Identified! KY - Eddyville, Lake Barkley, WhtMale 35-50, UP75, wrapped in tire chains anchored by hydraulic jack, May’99 - Roger Dale Parham (Wanted by FBI)

[carbuff]

I agree - just from a little sewing experience, it seems 3-4" off to me, but if he was wearing them, I guess they're his. I would think it would make for a recognizable physical description, if those numbers aren't an error.

The electrical wire to me is more interesting than the chains, because to be "wrapped" in romex, let's say, that would narrow down who was there considerably. I wish there was more detail on what type of wire it was.

It would not be common for anyone but an electrician to have enough wire to "wrap" a large man's body in, in my opinion. Some sort of construction work seems likely if it was in fact electrical wire, and that's not being used as a description for something like an extension cord, etc.

In my experience with these cases, "electrical wire" can mean anything from an extension cord to an old-fashioned TV antenna cord to --whatever the cop on the scene thought they saw. In one case it turned out to be picture wire :O

Also in my experience, "wrapped" doesn't mean totally wrapped in a cocoon, it just means most of the wire went around the body a few times.

In this case, I'm picturing that they laid the body lengthwise on the tire chain, used the wire to secure the chain in place and attach the jack for weight, and then dragged or rolled him into the water. But it could be any of a number of other possibilities. And maybe yes, it was a cocoon. No way to tell.

 

[UnderstandBlue]

In my experience with these cases, "electrical wire" can mean anything from an extension cord to an old-fashioned TV antenna cord to --whatever the cop on the scene thought they saw. In one case it turned out to be picture wire :O

Yes! Maddening! Don't they know we need details?

 

[Trudie]

I agree - just from a little sewing experience, it seems 3-4" off to me, but if he was wearing them, I guess they're his. I would think it would make for a recognizable physical description, if those numbers aren't an error.

tall from the waist up? Despite money in his mouth, I wonder if he was down on his luck, thumbing it across country & got in the wrong vehicle. It appears no one ever reported him missing.
I need to further research to determine the side of the lake he was found. Was he close to a marina? Lake B used to have pontoon rentals. If the marina was super busy they would not notice what was being loaded on a boat, imo. Not sure if they had houseboat rentals then. I wanna say yes. We used to get the houseboats at other lakes, staff paid zero attention to what we loaded. They expect a lot of cargo to be brought on for a week or so on the water. Jmo.
I think now with the alcohol boating law they might pay more attention.

 

[MadMcGoo]

Lots of interesting new theories!

It hadn’t occurred to me about prisons/institutions and where they’re located. I don’t think it had anything to with this particular UID though. Something tells me that he was not a trucker who went missing either. Unless he was part of some owner operated small trucking business. I could see a scenario where partners had a falling out and things turned bad. A missing driver in that case wouldn’t necessarily be something that’d sound alarm bells with anyone.

I also think he was killed elsewhere. The consensus seems to be that it would have required some amount of time and work to “prepare him” for a dump like this. I can’t imagine two fisherman got into a heated argument on the lake, one was killed and the other took time to do all this in order to conceal a (large) body, and it all taking place there on the lake. But it’s not entirely impossible. I don’t know how much traffic is common in and around the lake. Or how likely it’d be for someone to notice suspicious activity. Or for that matter, what would be considered suspicious lol

The electrical wire also intrigues me. Carbuff is right, it could be anything from picturing hanging wire to several 100ft electrical cords. And it could be that he was wrapped like a mummy or it could be that a small section of wire was wrapped around his neck to hold the towel in place. “Elaboration” is highly lacking in this case. But at least we got a picture of a button!

Don’t get me started on the clothes lol, I’ve pretty much come to the conclusion that until we know more accurate details, they’re all irrelevant. I don’t think he was homeless though. Not just the expensive dental work, but it’s pretty unusual for someone to go to these great lengths to try and conceal the body of someone they’d likely know wouldn’t be missed, so to speak. Which leads me to believe someone is probably looking for our guy. Not necessarily that he undoubtedly was reported missing, but I think the killer(s) had a reason to go through so much trouble. IMO

Interesting about the police presence in Eddyville. I’m not suggesting anything, but it’s an interesting tidbit to keep in mind.

All JMOO

 

[MadMcGoo]

This is why I like Harold. The circumstances alone are exactly the type I see fitting this case. IMO

 

[momrids6]

It could be that this man is someone's Dad- the someone who put him in the water. Collected the inheritance, no missing person's report. Or the business partner. Some people don't have or are not at all close to their relatives.

 

[Trudie]

It could be that this man is someone's Dad- the someone who put him in the water. Collected the inheritance, no missing person's report. Or the business partner. Some people don't have or are not at all close to their relatives.

like had him declared dead without a body?

 

[Trudie]

I don’t know how much traffic is common in and around the lake. Or how likely it’d be for someone to notice suspicious activity. Or for that matter, what would be considered suspicious lol

the lake isn’t considered one of the better lakes in KY, imo. But when the temp’ is near 100, it suffices.
As one that had the privilege of growing up on the water (in MI) it seems like nothing is considered suspicious around the water. Pretty much party central.
Now LE patrol the lakes. Back then not so much is moo.
I need to find a map or a description of where he was found to get a better perspective.
The last time I boated on Lake B I noticed every other house was for sale.

 

[carbuff]

like had him declared dead without a body?

If it looked like a boating accident and they found the boat but not the body, they might have.

 

[Trudie]

THE HISTORY OF KENTUCKY LAKE, LAKE BARKLEY AND LAND BETWEEN THE LAKES
Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley are two of the biggest man made lakes in the United States, Kentucky Lake being the biggest man made lake in the eastern United States. These two lakes have a small strip of land separating them known as Land Between the Lakes, which is a national recreational area. Most people who utilize this lake don’t realize the process in which these lakes were built. These two lakes didn’t just occupy empty holes already in earth where they are located, it took years to develop and create these man made masterpieces. Towns were relocated, forests were logged, and ecosystems were flooded, so that these lakes and recreational area could become what they are today.
The History of Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley and Land Between the Lakes

Only posting this for perspective.

 

[Trudie]

Interesting this man required so much dental work early in life.

 

[carbuff]

He would have been a kid in the sixties or seventies, before fluoride use became prevalent and while soda and chewing gum were common. A lot of us wound up with lots of dental work.

 

[Trudie]

Again for perspective:
Eddyville is very close to Paducah.
(Only providing this to give an idea of all the major cities near Eddyville)

Major cities near Paducah, KY. 118 miles to Nashville, TN. 138 miles to Saint Louis, MO. 156 miles to Memphis, TN. 176 miles to Louisville, KY. 229 miles to Indianapolis, IN. 238 miles to Lexington-Fayette, KY. 265 miles to Birmingham, AL. 270 miles to Cincinnati, OH.

 

[Trudie]

He would have been a kid in the sixties or seventies, before fluoride use became prevalent and while soda and chewing gum were common. A lot of us wound up with lots of dental work.

lol I’m older & it seems excessive to me. Maybe poor hygiene, illness or accident contributed to dental needs???

 

[Trudie]

The victim was found floating in Lake Barkley with heavy tire chains wrapped around his body. The chains had also been anchored by an eight-ton hydraulic jack. Although his cause of death could not be determined, his case is being investigated as a homicide.
Lyon County John Doe (1999)

the disparity in estimated height & actual measured height is weird. His facial structure does not look like an overweight person.

 

[Trudie]

Maybe a local can reply to this, imo Lake B is not a place one would just happen upon.

these cases are soooo sad. Someone knew this man!

 

[Trudie]

He would have been a kid in the sixties or seventies, before fluoride use became prevalent and while soda and chewing gum were common. A lot of us wound up with lots of dental work.

Do you think he was pushed off a coal barge?

 

[carbuff]

Do you think he was pushed off a coal barge?

I'm sorry, I don't understand the question. Do coal barges travel that lake? If so then maybe he was. I'm still more inclined to the killed-by-a-trucker idea, but who knows.

 

[Trudie]

I'm sorry, I don't understand the question. Do coal barges travel that lake? If so then maybe he was. I'm still more inclined to the killed-by-a-trucker idea, but who knows.

They do, yes. Eventually they would get to the Ohio River.
lol a friend that works the barge line just texted me, that is what made me think of a barge. Now, not all, but a lot of the guys on barges lead a strange life, MOO. They are gone much longer than OTR truckers, I think. All MOO!

 

[Trudie]

Lake Barkley's aesthetic shoreline makes it an enjoyable lake for boating and skiing. With six commercial marinas positioned at various locations on the lake, supplies and easy access are made readily available for recreational boaters. While not considered a deep-water lake, Lake Barkley maintains a commercial and secondary navigation buoy system to aid in the safety of commercial and recreation boating. Users unfamiliar with the lake should be aware of un-marked hazards and barge traffic while boating and skiing. Lake Barkley resides in both the state of Kentucky and Tennessee. Kentucky Boating Regulations apply when boating in that state as Tennessee Boating Regulations apply when boating in Tennessee.
Lake Barkley | Oh, Ranger!

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