PA PA - Philadelphia, AsianMale 50-80, UP68303, stayed living in apt after tenant moved out, Jan'20

[Rootje]

NAMUS link (WARNING: post mortem picture!): The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Case numbers
NCMEC Number--
ME/C Case Number20-0434
Demographics
Sex: Male
Race / Ethnicity: Asian
Possible First Name --
Possible Middle Name--
Possible Last Name--
Possible Nickname--
Estimated Age Group: Adult
Estimated Age Range (Years): 50-80
Estimated Year of Death--
Estimated PMI--
Height: 5' 6"(66 inches), Measured
Weight: 115 lbs, Measured
Circumstances
Type: Unidentified Deceased
Date Body Found: January 28, 2020
NamUs Case Created: April 19, 2020
ME/C QA Reviewed--
Location found
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
County: Philadelphia County
GPS Coordinates (Not Mapped)--
Found On Tribal Land: No
Circumstances of Recovery:
Decedent was found by PPD/PFD during a check on well being. PFD had to force entry into the main door and decedent's door to his room. He was found hanging from a wood beam via some type of electrical cord. A search of the room yields no ID, VISA, paperwork or any other item that may identify who decedent is. The woman who lives in the room in front of him per PPD only knows him as the "old man". Per PPD the Landlord doesn't know his name either. Per the Landlord the individual who leased that property from him allowed the decedent to live there. After the Landlord got rid of the individual who leased the property the old man just continued to stay there.
Details of discovery


Inventory of Remains--
Condition of Remains: Recognizable face
Physical Description
Hair Color: Gray or Partially Gray
Head Hair Description: short full head of hair on the thin side
Body Hair Description--
Facial Hair Description: mustache
Left Eye Color: Unknown
Right Eye Color: Unknown
Eye Description—

Clothing and Accessories
Clothing: maroon colored sweatshirt, grey colored t-shirt, underwear and blue colored athletic shorts

 

[victoriarobinson642]

I assume they checked with the previous resident to see if they knew his name but I find it odd that the landlord and current tenant don't.

 

[Rootje]

I assume they checked with the previous resident to see if they knew his name but I find it odd that the landlord and current tenant don't.

Me too.
“Per the Landlord the individual who leased that property from him allowed the decedent to live there. After the Landlord got rid of the individual who leased the property the old man just continued to stay there.”
That’s very odd. I don’t know a single landlord that would let a random man stay on his property without knowing anything at all about him. If I were a landlord I certainly wouldn’t.

 

[Fuuro]

This sounds like a suicide. He looks a bit decomposed in the postmortem photo, and it looks like they couldn't determine his eye color, but it seems as if he probably had not been dead for very long before they found him.

The people around him didn't know his name, but they must have been at least somewhat familiar with him and his activity patterns if they had asked for a welfare check to be conducted on him. I wonder what's happening with the previous tenant, too -- surely, they would know a bit more about the UID than the others in the building, I would assume.

 

[Rootje]

This sounds like a suicide. He looks a bit decomposed in the postmortem photo, and it looks like they couldn't determine his eye color, but it seems as if he probably had not been dead for very long before they found him.

The people around him didn't know his name, but they must have been at least somewhat familiar with him and his activity patterns if they had asked for a welfare check to be conducted on him. I wonder what's happening with the previous tenant, too -- surely, they would know a bit more about the UID than the others in the building, I would assume.

Exactly. I’m pretty sure it is a suicide, judging by how he was found. I could send an email for more info on the case, but I’m not sure if they would give it. I don’t live in America.

 

[MarziPanda]

I'm wondering if the previous tenant is this man's son/daughter or another relative, and maybe they either don't know he's passed (landlord might have outdated contact details? They weren't in regular contact with the Doe?) or are keeping quiet because of other reasons. Maybe they don't want to deal with the cost of burying him, maybe they're wanted for a crime, or maybe they're in the country illegally.

I just don't understand why the landlord would keep letting this guy live there. If he didn't even know his name, the Doe probably wasn't paying rent, right? Maybe it's a case of taking pity on an old man and not wanting to throw him out onto the street, especially if he's towards the upper end of the age estimate. Or maybe it hasn't been that long since the landlord got rid of the person leasing the property, and the landlord was in the process of getting the Doe to leave. Could have been a possible trigger for the suicide.

I guess another possibility is subleasing... landlord leases to someone, that someone finds this Doe (maybe online, paper ad, whatever) needing somewhere to rent and lets the Doe stay there in return for money. In that case the leasing person might not know much about him. I get the impression, though, that they haven't talked to the leasing person? Or else I think it would specify that that person also didn't know the Doe's name. Maybe they can't find that person?

It's a really weird case, I wish we knew more details.

 

[Rootje]

I'm wondering if the previous tenant is this man's son/daughter or another relative, and maybe they either don't know he's passed (landlord might have outdated contact details? They weren't in regular contact with the Doe?) or are keeping quiet because of other reasons. Maybe they don't want to deal with the cost of burying him, maybe they're wanted for a crime, or maybe they're in the country illegally.

I just don't understand why the landlord would keep letting this guy live there. If he didn't even know his name, the Doe probably wasn't paying rent, right? Maybe it's a case of taking pity on an old man and not wanting to throw him out onto the street, especially if he's towards the upper end of the age estimate. Or maybe it hasn't been that long since the landlord got rid of the person leasing the property, and the landlord was in the process of getting the Doe to leave. Could have been a possible trigger for the suicide.

I guess another possibility is subleasing... landlord leases to someone, that someone finds this Doe (maybe online, paper ad, whatever) needing somewhere to rent and lets the Doe stay there in return for money. In that case the leasing person might not know much about him. I get the impression, though, that they haven't talked to the leasing person? Or else I think it would specify that that person also didn't know the Doe's name. Maybe they can't find that person?

It's a really weird case, I wish we knew more details.

That's why I find this case so fascinating. It does not make sense, at all. Maybe I should send them an email for more info and to ask about the leasing person?

 

[GJKJR]

That postmortem photo is... interesting. I don't quite know how to describe it -- he looks somewhat recognizable in some places, but on the other hand, what happened to his nose, mouth, and eyes? His nose, in particular, looks rather sunken and leathery to me (partially decomposed?). This is another one of those unconventional postmortem photos that Philadelphia NamUs cases seem to have a knack for.

As for the circumstances, the previous tenant would probably be a good avenue of investigation, though I'd imagine that it'd've been investigated already unless they're unable to get a hold of them. I think it's possible that the previous tenant was either related to them in some way or a good samaritan? Why the landlord wouldn't have forced the decedent out, I'm not quite sure. Though I think it's possible that, like MarziPanda suggested, that he could've taken pity on the decedent. This is a pretty interesting, albeit sad, case. I imagine he must've not been very sociable for his neighbors to know absolutely nothing about his identity. One can only wonder what the rest of his story is like unless someone comes forward...

 

[Fuuro]

There is certainly a lot about this case that prompts a lot of questions. It sounds to me like the landlord didn't know that the UID was still on the property. Like Rootje has said, if the landlord had "gotten rid" of this previous tenant (who is presumed to be somehow connected to the UID), I don't think that he would tell the UID that the UID could keep on living there rent-free. I think what might have happened is that between the time when the UID's affiliate left and the UID died, the UID was squatting on the property without the landlord knowing about it. The other tenants might have had a better idea as to what was going on, but they decided to not say anything about it.

I think it's also probable that the UID and his "roommate" had a falling out of sorts before the latter left, and the two decided to go their separate ways. The roommate may have been their only source of income (which is somewhat believable, considering the UID's age and the fact that they didn't appear to go out much), and the UID may have been forced to stay behind if he wasn't able to access any other housing opportunities.

It would also really help to know how much time had passed between the departure of the actual lessee of the property and the death of the UID. I also find it kind of odd how his absence was noted and his body was found not too long after his death (judging off of the postmortem photo), considering how reclusive he had been.

 

[Rootje]

That postmortem photo is... interesting. I don't quite know how to describe it -- he looks somewhat recognizable in some places, but on the other hand, what happened to his nose, mouth, and eyes? His nose, in particular, looks rather sunken and leathery to me (partially decomposed?). This is another one of those unconventional postmortem photos that Philadelphia NamUs cases seem to have a knack for.

As for the circumstances, the previous tenant would probably be a good avenue of investigation, though I'd imagine that it'd've been investigated already unless they're unable to get a hold of them. I think it's possible that the previous tenant was either related to them in some way or a good samaritan? Why the landlord wouldn't have forced the decedent out, I'm not quite sure. Though I think it's possible that, like MarziPanda suggested, that he could've taken pity on the decedent. This is a pretty interesting, albeit sad, case. I imagine he must've not been very sociable for his neighbors to know absolutely nothing about his identity. One can only wonder what the rest of his story is like unless someone comes forward...

I really want to solve this case, although it is going to be very difficult. But as someone who has had suicidal ideation herself, it’s unbearable to see this man remain unidentified.
As for the nose and eyes, a mortician told me “Decomposition and dehydration. He was found on the 28th of January. He’s been in refrigeration since then. Cold air causes dehydration. Your heart creates pressure in your vessels which also correlates to your eyes being full, after death they can for lack of better terms deflate.”
IMO the picture is haunting in some sense. Not like other post mortems I’ve seen.

Another theory about the previous tenant, perhaps he passed away? Just a thought.

 

[MarziPanda]

Yes, postmortems don't usually bother me, but I wish I hadn't seen that one...

Wish they'd do a recon instead.

 

[Rootje]

Yes, postmortems don't usually bother me, but I wish I hadn't seen that one...

Wish they'd do a recon instead.

I’ve seen a LOT of postmortems. Burned, decomposing, bloated, mummified, everything.
Now you ought to know I am 16, so I’ve seen a lot for my age. Usually I find the clay recons the “scariest”, like the one of het Heulmeisje (see attached image).
But this one is different. I can’t say what it is, there is nothing about the picture that is especially graphic, but this one just, well, haunts me.
Do you think I should put (very) graphic in the title?

 

[Fuuro]

Do you think I should put (very) graphic in the title?

The PM hasn't been directly posted to the thread (you would have to click on the NamUS link to see it), so I think that it's fine the way it is. The thread should have the NamUS case number, the estimated age range of the UID, and the month and year of discovery (January 2020) in the title, though. Perhaps a mod can change it?

 

[Rootje]

The PM hasn't been directly posted to the thread (you would have to click on the NamUS link to see it), so I think that it's fine the way it is. The thread should have the NamUS case number, the estimated age range of the UID, and the month and year of discovery (January 2020) in the title, though. Perhaps a mod can change it?

Sorry, this was my first thread. Can’t you change the title of your own thread?

 

[GJKJR]

Sorry, this was my first thread. Can’t you change the title of your own thread?

You can report the thread to a moderator and request that the title be changed, but I don't think you can change it yourself.

 

[Rootje]

You can report the thread to a moderator and request that the title be changed, but I don't think you can change it yourself.

Done.

 

[Filly]

[QUOTE="MarziPanda, post: 16056942, member: 173773Could have been a possible trigger for the suicide.

I guess another possibility is subleasing... landlord leases to someone, that someone finds this Doe (maybe online, paper ad, whatever) needing somewhere to rent and lets the Doe stay there in return for money. In that case the leasing person might not know much about him.

[/QUOTE]


Bam! I'd go with subleasing because I see it every single day. Usually the landlords are up in NY raking in the loot.Not in this case of course, but they use these houses for stash houses .Seriously in the course of two years there's been eight different "units" can't say family move in and out. No furniture except mattresses. They set it up where the original owner has children and within a month they disappear. Never trash on trash day.

However if this man is indeed Chinese I don't know? My Chinese neighbors uy their homes and Lord forbid the biggest faux pas is they grow their own food. (I thinks it's great older neigbhors say it brings rodents. Every Chinese neighbir I know live generationally. Grandpop, Graam, son,daughter, and the littles. Somebody in the community needs to know him! Somebody. Also depends if he is in South Philly or Northeast Philly. JMO If cops got it wrong and he is Cambodian or Hmong......well it's not nice to say, but man,fight? one neighbor set his wife on fire then himself as school let out. All the kids saw it.
ay you have a gorgeous garden in heaven.

Wait! Maybe he was at the casino? Won? Somebody followed ihm?

 

[YaYa_521]

I came across Hee Chol Kim's NamUs profile while searching for a match. I think I see similarities in the head size and shape, eyebrows, neck and the placement of many of what looks to be moles/blemishes. Even the haircut seems the same except it's now parted on the opposite side. It's got me wondering whether Mr. Kim disappeared voluntarily. It'd be nice to know if he had relatives or associates in Philly.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
Hee Chol Kim – The Charley Project
PA - PA - Hee Chol Kim, 61, Middle Smithfield, 24 Feb 2013

 

[EmiliaRT007]

I assume they checked with the previous resident to see if they knew his name but I find it odd that the landlord and current tenant don't.

So do I. I feel like those people really ought to know who this man is. I think that’s a bit weird.

 

[EmiliaRT007]

I came across Hee Chol Kim's NamUs profile while searching for a match. I think I see similarities in the head size and shape, eyebrows, neck and the placement of many of what looks to be moles/blemishes. Even the haircut seems the same except it's now parted on the opposite side. It's got me wondering whether Mr. Kim disappeared voluntarily. It'd be nice to know if he had relatives or associates in Philly.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
Hee Chol Kim – The Charley Project
PA - PA - Hee Chol Kim, 61, Middle Smithfield, 24 Feb 2013

Hee Chol definitely has some similarities to our guy. The haircut is very similar. He could have changed his haircut though. Just a thought.