citizen_sleuth
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NamUs #UP1769 / Doe Network 2078 UMNJ
Demographics
Sex: Male
Race/Ethnicity: White / Caucasian
Estimated Age Group: Adult - Pre 40
Estimated Age Range (Years): 23-33
Estimated Year of Death: 1978
Estimated PMI: N/A (News reports say "a few hours," likely less than 8)
Height: 5'6" (66 inches), Estimated (News reports say 5'7" to 5'10")
Weight: 170 lbs, Measured
Cause of Death: Homicide by gunshot
Circumstances
Type: Unidentified Deceased
Date Body Found: July 22, 1978
NamUs Case Created: March 31, 2008
ME/C QA Reviewed: N/A
Location Found: Jackson Township, New Jersey
County: Ocean County
Circumstances of Recovery: At around 5:15 a.m. on July 22, 1978, two patrolmen responded to a report of a brush fire off Route 571 near the Route I-195 overpass in Jackson Township. Upon arriving at the scene, the officers discovered a decapitated body wrapped in a blanket approximately 20 feet off the roadway in clear view, near the reported brush fire.
An autopsy showed that the man, estimated to be between the ages of 25 and 35, had died of a single gunshot wound to the chest. The man's head and fingertips had been cut off, apparently in an attempt to hinder identification efforts. He is believed to have been killed and decapitated elsewhere before being dumped on the side of the road.
Police interviewed hundreds of people in an attempt to identify the victim and his killer, including witnesses who reported seeing the brush fire, but it generated no leads. Authorities believe that the brush fire may have been set by the perpetrator in order to cover his tracks.
Inventory of Remains: Head not recovered
Condition of Remains: Not recognizable - Partial remains with soft tissues
Physical Description
Hair Color: Blonde/Stawberry
Head Hair Description: Described as light reddish blonde hair.
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinctive Physical Features: Numerous healed/sutured scars on the arms, possibly from axe wounds.
Scar on left hand: on back of left hand is an irregular pale linear scar measuring 2 1/4," healed suture markings prominent; Scar on right forearm: located on front upper right forearm is an irregular pale scar measuring 2 1/4" by 3/8," healed suture markings prominent; Scar on left forearm: irregular pale linear scar on the back outer aspect of left forearm measuring 5 1/4" by 5/16," healed suture markings prominent; Another scar on front lower left forearm is an irregular scar measuring 2 3/8," healed suture markings prominent.
Clothing and Accessories
- The body was wrapped in sheets and blankets (On the Body)
- Blue Jockey shorts with label "Permanent Press" (On the Body)
News Coverage
"Autopsy Likely to Reveal Identity of Headless Body," Asbury Park Press, 24 July 1978, A6.
The partially clad victim, a white male about 5 feet 8 and 160 pounds, was found shortly after 5:15 a.m. He had been dead for only a few hours, police said.
"Decapitated Man Killed By 1 Bullet," Asbury Park Press, 26 July 1978, A4.
The decapitated man found near Route 571 by the Route I-195 overpass Saturday morning was killed by a single gunshot wound in the upper body, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.
[...]
The head and fingertips were cut off after the man was shot, Ocean County Prosecutor Edward J. Turnbach said yesterday.
The type of gun used is undetermined.
Turnbach said there are no signs of struggle near where the torso was found.
Investigators believe the man was shot and decapitated elsewhere and dumped here.
Turnbach said the killing could not be considered a gangland-style murder.
"It's rare that they (persons in organized crime) would go to such lengths to mutilate the body," Turnbach said.
The prosecutor's office said the dead man was 25 to 35 years old, stood 5 feet 7 to 5 feet 10, weighed 175 pounds and had red or reddish brown hair.
Scars from injuries possibly made by an ax several years ago were visible on both arms, according to Michael Mohel, an investigator in the prosecutors office.
The body was found by two patrolmen investigating a report of a brush fire. The body was about 20 feet from Route 571 near the Route I-195 overpass, and in clear view from both roads.
"Body Still Unidentified," Messenger-Press [Allentown, NJ], 27 July 1978, 2.
The site of the body's discovery is just adjacent to Millstone Township. Police theorize that the victim could have been dumped from a car which was traveling either the Interstate or Rt. 571 (Monmouth Road).
"Police Seek 3 Who Called in Fire That Led to Discovery of Body," Asbury Park Press, 28 July 1978, B4.
The man, whom police believe was dead less than eight hours when discovered, was found only about 30 feet off Route 571 near an Interstate 195 overpass.
Police said the fire may have been an effort to block identification of the victim or to draw attention to him.
Police said two calls were placed reporting the fire, one at 5:08 a.m. and the other 26 minutes later. Police believe the first call may have been made from a pay telephone at the intersection of Routes 537 and 571. It was placed to the Allentown Fire Company.
The second call was made from the Village Donut Shop on Route 571. The caller was described to police as a white male between 18 and 22 years of age and 5 feet 9 inches tall. The caller was described as having a thin build, short hair and a moustache. He wore glasses, police said.
Accompanying the caller, police said, were a white man they have no description of, and a white female described as between 18 and 22 years of age, about 5 feet 4 inches tall and with long blonde hair.
Police said it is possible the trio may have been from the Princeton area and were headed to the Shore. They may have stopped to try to put out the blaze but didn't notice the body, police said.
"Headless Man's Identity Still Unknown by Police," Asbury Park Press, 8 August 1978, D2.
Police have followed up hundreds of leads in their continuing efforts to solve the July 22 murder of a still unidentified victim.
[...]
The body was found about 5:15 a.m. by police, who had been called to the scene to investigate a brush fire in the same area.
Police said yesterday hundreds of persons have been interviewed in a futile attempt to identify the victim or learn the identity of the killer.
Police said they also have interviewed several persons who called in to report the brush fire and talked to many others on the phone but without success.
[...]
Police are investigating the possibility the brush fire was connected to the slaying.
"Identity Still Unknown," Asbury Park Press, 3 December 1978, A7.
Peterson says pictures of the body were distributed to law enforcement agencies nationwide, but have produced no new information.
[...]
The partially clad body was found the morning of July 22 three miles east of the Great Adventure amusement park by two Jackson Township policemen, who had been called to the area to investigate reports of a nearby brush fire. Authorities believe the culprit or culprits may have set the fire to cover their tracks.
Demographics
Sex: Male
Race/Ethnicity: White / Caucasian
Estimated Age Group: Adult - Pre 40
Estimated Age Range (Years): 23-33
Estimated Year of Death: 1978
Estimated PMI: N/A (News reports say "a few hours," likely less than 8)
Height: 5'6" (66 inches), Estimated (News reports say 5'7" to 5'10")
Weight: 170 lbs, Measured
Cause of Death: Homicide by gunshot
Circumstances
Type: Unidentified Deceased
Date Body Found: July 22, 1978
NamUs Case Created: March 31, 2008
ME/C QA Reviewed: N/A
Location Found: Jackson Township, New Jersey
County: Ocean County
Circumstances of Recovery: At around 5:15 a.m. on July 22, 1978, two patrolmen responded to a report of a brush fire off Route 571 near the Route I-195 overpass in Jackson Township. Upon arriving at the scene, the officers discovered a decapitated body wrapped in a blanket approximately 20 feet off the roadway in clear view, near the reported brush fire.
An autopsy showed that the man, estimated to be between the ages of 25 and 35, had died of a single gunshot wound to the chest. The man's head and fingertips had been cut off, apparently in an attempt to hinder identification efforts. He is believed to have been killed and decapitated elsewhere before being dumped on the side of the road.
Police interviewed hundreds of people in an attempt to identify the victim and his killer, including witnesses who reported seeing the brush fire, but it generated no leads. Authorities believe that the brush fire may have been set by the perpetrator in order to cover his tracks.
Inventory of Remains: Head not recovered
Condition of Remains: Not recognizable - Partial remains with soft tissues
Physical Description
Hair Color: Blonde/Stawberry
Head Hair Description: Described as light reddish blonde hair.
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinctive Physical Features: Numerous healed/sutured scars on the arms, possibly from axe wounds.
Scar on left hand: on back of left hand is an irregular pale linear scar measuring 2 1/4," healed suture markings prominent; Scar on right forearm: located on front upper right forearm is an irregular pale scar measuring 2 1/4" by 3/8," healed suture markings prominent; Scar on left forearm: irregular pale linear scar on the back outer aspect of left forearm measuring 5 1/4" by 5/16," healed suture markings prominent; Another scar on front lower left forearm is an irregular scar measuring 2 3/8," healed suture markings prominent.
Clothing and Accessories
- The body was wrapped in sheets and blankets (On the Body)
- Blue Jockey shorts with label "Permanent Press" (On the Body)
News Coverage
"Autopsy Likely to Reveal Identity of Headless Body," Asbury Park Press, 24 July 1978, A6.
The partially clad victim, a white male about 5 feet 8 and 160 pounds, was found shortly after 5:15 a.m. He had been dead for only a few hours, police said.
"Decapitated Man Killed By 1 Bullet," Asbury Park Press, 26 July 1978, A4.
The decapitated man found near Route 571 by the Route I-195 overpass Saturday morning was killed by a single gunshot wound in the upper body, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.
[...]
The head and fingertips were cut off after the man was shot, Ocean County Prosecutor Edward J. Turnbach said yesterday.
The type of gun used is undetermined.
Turnbach said there are no signs of struggle near where the torso was found.
Investigators believe the man was shot and decapitated elsewhere and dumped here.
Turnbach said the killing could not be considered a gangland-style murder.
"It's rare that they (persons in organized crime) would go to such lengths to mutilate the body," Turnbach said.
The prosecutor's office said the dead man was 25 to 35 years old, stood 5 feet 7 to 5 feet 10, weighed 175 pounds and had red or reddish brown hair.
Scars from injuries possibly made by an ax several years ago were visible on both arms, according to Michael Mohel, an investigator in the prosecutors office.
The body was found by two patrolmen investigating a report of a brush fire. The body was about 20 feet from Route 571 near the Route I-195 overpass, and in clear view from both roads.
"Body Still Unidentified," Messenger-Press [Allentown, NJ], 27 July 1978, 2.
The site of the body's discovery is just adjacent to Millstone Township. Police theorize that the victim could have been dumped from a car which was traveling either the Interstate or Rt. 571 (Monmouth Road).
"Police Seek 3 Who Called in Fire That Led to Discovery of Body," Asbury Park Press, 28 July 1978, B4.
The man, whom police believe was dead less than eight hours when discovered, was found only about 30 feet off Route 571 near an Interstate 195 overpass.
Police said the fire may have been an effort to block identification of the victim or to draw attention to him.
Police said two calls were placed reporting the fire, one at 5:08 a.m. and the other 26 minutes later. Police believe the first call may have been made from a pay telephone at the intersection of Routes 537 and 571. It was placed to the Allentown Fire Company.
The second call was made from the Village Donut Shop on Route 571. The caller was described to police as a white male between 18 and 22 years of age and 5 feet 9 inches tall. The caller was described as having a thin build, short hair and a moustache. He wore glasses, police said.
Accompanying the caller, police said, were a white man they have no description of, and a white female described as between 18 and 22 years of age, about 5 feet 4 inches tall and with long blonde hair.
Police said it is possible the trio may have been from the Princeton area and were headed to the Shore. They may have stopped to try to put out the blaze but didn't notice the body, police said.
"Headless Man's Identity Still Unknown by Police," Asbury Park Press, 8 August 1978, D2.
Police have followed up hundreds of leads in their continuing efforts to solve the July 22 murder of a still unidentified victim.
[...]
The body was found about 5:15 a.m. by police, who had been called to the scene to investigate a brush fire in the same area.
Police said yesterday hundreds of persons have been interviewed in a futile attempt to identify the victim or learn the identity of the killer.
Police said they also have interviewed several persons who called in to report the brush fire and talked to many others on the phone but without success.
[...]
Police are investigating the possibility the brush fire was connected to the slaying.
"Identity Still Unknown," Asbury Park Press, 3 December 1978, A7.
Peterson says pictures of the body were distributed to law enforcement agencies nationwide, but have produced no new information.
[...]
The partially clad body was found the morning of July 22 three miles east of the Great Adventure amusement park by two Jackson Township policemen, who had been called to the area to investigate reports of a nearby brush fire. Authorities believe the culprit or culprits may have set the fire to cover their tracks.
