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)

[Valiant]

Back in 1999, the Dallas Cowboys were very popular nationwide, not just in Texas.
It was toward the end of the Troy Aikman years which made the team very well known.

 

[MadMcGoo]

I think a trucker was involved in someway, I’m not sold on the fact that “Mac” was a trucker through. (I see the irony in me calling him that, although it was because of his size...built like a Mac truck).

This is a relatively convenient dump location, but I’d think whoever did dump him here was somewhat familiar with the area. They went to pretty great lengths to conceal his body. Unless the wires and chains and jack were attached to his body prior to passing by the lake, they would have had to stop for a little while near the lake in order to do all this and throw him into the water.

I’m having a hard time picturing that part. Could he have been thrown in from shore or would someone have to go out on the water in order to get him far enough into the lake? Just seems like a lot of work would have had to have been done somewhere.

The cab or an 18-wheeler? At or near the lake? Another location depending on where he was killed? Did they run the risk of being seen near the lake? Did they drive a distance with a dead body wrapped in tire chains, wire and affixed to a hydraulic jack in their vehicle? Did they know someone local and drop the body off with them as they were passing through and trust that person to dispose of him?

Lots of questions when it comes to that.

(FWIW, I don’t believe the man was wearing a Dallas Cowboys jacket...I think he had a blue jacket with a large star on it...I also think that aside from “snow tire chains” - which several have mentioned would be carried by truckers most all of the time - nothing points to cold weather) IMOO

 

[j_in_c]

Understandably so. I posted the first image from my album which was one I had been playing with; saturation, contrast, etc. Here’s the original image, just flipped...
View attachment 227072
eta: Now I see a pair of eyeglasses with legs

Can anyone find an image for buttons on "Route 66" brand denim (sold in walmart/kmart/sears)? Wondering if it would match at all....

 

[victoriarobinson642]

From "Route 66 Men's Premium Slim Bootcut Jeans"
Seems possible

 

[j_in_c]

From "Route 66 Men's Premium Slim Bootcut Jeans"
Seems possible

I was hoping to find one with perhaps a stylized 66 that might resemble the button but so far I can not even confirm that this brand was widely available in the late 1990s.

 

[carbuff]

I would say with that much weight tied to the body, he had to have been put in the lake from a bridge or bluff, or possibly a boat.

It says he was found at the beginning of May, which would be consistent with being thrown in the water a couple of months earlier while the water was still cold, then rising as the weather and water warmed and decomposition speeded up.

 

[MadMcGoo]

The one you posted, Victoria, is the perfect example of why I think this one is unique...the majority of the ones I’m finding are like that! They have the hole/cutout in the center!

Route 66 was around then IIRC. My guess is that if it’s from jeans, it is from a company who didn’t have a “signature look”. Levi’s, Guess, Gap, etc. they’ve for the most part stuck with the same style/look. Also if it’s a limited edition design, so to speak, I’d think it was from a designed brand (Diesel, Lucky Brand, etc)...not a more affordable clothing line (Lee, Arizona, Rider/Ryder?...).

This kind of makes me think more along the lines of a pea coat again...although, this one doesn’t seem as rounded or domed as one you’d see on a heavier jacket. Other than blue jeans, I don’t see any other article of his clothing this would go to.

JMOO, and generalities. I know there’s probably a pair of Levi’s that contradicts everything I just said

 

[MadMcGoo]

@carbuff Do you think it would be easy for him to surface with all this weight attached to him? Solid metal, non decomposing items will not gain buoyancy over a period of time. I’m trying not to go into graphic detail, but do you know what I mean?

He was a big guy and it’s safe to say that may be why this much was used to “sink him”, but him being big would mean after some time he’d potentially surface quicker than a smaller person. So how in the world did he surface with all this attached? The jack wouldn’t be that heavy but snow chain? Would his body have been able to “carry” these items up with him?

 

[carbuff]

@carbuff Do you think it would be easy for him to surface with all this weight attached to him? Solid metal, non decomposing items will not gain buoyancy over a period of time. I’m trying not to go into graphic detail, but do you know what I mean?

He was a big guy and it’s safe to say that may be why this much was used to “sink him”, but him being big would mean after some time he’d potentially surface quicker than a smaller person. So how in the world did he surface with all this attached? The jack wouldn’t be that heavy but snow chain? Would his body have been able to “carry” these items up with him?

His body basically becomes a big inflated balloon lifting everything to the surface. It takes a lot of weight to keep a body underwater. I've read that divers need weights equal to around 10-15% of their body weight, and the decomposing body lifts even more than that. I don't know if there's a formula for figuring that out--it might be useful to know, but it's not a subject I care to pursue

 

[momrids6]

Explosive demolition of old Lake Barkley Bridge, new bridge back open

 

[MadMcGoo]

ok, so lakes in rural TX are not like lakes in KY. Thank you @momrids6 ! I guess I need to research some of the non-variables here.

 

[Warwick1991]

Since Lake Barkley is also a reservoir created by a dam, it is possible that the bottom may be colder due to lack of natural currents at certain depths. Marine life may be more limited. The bottom may have been dredged and could be deep, with a layer of cold water that stays cold year round. I think our victim could have been in a pocket of cold water, with decomposition proceeding very slowly, for well over a year. That means he could have been put in the lake in 1977 MOO. Even though it is a distance, I think Harold Roland is a possibility.

As far as the button goes, I still think it is from a pair of jeans. Route 66 may be correct. The more recent metal buttons I’ve seen with a hollow center have replaced older models with a solid stamped face on less expensive brands. I think the riveting process is easier with the hollow center. I’ve owned several pea coats, which are usually heavy wool with large buttons and large button holes.

 

[MadMcGoo]

Since Lake Barkley is also a reservoir created by a dam, it is possible that the bottom may be colder due to lack of natural currents at certain depths. Marine life may be more limited. The bottom may have been dredged and could be deep, with a layer of cold water that stays cold year round. I think our victim could have been in a pocket of cold water, with decomposition proceeding very slowly, for well over a year. That means he could have been put in the lake in 1977 MOO. Even though it is a distance, I think Harold Roland is a possibility.

As far as the button goes, I still think it is from a pair of jeans. Route 66 may be correct. The more recent metal buttons I’ve seen with a hollow center have replaced older models with a solid stamped face on less expensive brands. I think the riveting process is easier with the hollow center. I’ve owned several pea coats, which are usually heavy wool with large buttons and large button holes.

I hadn’t thought about any of those things you mentioned about the lake/reservoir so thank you for explaining that! It does make sense him being in a cold pocket like you described. Would have delayed decomposition just long enough, lengthening the time between the man’s disappearance and date of discovery so as to lessen the likelihood of a connection being made to someone missing from as far away as Texas.

And especially in Harold’s case, would have given the person responsible for his death more time to cover up the crime. Even though distance seemed to be all that was needed. I’m thinking more and more it could be Harold.

 

[MadMcGoo]

An interesting fact in Harold’s case...

“Roland’s pickup, pontoon boat and boat trailer were also missing, but over the next three months the burned pickup was found in rural Angelina County and the boat trailer was found in a National Forest in San Augustine County.

The pontoon boat was found hidden under willow trees on Lake Sam Rayburn, the DPS said.

“The pontoons on the boat had been shot, possibly in an attempt to sink the craft,” the DPS said.”

Someone tried to cover up or conceal everything else involved in his disappearance, doesn’t seem too far fetched to think they would have done the same with Harold himself.

They tried sinking the pontoon. Maybe they tried sinking it some place else, otherwise wouldn’t it have been on lake Rayburn and not on land, hidden under trees? Finding Harold’s boat in Kentucky would surely raise suspicion and draw attention to KY. Pulling a boat with bullet holes back to Texas and leaving it near where the MP was last seen would do the exact opposite. No one would ever suspect KY!
eta: link Missing Person, Bill Roland

 

[PezCandy]

Description of John Doe is so similar to Harolds. Harold’s disappearance gives me the chills, and makes me think of a zillion questions.

 

[prncsspeech]

Harold Roland is listed as having "graying blond hair", while our pal has brown hair. It's a possibility it could have been dyed, but I'm not sure I buy it.

 

[prncsspeech]

Could/would it be possible for a single person to dispose of Mac's body? Given his size, plus the weight of the chains and the jack, that would require some strength.

Something about this case keeps nagging at me.

 

[MadMcGoo]

Harold Roland is listed as having "graying blond hair", while our pal has brown hair. It's a possibility it could have been dyed, but I'm not sure I buy it.

You’re right!! And it’s undeniably gray (almost white) in the photos. Unless he dyed it that way, which I’m certainly not buying. The only hope in an “error” or confusion when it comes to his (UID) hair lies in two things (IMO)...
1. The ViCAP alert and other printed “flyers” don’t really mention his hair like others do... yes it’s listed as “brown”, but in the description and details of discovery, there’s no mention of it specifically
2. This is how NamUs lists his (UID) hair: “Head Hair Descriptionbrown?” with a question mark.

 

[prncsspeech]

1. The ViCAP alert and other printed “flyers” don’t really mention his hair like others do... yes it’s listed as “brown”, but in the description and details of discovery, there’s no mention of it specifically
2. This is how NamUs lists his (UID) hair: “Head Hair Descriptionbrown?” with a question mark.

I had completely missed this!!! Makes me wonder why they even bothered listing a color at all, if they aren't sure.

 

[MadMcGoo]

@prncsspeech good question. I’d like to know his cause of death! We know the manner is homicide, but was he shot? stabbed? Someone mentioned his throat being cut, I can imagine that might go undetected at autopsy (in this case). It’s fairly unusual for a victim like this to be strangled to death. It doesn’t appear that he was dismembered so it would have taken a pretty strong person to even maneuver him and get the chains and stuff on him. I’m trying to come up with a scenario that would allow for one person to pull this off...

Maybe considering the chains, jack, electrical wire, they may have had a dolly of some sort. If his throat were cut, I’d think he was taken by surprise, under the influence, or accosted by several people. Surely he’d put up a fight and a man this size, under normal circumstances and barring any physical handicaps, should be able to put up a fairly strong fight.

If he were shot, for instance, that could be accomplished by one person, they’d have had to have some amount of time and space (and certain amount of seclusion) to “prepare” the body to be dumped. Then the strength it would take to actually dump him, even if he were thrown or pushed from a boat, bridge, vehicle... he had to have been placed somewhere at sometime by someone.

Unless he was a passenger in an 18-wheeler, was shot while inside the cab, the perpetrator used what was handy. Maybe he pulled off somewhere, prepared the victim and then dumped him? Much more heinous acts have occurred in the cabs of seemingly innocent, parked semi trucks. Idk. I’m just thinking out loud mostly... this is definitely a puzzling one ...