OR OR - Multnomah Co, Tualatin Mtns, WhtMale 30-55, UP8584, pocket watch, old coins, clothes, May'86

[bflocket]

This is a new addition to DoeNetwork and sounds fairly interesting

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/2582umor.html

Partial skeletal remains (WM, age 30-55) were found near a logging road in 1986. He is thought to have been dead since 1920-1955.

They may have committed suicide as an old revolver was found nearby. They also had some REALLY OLD coins on them (1888 and 1919).

I thought that this UID was interesting because of the "old mystery" part of it. Any loved ones from the time he went missing (or even his children) may not even be around today. Perhaps grandchildren or great-grandchildren...

 

[hayaletcatcher]

Updated today -
Rule outs

William Gunn 1969 Oregon
Daniel Hilkey 1946 Oregon

https://identifyus.org/cases/8584

 

[EmmaliLucia]

Here's the Newspaper article dated two years ago that talks about this case and who these bones may belong to. Rocky Point Road is just about where Linnton is,, so it would make sense for him to choose to commit suicide close to where so many of his life experiences happened. I wonder what happened to the DNA testing since he's not on the rule-out list.

 

[Nancy Drew RN]

Updated rule-out list:

Sigmund Myers 1920
Marvin Clark 1926
Daniel Hilkey 1985
William Gunn 1984

 

[MadMcGoo]

Disappearance of Marvin Clark - Wikipedia

In 1986, a John Doe was discovered in a wooded area between Portland and Tigard; these remains were estimated to have been between 35 and 55 years old at the time of death, and several mementos from the late-19th and early-20th centuries were discovered along with the body, leading detectives to suspect the remains were Clark's. Reports of this potential connection made national headlines in 2011. However, in 2018, it was determined through DNA testing that these remains were not those of Clark. As of 2018, Clark's whereabouts remain unknown.

 

[theshadow45]

This John Doe has been unidentified for 36 years today.

 

[John/Jane Doe]

@Caring1 Hey could you post the current list of NamUs exclusions for this John Doe? I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[sorcoy14]

Same four as before, plus new Namus link. The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[heartanium]

Maybe Louis C. Lakin?

MP65312
January 6, 1928, Gresham, Oregon
5' 7" - 5' 9" , 37 Years old

 

[theshadow45]

Unidentified for 37 years today.

 

[theshadow45]

Unidentified for 38 years today.

 

[The4TierBridge]

Found a photo of a newspaper article from when the remains were found in 1986 at this link: Oregon mystery bones could solve nation's oldest missing persons case on record

It contains a very detailed list of the man's belongings and much more information than NamUs or Doe Network. What I found interesting is that the newest coin he had with him, the 1919 penny, is described as being in near-uncirculated condition. This likely happened because it was being protected by the other larger coins he had inside his pocket (all the other ones look just how you would expect coins that sat in the woods for 30+ years to look). It being near-uncirculated pushes the date of his death very close to 1919 and probably no later than 1925 IMO.

 

[theshadow45]

This John Doe has been unidentified for 39 years today.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

It contains a very detailed list of the man's belongings and much more information than NamUs or Doe Network. What I found interesting is that the newest coin he had with him, the 1919 penny, is described as being in near-uncirculated condition. This likely happened because it was being protected by the other larger coins he had inside his pocket (all the other ones look just how you would expect coins that sat in the woods for 30+ years to look).

Not quite. "Uncirculated" means firstly that it hasn't lost the lustre of coins straight out of the mint. Copper or copper alloy coins, for example, are very bright and "coppery" when brand new and over time become much duller and darker as acids on peoples hands affect the metal. (However, it's also possible that body fluids leaking from a body could tarnish an otherwise shiny coin.) See here:

CoinCorgi's 1996 U.S. Uncirculated Coin Set

Who cares about this set? What makes it special? Well, the Mint included a little surprise with the 1996 uncirculated coin set - the 50th Anniversary...

www.cointalk.com

Secondly, the coin shows no evidence of the sort of wear which comes from extensive handling or rubbing against other coins in a purse or pocket. Typically wear takes place on features such as the hair of the bust on the obverse side (heads) or the fine detail of the design on the reverse side (tails). The amount of wear is one factor in how coins are graded by dealers and collectors.

It being near-uncirculated pushes the date of his death very close to 1919 and probably no later than 1925 IMO.

Let's say probably not much later than 1930.