NM NM- Forest area N. of Albuquerque, Sandoval County John Doe, #UP8365, skeletal, May 2001, DNA- Keeble Wofford Sr. (AKA Kimo Mahi), actor/wrestler,2025

[dotr]

Sandoval County John Doe (2001) is now Identified

Sandoval County Sheriff's Department & New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator Team with Othram to Identify a 2001 John Doe

dnasolves.com

'In May 2001, hikers came across bones sticking out of the ground in a forest area in Sandoval County, New Mexico. Sandoval County is a rural county north of Albuquerque. The hikers contacted law enforcement and the Sandoval County Sheriff's Office responded. The bones were excavated with an anthropologist who determined the skeletal remains had been buried in a shallow grave with lime poured over in layers. Initially, investigators believed it may have been the remains of more than one person, but later evidence showed it was one adult male. Despite years of investigative efforts, the identity of this individual remained a mystery and he became known as Sandoval County John Doe. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP8365.'

''This investigation led to the positive identification of the man as Keeble Wofford Sr. who was also known as Kimo Mahi. A death certificate was issued by New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator and Wofford Sr.'s daughter will be receive his cremated remains. Investigators continue to investigate the circumstances involving his death. Wofford had a colorful life as a wrestler and actor starting in the 1950’s, according to investigators. He may have also been associated with organized crime at some point as an alleged hitman.''

 

[Susikatze]

Wow, he starred in many movies of the 50s and 60s, always playing Hawaiian/Pacific Islander characters. It appears he really was african american, though, but with his pseudonym he pretended to be Hawaiian (and had a successful career in entertainment that way).

When did he become a missing person?

 

[The4TierBridge]

I always find it interesting when Does turn out to be minor celebrities/notable people. You’d think that would make them easier to miss, right?

 

[LordMo]

Can't find too much information about him even on the really obscure oldhead wrestling sites, but it looks like he wrestled a lot in Hawaii, Texas, and had a stint in the UK as "Chief Red Eagle."

 

[victoriarobinson642]

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TWILIGHT FOR THE GODS, rear from left: Charles McGraw, Charles Horvath, Arthur Kennedy, Kimo Mahi, Cyd Charisse, Leif Erickson, Ernest Truex, Richard Haydn (back to camera front) on set, 1958 Stock Photo - Alamy

Download this stock image: TWILIGHT FOR THE GODS, rear from left: Charles McGraw, Charles Horvath, Arthur Kennedy, Kimo Mahi, Cyd Charisse, Leif Erickson, Ernest Truex, Richard Haydn (back to camera front) on set, 1958 - 2ABEY19 from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos...

www.alamy.com

From what I'm seeing, he was born in Oklahoma in 1930 and moved to Los Angeles as a teen, where he later married L H in 1954. Parents Edna Hynson and Henry Wofford. He had one younger sister and one older sister, and was raised by his mother. He and his younger sister were listed under her maiden name on the 1950 census.

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Can't find too much information about him even on the really obscure oldhead wrestling sites, but it looks like he wrestled a lot in Hawaii, Texas, and had a stint in the UK as "Chief Red Eagle."

Wrestlers: R1

These are our shorter Biographical portraits which we would like to extend if you can provide information or memories. Jean Rabut Erstwhile French and European lightweight champion Jean Rabut visit…

wrestlingheritage.co.uk

This site suggests he died/disappeared on 7th September, 1992. Unsure where they got that info.

 

[LordMo]

Wrestlers: R1

These are our shorter Biographical portraits which we would like to extend if you can provide information or memories. Jean Rabut Erstwhile French and European lightweight champion Jean Rabut visit…

wrestlingheritage.co.uk

This site suggests he died/disappeared on 7th September, 1992. Unsure where they got that info.

yeah I'm not sure either, I saw it on a few wrestling databases so I guess somehow, someone knew the 1992 disappearance date mentioned in the dnasolves article and mentioned it on some ancient message board or newsgroup or something.

 

[LordMo]

Wrestlers: R1

These are our shorter Biographical portraits which we would like to extend if you can provide information or memories. Jean Rabut Erstwhile French and European lightweight champion Jean Rabut visit…

wrestlingheritage.co.uk

This site suggests he died/disappeared on 7th September, 1992. Unsure where they got that info.

I let the webmaster know about the news, he dug up even more info about his career (mostly pertaining to the UK in the 1950s-1960s) and wrote a little tribute article:

Red Eagle

Wrestling Heritage welcomes memories, further information and corrections. The Mystery of Life and Death Years before Billy Two Rivers ignited the emotions of the nation the United Kingdom was visi…

wrestlingheritage.co.uk