MD MD - Earlville, WhtMale 18-50, UP2279, 'Mike & Barb' tattoo, Libra keyring, Jan'79

[Romulus]

NamUs UP Case 2279

https://identifyus.org/en/cases/2279

Unidentified White Male
* Found January 30, 1979 in Earlville, MD
* Estimated Year of Death: 1978 to 1979

Vital Statistics
* Estimated age: 18-50 years old
* Approximate Height: 71' estimated
* Distinguishing Characteristics: Brown and straight, 6 inches in length in ponytail at lower portion of the back of the head with shaved scalp, Circumcised..
* Dentals: Available
* Clothing/Jewelry: Maroon shirt, brown pants, Black loafer-style shoe with black sock, Silver color chain necklace with a copper link/Libra keyring with 5 keys. Libra 09/23 - 10/22; Upper right arm - heart and dagger/Right forearm (smaller) heart and dagger/ Left forearm "LOVE" in triangle and "Mike & Barb"/Left upper arm circle with lines - possibly a crude rose/flower. Poor quality tattoos.

* DNA: not Available.

Case History: Subject found along shoreline of river. His name may be Mike and he may have or have had a significant other named Barb (tattoos). His astrological sign may be Libra (key chain attachment), which would put his date of birth between September 23 and October 22.

 

[Paisley_in_Ottawa]

Michael Gaughan looks very possible to me (height is a bit low, but possibly still growing when he left home at 17?). That zig-zag scar he was to have on his left forearm could easily be that zig-zag over "Mike & Barb" on the sketch of the tattoo on the UID's left forearm. Oh, and he's a Libra...

Thoughts ?

 

[Romulus]

Michael Gaughan Profile
https://www.findthemissing.org/en/cases/4615

Michael Gaughan had a chipped tooth, but the profile of the body without identity no mention of this chipped tooth.

 

[Paisley_in_Ottawa]

No mention of it doesn't mean it's not chipped. I'd only rule this out (personally) if there was something that implied "perfect teeth" on the UID.

I'm in Canada, but if there's any spark of interest from anyone a bit more local (Maryland, anyone?) they might feel compelled to look into this...

 

[Romulus]

it seems me strange that an important detail is not inserted in Namus; however I have noticed that Namus is not updated, several resolved cases of disappearance are still in the database of the site.

 

[Romulus]

Doe Network

http://doenetwork.org/cases/2162ummd.html

 

[Romulus]

The Doe Network Unidentified Male Date of Discovery: January 30, 1979 Location of Discovery: Earlville, Cecil County, Maryland Estimated Date of Death: Months prior State of Remains: Unknown Cause of Death: Unknown Physical Description ** Listed information is approximate Estimated Age: 18-90 years old Race: White Gender: Male Height: 5'11" Weight: 155 lbs. Hair Color: Brown, 6-inches long and worn in a ponytail. Eye Color: Unknown Distinguishing Marks/Features: Tattoos: Upper right arm - heart and dagger; right forearm - smaller heart and dagger; left forearm - "LOVE" in a triangle and "Mike & Barb"; left upper arm - circle with lines, possibly a crude rose or flower. Dentals: Available. Fingerprints: Available. DNA: Not available. Clothing & Personal Items Clothing: Maroon shirt, brown pants, black loafers, and black socks. Jewelry: Silver colored chain necklace with a copper link. Additional Personal Items: Libra keyring with "Libra 9/23 - 10/22" on it and five keys. Case History The victim was located along the Sassafras River shoreline. Investigating Agency(s) If you have any information about this case please contact; Agency Name: Maryland State Police Agency Contact Person: Maryland Center for the Missing & Unidentified Agency Phone Number: 410-290-1620 Agency Name: Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Agency Contact Person: Charlotte Romero Agency Phone Number: 410-333-3254 Agency Case Number: 79-195A/79-8U/116246 NCIC Case Number: N/A NamUs Case Number: UP #2279 Former Hot Case Number: 1210 Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case. Information Source(s) NamUs

 

[KaylaraOwl]

Rule outs:
Louis Boggs, Sr.
Gabriel Caporino
Frank SANTMYER

 

[Romulus]

Michael Gaughan looks very possible to me (height is a bit low, but possibly still growing when he left home at 17?). That zig-zag scar he was to have on his left forearm could easily be that zig-zag over "Mike & Barb" on the sketch of the tattoo on the UID's left forearm. Oh, and he's a Libra...

Thoughts ?

Paisley submitted this profile no?

 

[namstache]

I swear he looks just like Michael DeMaria

Missing Person Case

 

[Nate_Bro]

Im confused. both The Doe Network and Namus list him as having a shaved scalp, but the composite clearly shows long hair on top? Maybe there was evidence that he had recently shaved it?

The reason I ask is because he bears sort of a resemblance to a man missing from Canada (nose, hairline, brow). Except the ears, but I wonder if they are drawn that way because of the hair pushed behind them? Obviously there was plenty of time for the hair style to change completely. Also he had no teeth but cant see any mention of the John Does dentals..

Canada's Missing | Case details

 

[Melt71]

Im confused. both The Doe Network and Namus list him as having a shaved scalp, but the composite clearly shows long hair on top? Maybe there was evidence that he had recently shaved it?

Hopefully this info below (from the original post) helps. The language is a bit confusing but it seems like he had an undercut?
Maybe like this?

​

* Distinguishing Characteristics:
Brown and straight, 6 inches in length in ponytail at lower portion of the back of the head with shaved scalp​

 

[Nate_Bro]

Hopefully this info below (from the original post) helps. The language is a bit confusing but it seems like he had an undercut?

​

That's what confused me. If I add some grammar, it seems to read "Brown and straight, 6 inch long ponytail on the lower portion of the back of the head[where a pony tail would be], with a shaved scalp[top of the head]" ?

 

[Melt71]

Yes @Nate_Bro it's confusing language but I was thinking (my highlights in bold) "Brown and straight, 6 inch long high ponytail... On the lower portion of the back of the head, a shaved scalp". Either way the original text is a big cr*p!

 

[AthenaVixon]

I found this on ancestry. I loaded all the available data on this person and it gave me this year book photo. Thoughts?

 

[bombardier]

Hopefully this info below (from the original post) helps. The language is a bit confusing but it seems like he had an undercut?
Maybe like this?

​

i think youre right! the description on NamUs honestly sounds like the hairstyles you sometimes see old men sporting when only the top is balding, but the facial recon would imply that hes got hair on top as well

also, this might be a guess (because i wasn't around to witness fashion in the 70s) but his hairstyle/facial appearance/thick chain leads me to believe that he could be Hispanic as well.

 

[carbuff]

Im confused. both The Doe Network and Namus list him as having a shaved scalp, but the composite clearly shows long hair on top? Maybe there was evidence that he had recently shaved it?

The reason I ask is because he bears sort of a resemblance to a man missing from Canada (nose, hairline, brow). Except the ears, but I wonder if they are drawn that way because of the hair pushed behind them? Obviously there was plenty of time for the hair style to change completely. Also he had no teeth but cant see any mention of the John Does dentals..

Canada's Missing | Case details
View attachment 222657

Often a composite will try to picture what they think the person would have looked like in life rather than exactly what they look like at time of death. I was picturing a "Hare Krishna" type haircut, mostly shaved with a long tail or queue from the back of the head--so they might be trying to go for what he looked like before he joined a movement?

 

[bombardier]

there was some talk about Michael Gaughan earlier (and his chipped tooth maybe being a deterrent) but honestly when looking at his profile he still looks to be a good candidate considering his name is Michael, he has tattooing/scarring on his arm (which looks like a mark described on the UID), has long hair like uid, and he's a Libra.
Last seen across the country from the UID but there would have been a 4 year age gap.
I was posting this comparison to say 'they don't look alike' but honestly side-by-side i can sort of see it! especially around the eyes, eyebrows, and jawline. Trying to remember that he would have had some age-related changes as well from 17 to 21 y/o... the hairline of the UID looks older than 21 but he was in the water for weeks and that can distort the face, slough hair off, etc

@Paisley_in_Ottawa , did you ever submit Michael's name or find something further that excluded him?

 

[Paisley_in_Ottawa]

I did, but I never heard back from Namus. Some of the contacts are more responsive than others, and I do know I never did a follow-up. I believe this is him, as well...

 

[carbuff]

I did, but I never heard back from Namus. Some of the contacts are more responsive than others, and I do know I never did a follow-up. I believe this is him, as well...

They've been having a fair amount of turnover and some people have had their loads greatly increased. If I get a response at all these days, it's just a boilerplate "thanks we'll pass it on" and a notice I won't hear anything more unless LE needs to talk to me.