OR OR - Gordon Lopez, 21, Portland, 3 Jan 1986

[Bit of hope]

Here is the link to this UID. Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP10891 Only age is somewhat off. Gordon approx. 21, UID 30 - 45

Did somebody ever submitted this? I can't see the rule outs myself. Is Gordon on the list of rule outs for this UID?

 

[renaebri]

Did somebody ever submitted this? I can't see the rule outs myself. Is Gordon on the list of rule outs for this UID?

He's not listed as a rule out, only rule out is Craig Alexander #MP19371

 

[Bit of hope]

He's not listed as a rule out, only rule out is Craig Alexander #MP19371

Thank you!

 

[Carovb5]

Just came across this doe on a facebookpost. What do you guys think? They’re so similar imo.found 3 days after Gordon went missing.

Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP14306

View NamUs unclaimed person case UCP14306 for -- -- missing from Chicago, Illinois. Date body found: Jan 06, 1986. NCMEC case number: --.

namus.nij.ojp.gov

Post mortem at the link.

 

[JSolt1210]

According to the Charley Project, Gordon's "favorite author was the Swiss/German poet and novelist Hermann Hesse."

Hermann Hesse attempted suicide at age 15, and although he later wrote against suicide, it seems like those feelings plagued him for the rest of his life, writing:

"All suicides are familiar with the struggle against the temptation of suicide. Every one of them knows very well in some corner of his soul that suicide, though a way out, is rather a mean and shabby one, and that it is nobler and finer to be felled by life than by one's own hand."

Given his troubled family history, maybe Gordon felt he had already been felled by life, so he sought the way out by his own hand.

 

[Quilty]

Just came across this doe on a facebookpost. What do you guys think? They’re so similar imo.found 3 days after Gordon went missing.

Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP14306

View NamUs unclaimed person case UCP14306 for -- -- missing from Chicago, Illinois. Date body found: Jan 06, 1986. NCMEC case number: --.

namus.nij.ojp.gov

Post mortem at the link.

I actually independently had submitted this as a possible match. There are freckles/ moles that match, particularly the one on the upper forehead.

 

[Carovb5]

I actually independently had submitted this as a possible match. There are freckles/ moles that match, particularly the one on the upper forehead.

Yes! A LOT matches. Great job submitting him!

 

[Quilty]

I heard back fro the Doe Network. The forensic dentist is 96% sure this is a match.

 

[JSolt1210]

I actually independently had submitted this as a possible match. There are freckles/ moles that match, particularly the one on the upper forehead.

Wow yeah, great observation—he looks EXACTLY like Gordon!

From the description, Gordon was well traveled, having connections to several states. I just wonder what connection, if any, he had to the Chicago area. It's a 31-hour drive from Portland, OR, where he was last seen. That assumes a straight drive, though he probably would've had to rest for one or two nights. This fits the time line perfectly, as Gordon was last seen on January 3, and UP14306 was found on January 6. So if it's him, he died pretty much as soon as he arrived in Chicago!

 

[JSolt1210]

Wow yeah, great observation—he looks EXACTLY like Gordon!

From the description, Gordon was well traveled, having connections to several states. I just wonder what connection, if any, he had to the Chicago area. It's a 31-hour drive from Portland, OR, where he was last seen. That assumes a straight drive, though he probably would've had to rest for one or two nights. This fits the time line perfectly, as Gordon was last seen on January 3, and UP14306 was found on January 6. So if it's him, he died pretty much as soon as he arrived in Chicago!

Possibly answering my own question:

The place where UP14306 was found in Chicago is less than 10 miles away from where the Steppenwolf Theatre company was located from 1982 to 1991. The theatre was named after a novel by Hermann Hesse, Gordon's favorite author.

Was the theater company performing any plays at this time? Did Gordon want to see one before he died? If so, did other attendees notice or interact with him?

 

[Quilty]

Possibly answering my own question:

The place where UP14306 was found in Chicago is less than 10 miles away from where the Steppenwolf Theatre company was located from 1982 to 1991. The theatre was named after a novel by Hermann Hesse, Gordon's favorite author.

Was the theater company performing any plays at this time? Did Gordon want to see one before he died? If so, did other attendees notice or interact with him?

That’s a great connection!
There was (still is) also a fairly popular train route that had daily trips between Portland and Chicago. Current time for the trip is about 45 hours. The address where the UID was found is an industrial building/factory next to train tracks. Maybe a stretch, but interesting.

 

[Aurora90]

I heard back fro the Doe Network. The forensic dentist is 96% sure this is a match.

That’s amazing. Here’s hoping it’s him and the family can get closure!

 

[CooperDyl]

I heard back fro the Doe Network. The forensic dentist is 96% sure this is a match.

Wow I completely missed this. Any update in the last few months? What are the next steps.

 

[Quilty]

Wow I completely missed this. Any update in the last few months? What are the next steps.

I believe they are trying for a DNA match, which seemed like it might present a challenge, unfortunately. That was the last update I got. I’m not sure if they have DNA for both.

 

[StarrChance]

5th January 1986 Chicago

"The Real Thing"/today, Tuesday-next Sunday/Briar
Street Theatre
"You Can't Take It With You"/today, Tuesday-next
Sunday/Steppenwolf Theatre
"Zoo Plate Special"/Thursdays-Sundays/Theatre Build-

 

[iulia]

Gordon's NamUs page has been removed.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Sad case. Assuming he has been identified as the John Doe, condolences to his sister and other relatives.

 

[CooperDyl]

Was just searching Gordon’s name to see if there had been any updates, and saw that a result came up on Doe Network’s Located and Identified Persons 2024 page. Assuming this means things are confirmed now, perhaps family don’t want to release more details at this stage.
His picture, name and a short blurb appear on the page but don’t link anywhere else so the confirmation seems to be all they’re releasing for the time being. The text reads “Gordon Bethel Lopez (4187DMOR) missing since January 4, 1986 has been recovered. No further information is available.”
Hope the family are at least at peace now. RIP Gordon.

 

[kforbes862]

I believe Gordon's sister had dna compared to flag pole doe in anchorage, Alaska at one point because she was fairly sure flag pole doe was her brother, but he wasnt.

 

[CooperDyl]

I believe Gordon's sister had dna compared to flag pole doe in anchorage, Alaska at one point because she was fairly sure flag pole doe was her brother, but he wasnt.

Correct. She was convinced it was him but it wasn’t a match. If you check out the thread above it seems likely that a match for Gordon has now been identified.