platinum. But trim elements and the bezel etc. are often a contrasting color. I've seen red, red and blue, and bright blue in addition to orange, which seems to be the most popular. Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 21532442101001 600m Mens 43.5 for $4,485 for sale from a Trusted Seller on Chrono24 for an example of the kind of thing I'm talking about.

And there do exist models with orange bands Men's Watches | Find Great Watches Deals Shopping at Overstock

I did see one with an orangish-brown metallic face but I can't find it now.

Most of the theories that have Dikram still alive say that for whatever reason he changed his mind about hiking and left instead. I find that highly unlikely.

 

[GJKJR]

April 24, 1983. The Paducah Sun, Paducah, KY.

 

[carbuff]

I’m not sure about the price.. There are variants with cases of stainless steel or gold with leather straps. I think the stainless version with a leather strap might have been a few hundred dollars pre-1983, but it’s hard to say without knowing the year and model. They have increased in value over time. I wish we had a photo.... There actually was a Seamaster with an orange rotating bezel (the outer rim that rotates to show elapsed time) and a black, thick rubber strap. If it was a genuine Seamaster, that might be what they mean by an orange color. The dress watches with leather straps didn’t have rotating bezels.

bolded by me--That's interesting. When I was looking for recent models to compare, I didn't find anything cheaper than about $4400. I guess inflation has done its job.

 

[MadMcGoo]

Possible Match:

1. George Gregor Nikita

 

[carbuff]

Possible Match:

1. George Gregor Nikita

Very very very unlikely due to circumstances.

 

[Warwick1991]

I still think the watch could be the strongest clue, presuming it is still in evidence. Omega retains a lot of information about its customers, distribution chains, and dates of manufacture. My thought is that this UP might be a flood victim, presumed dead but no longer actively searched for. Perhaps the victim was carried through locks from the Nashville area, as the Cumberland River was dammed to form Lake Barkley, but flows through Nashville.

 

[Warwick1991]

Very very very unlikely due to circumstances.

I think George Nikita is apt to be at the bottom of Lake Champlain, which hides wrecks and bodies in its depths for many years. There are 200 year old shipwrecks in remarkably good condition in the depths of Lake Champlain, and whatever goes down in the lake often stays down. The cold temperatures, depths and other biological factors in the lake end up preserving things for many years, including organic materials. The fuselage of his plane, along with remains, may well be undiscovered on the lake bottom.

 

[carbuff]

I think George Nikita is apt to be at the bottom of Lake Champlain, which hides wrecks and bodies in its depths for many years. There are 200 year old shipwrecks in remarkably good condition in the depths of Lake Champlain, and whatever goes down in the lake often stays down. The cold temperatures, depths and other biological factors in the lake end up preserving things for many years, including organic materials. The fuselage of his plane, along with remains, may well be undiscovered on the lake bottom.

Yep, I agree. And if they did wash up on shore somewhere--well, most of the shoreline is isolated and bones could like there for a long time before they were found.

 

[fred&edna]

Was cause of death determined? I don't see this info on Namus but I could be overlooking it.

 

[carbuff]

Was cause of death determined? I don't see this info on Namus but I could be overlooking it.

I don't recall seeing a definitive answer but the article quoted in post #25 says they think he might have drowned, but that was before the autopsy.

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Is it possible that this is a case like the 'Harry' one where the UID's death is known the family but they assumed the remains to be lost?

 

[carbuff]

Is it possible that this is a case like the 'Harry' one where the UID's death is known the family but they assumed the remains to be lost?

I think that's quite likely. Good point.

 

[carbuff]

Checking Namus for updates, I noticed a detail about the clothing description:

light brown Haggar dress slacks; blue and white checked long-sleeved shirt per autopsy report; tan casual long sleeved shirt size 16x33 per KSP; blue jacket estimated size 42; brown leather belt est size 28" per KSP
On the Body

This sounds to me like there's a discrepancy in the Kentucky State Police and the autopsy reports about the shirt he was wearing, not that he was wearing two shirts. Autopsy says blue checked while KSP says tan.

Of course it's possible he was wearing two shirts, which would imply he disappeared in cooler weather, but a possible source of the discrepancy would be that the shirt was so soiled from being in the muddy water that it looked tan when KSP recovered the body, but at the autopsy they were able to determine it was really blue and white.

A 16x33 shirt is in keeping with the size 42 jacket; with the thin waist, it implies he was a guy with big shoulders and/or a barrel chest. A 28" waist is very small for a six-foot guy. Namus says the 6'3" height is estimated; it wouldn't surprise me if he was somewhat shorter than the estimate. I would like to know the inseam length.

 

[Melt71]

Just a single ruleout in Namus