KY KY - Carrollton, OH River, WhtMale 40-55, UP104, Skull w/BFT wound, Multiple Prior Fractures, Muscular/Stocky build, Sept’80 *Kenneth Linville*

[MadMcGoo]

Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP104
Male, White / Caucasian

Reconstructions of the victim, actual skull
​

Date of Discovery: September 1 & November 11, 1980
Location Found: Carrollton & Ghent, Kentucky
State of Remains: Skeletal
Cause of Death: Homicide - Blunt force trauma to the back of the head
Estimated Age: Adult - Pre 50; 40-55
Estimated Year of Death: 1980
Estimated PMI: 4-8 Months
Estimated Height: 5' 8"(68 inches)
Weight: Unknown
Hair: Brown, light to medium
Eye Color: Unknown

Distinguishing Marks/Features: Evidence of a previous broken nose, left ankle, and foot. Possibly right-handed. May have suffered from arthritis. Possible evidence of poor nourishment and/or drug use.
Clothing: None located

Circumstances of Discovery
Partial skeletal remains of the victim were located on September 1, 1980 after flood waters receded on the Ohio River near Carrollton. On November 11, 1980, additional remains were found on the riverbank behind Kentucky Utilities Plant in Ghent. It is believed that both sets of remains may belong to the same individual.

In May 2017, a potential link between the remains and missing Constable George Hawkins was discovered. Hawkins disappeared in 1961 and is believed to have been killed by mobsters and bore a resemblance to the reconstruction of this victim. Hawkins was later excluded from the case.

Dentals: Available, victim had no teeth
Fingerprints: Not available
DNA: Available

Kentucky State Medical Examiner’s Office
Amy Burrows-Beckham (502) 489-5209
Agency Case Number: 80-F-26
Kentucky State Police
Lt. Jeff Medley (877) 416-1226
Detective Endre Samu
Agency Case Number: 05-80-0920
Regional Program Specialist
Amy Jenkinson (817) 304-8873

Missing Person Exclusions
MP3003 George Hawkins 04/03/1961 Campbell KY

Sources
NamUs
The Doe Network
Local 12

 

[MadMcGoo]

Something just occurred to me... George Hawkins disappeared in 1961 (and probably not of his own volition), the UID was found in 1980 with an estimated PMI of 4-8 months. That makes me think, either someone didn’t trust the estimate or they only proved its potential accuracy.

“4-8 months” and “19 years” are vastly conflicting post mortem intervals!

I guess it’s safe to assume we should be looking for someone who somewhat resembles George? Surely the clay reconstruction was completed prior to anyone thinking this could be George. I can definitely see the resemblance but having a preconceived idea of whose skull they were handling could have affected the artist’s final product. (To some extent...IMO)

 

[carbuff]

For one thing, I think we can take it as evidence that LE doesn't necessarily take post-mortem interval as a firm fact. I know in the past I've ruled out people based on the death date being too distant, but maybe I shouldn't.

 

[MadMcGoo]

I wonder if during the testing they came to a conclusion on this: “It is believed that both sets of remains may belong to the same individual.”

 

[carbuff]

I wonder if during the testing they came to a conclusion on this: “It is believed that both sets of remains may belong to the same individual.”

I wondered that too and was trying to find information. Don't see anything though.

 

[MadMcGoo]

What about Randy Sellers? Height is exact and hair color is exact. It’s 52 miles between the two locations. Randy went missing on August 16, 1980, the skull was found on September 1, 1980. It says the UID has no teeth but no other details. Age...well it’s off. Drug use, previous fractures for both.

I think there’s one UID Randy hasn’t been ruled out as being that would fit the theory that he was killed by Evans. Him being this UID would fit the other two theories; he wandered off and drowned (not so probable considering the blow to the head) or the the police did not simply drop him off on the side of the road...

Randy’s age progressed photo, UID

Randy, UID skull

 

[carbuff]

I don't think two weeks is long enough for the skull to become completely bare like that, even if it was getting tumbled around in the river. But otherwise I like the possibility.

 

[MadMcGoo]

I don't think two weeks is long enough for the skull to become completely bare like that, even if it was getting tumbled around in the river. But otherwise I like the possibility.

I talked myself out of (but left it in the ‘maybe’ file). I’ve been trying to figure out what might have caused that wound. I haven’t looked into it much (yet). At first I thought a crowbar or boat propeller but I honestly don’t think that pattern would be the result of either. I’ve never seen something like it.

It’s implied that the blow was the cause of death so I don’t guess it would have occurred postmortem (i.e. boat propeller).

 

[carbuff]

I think something long and narrow, like a tire iron or fireplace poker? It looks like it broke the skull on either side and pushed that rectangular piece down into the brain.

 

[MadMcGoo]

(I know there are professionals who read these comments and cringe lol) it would have had to be a very hard and swift blow to create that indention I would think.
Eta: That type of violence makes me wonder if the remains were separated intentionally or because of the river/flooding...

 

[MadMcGoo]

Potential Match:https://www.namus.gov/MissingPersons/Case#/1712

1. Randy Lee Sellers

 

[carbuff]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

MP3003 George Hawkins 04/03/1961 Campbell KY is still the only exclusion.


Random thought: the drug use and the lack of teeth may be related. Meth is killer on the gums and teeth.

 

[Melt71]

Newly added to Namus and had not been physically seen by family for a couple of years at the time of last contact in 1984. Nothing in Namus to indicate police believe he was deceased in 1984, just that this was last contact. Only added to Namus 2 weeks ago.

His photos show a high hairline, he was 31yo and he had a broken jaw and possibly foot/leg/hip injury at the same (as he was pictured holding crutches) MI - MI - David Anderson Dillon, 31, Ann Arbor, 17 January 1984 (websleuths.com)

 

[othram]

SOLVED: After 43 years, Carroll County John Doe is Identified

 

[HmmMysterious]

SOLVED: After 43 years, Carroll County John Doe is Identified

Identified as 40-year-old Kenneth Linville of Bethal, Ohio. He was institutionalized for many years beginning in 1969 and was last discharged on August 22, 1980. Cause and manner of death are unknown. Rest in peace Kenneth

 

[MadMcGoo]

Rest peacefully now Kenneth.

 

[HmmMysterious]

Kenneth doesn't look like his recon in any way whatsoever.

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Possible evidence of poor nourishment and/or drug use.
Him being institutionalized probably explains this. Rest in peace, Kenneth.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Kenneth Linville​

In September 1980, skeletal remains were found on the Indiana side of the Ohio River near Switzerland County. Two months later, more remains were found on the Kentucky side of the river in Carrol County, with DNA testing revealing in 2005 that both remains were from one person.

In 2023, Kentucky State Police submitted DNA to Othram Inc., a lab near Houston, Texas, in hopes of identifying the man. Last year, he was identified as Kenneth Linville of Bethel, Ohio.

According to an Othram website, Linville had been institutionalized for a number of years before his death.

"Investigators believe he was in and out six times, beginning in 1969, and that he was last discharged on August 22, 1980, mere weeks before his remains were found," the website states.

The cause of Linville's death is unknown.

Kentucky cold cases: 9 bodies, 2 killers identified using DNA, family trees

Kentucky officials have several identified homicide victims and suspects by matching their DNA to potential relatives.

www.courier-journal.com

 

[HmmMysterious]

Kenneth Linville​

In September 1980, skeletal remains were found on the Indiana side of the Ohio River near Switzerland County. Two months later, more remains were found on the Kentucky side of the river in Carrol County, with DNA testing revealing in 2005 that both remains were from one person.

In 2023, Kentucky State Police submitted DNA to Othram Inc., a lab near Houston, Texas, in hopes of identifying the man. Last year, he was identified as Kenneth Linville of Bethel, Ohio.

According to an Othram website, Linville had been institutionalized for a number of years before his death.

"Investigators believe he was in and out six times, beginning in 1969, and that he was last discharged on August 22, 1980, mere weeks before his remains were found," the website states.

The cause of Linville's death is unknown.

Kentucky cold cases: 9 bodies, 2 killers identified using DNA, family trees

Kentucky officials have several identified homicide victims and suspects by matching their DNA to potential relatives.

www.courier-journal.com

I keep coming back to Kenneth's case because it's shocking his body skeletonized in only about 11 days. It's also horrific that it's likely he met a violent death just after being discharged.