PA PA - Philadelphia, WhtMal 40-60, UP16980, Tatts-"I Love Ethyl", Patsy/Doris/Bob/Betty, EDDIE, Apr'73

[Rosso]

A 40-60 year old white male found deceased in a vacant building in April, 1973. Multiple tattoos include the following:

Right Arm "I Love Ethyl" with cartoon under it.
Left Arm "Patsy - Doris - Bob - Betty"
Left Leg- "EDDIE"

Who were these people to him? Children? Siblings? A girlfriend or wife? I searched census records where these names appear in the same family group but came up empty--at least on the east coast.

Link to NamUS case file: Unidentified Person Case

 

[dotr]

Wondering what cartoon character was below the " I love Ethyl" tattoo?
Reminded of the character playing Lucy's friend Ethyl on " I Love Lucy"
The first thing that came to my mind about the tattooed names was that they sounded like stars from back in the day. probably not the case, but thinking names like, Patsy Cline- Doris Day - Bob Hope - Betty White
Complete speculation, imo.

 

[Rosso]

Wondering what cartoon character was below the " I love Ethyl" tattoo?
Reminded of the character playing Lucy's friend Ethyl on " I Love Lucy"
The first thing that came to my mind about the tattooed names was that they sounded like stars from back in the day. probably not the case, but thinking names like, Patsy Cline- Doris Day - Bob Hope - Betty White
Complete speculation, imo.

Hadn't thought about the celebrity angle--that's interesting! I'm thinking that when a man got names tattooed on him (especially back in the day) it was generally his kids and/or girlfriend, right? And maybe Eddie was a friend who died? I'm digging around for old newspaper clippings on the story, so if I find anything new, I'll post it here.

 

[madamx]

I wonder if they ever took a photo of the cartoon character tattoo. Iam thinking the list of names is his kids and Ethyl would be his mom wife of girlfriend. All those names were much more common back then.

Wonder if he is from a different state and came to work out there. Just a thought that poped in my head.

 

[Savemecastiel]

bumping.

 

[creepedout]

Wonder how accurate the sketch is since the body was decomposing. For some reason, I feel like I see resemblance in this guy:

Missing Person Case

 

[Rosso]

Wonder how accurate the sketch is since the body was decomposing. For some reason, I feel like I see resemblance in this guy:

Missing Person Case

He does resemble him, but the tattoos listed seem different--unless the report got things wrong (or he got some tattoos added in the year between your Doe's vanishing and mine showing up). I'm also digging around for missing persons who were on the short side--this Doe was 5'6", and I think that's accurate since he was described as "mummified" and the body was intact. That might help narrow the field.

 

[Bit of hope]

Lately I'm getting more and more insecure about coming up with somebody from the Namus site. I can't see the ruleouts anymore and not if there's DNA for an MP or UID. If there is DNA on both sides most likely that they are a rule out on default.

 

[Rosso]

Lately I'm getting more and more insecure about coming up with somebody from the Namus site. I can't see the ruleouts anymore and not if there's DNA for an MP or UID. If there is DNA on both sides most likely that they are a rule out on default.

I'm surprised at how thin some of the NamUs reports are. Some have virtually no information about the case, including information easily available from other websites such as the Charley Project. This is one of the few cases that stood out for me---but only because of the unique tattoos and the possibility those could lead somewhere using records such as census data or directories.

 

[dotr]

25 Feb 1974, Page 5 - Philadelphia Daily News at Newspapers.com

 

[UnlicensedPI]

A few names on this obituary match up. I'm trying to find info on the dead brothers and father.
Travis, Patricia

Leonard Richey in the 1940 Census | Ancestry

 

[UnlicensedPI]

Okay, maybe it's not them. Or our UID didn't get a mention
Clipping from The Paris News - Newspapers.com

 

[madamx]

25 Feb 1974, Page 5 - Philadelphia Daily News at Newspapers.com

oh good find dotr. I wonder who the other guys are and if they got identified?

 

[Bit of hope]

I wonder....is Ethyl a "normal" name....it's seems to me the Y is a little different then usual...or I'm I wrong?

Found it. Ethyl is an English girl's name but also means alcohol......

 

[MandiH82]

What do we think about William Henry Ellis?

Age: 38 -- just two years shy of the lower end of the spectrum of 40-60
Height: 5'6" spot on
Hair: Brown but looks pretty dark brown
Physical Characteristics: Something about his eyes and nose seem to match the sketch, facial structure is definitely longer. He has a tatoo of an eagle on his right arm -- maybe it's a cartoon eagle? haha
Circumstance: Was last heard from in 1971. Seems like he might have just been a bit of a drifter possibly? Which would match the circumstance of the body in an abandoned warehouse.
Location: He's from Baltimore, MD but could have easily made his way to PA
Time

Missing Person Case

 

[Bit of hope]

Anybody has found something about this case?

 

[madamx]

25 Feb 1974, Page 5 - Philadelphia Daily News at Newspapers.com

Awww the link no longer works

 

[madamx]

I am wondering if he was called EDDIE..
the reason I think that is because the other names have only the first letter capitalized and the EDDIE seems to be all capitalized.. just a thought. Maybe his name Edward or Edmund ... just a thought I had

 

[dotr]

There is a band that goes by the name ..
I Love Ethyl by I Love Ethyl

 

[madamx]

SACP | Missing Persons Database