Identified! Putnam County- Male, White/ Caucasian- 36-45- Black Seiko watch- UP1291- Dec. 4, 1980 - William Irving Monroe, III

[PatLaurel]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

0 Missing Person Exclusions


2555UMFL


Date of Discovery: December 4, 1980
Location of Discovery: Putnam County, Florida
Estimated Date of Death: Unknown
State of Remains: Not recognizable - Mummified
Cause of Death: Unknown

Physical Description​

Estimated Age: 36-45 years old
Race: White
Sex: Male
Height: 5'4" to 5'8"
Weight: 160 lbs.
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown

Identifiers​

Dentals: Available
Fingerprints: Unavailable
DNA: Unavailable

Clothing & Personal Items​

Clothing: Blue jeans, dark belt, white T-shirt with an image of cowboy boots on front with "DALLAS" written around the boots and "A little bit of Texas and heart of Orlando" also printed on the front, one black sock, and black leather shoes.
Jewelry: Black Seiko watch
Additional Personal Items: Unknown

Circumstances of Discovery​

The victim was located off Cisco Road in rural Putnam County.

Investigating Agency(s)​

Agency Name: District 23 Medical Examiner's Office
Agency Contact Person: Daniel Nichols
w Agency Phone Number: 904-209-0820
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 1980-00637

NCIC Case Number: Unknown
NamUs Case Number: 1291
Former Hot Case Number: 489

 

[PatLaurel]

I believe this is what was printed on the t-shirt.

"In the Heart of Orlando" instead of "and Heart of Orlando". MOO JMO

2555UMFL - Newspapers.com

 

[PatLaurel]

The "Dallas Lounge" or just "Dallas", former "Nichols' Alley", began operating somewhere after July 1, 1980 and before July 31, 1980.

We don't have an estimated time of death, but I believe it is safe to assume that our JD died sometime after July 1. MOO JMO

<modsnip: removed screenshots of newspaper articles>

 

[PatLaurel]

UP1291 - Newspapers.com

 

[Beccalicious]

Bumping

 

[dotr]

After 43 years, Putnam County John Doe (1980) is Identified

Putnam County Sheriff's Office Teams with Othram to Identify 1980 Homicide Victim

dnasolves.com

"After 43 years, the identity of a man whose remains were found in Pomona Park, Florida has been identified as homicide victim William Irving Monroe, III.''​

"In March 2023, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram's laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas. Despite the degradation of the original evidence, Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the forensic evidence and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to develop a comprehensive DNA profile for the man. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used the profile in a genealogical search to generate new investigative leads.

In January, these leads were returned to Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and a possible identity for the man as well as his potential relatives was provided. Investigators reached out to a man, who was eventually identified as being John Doe’s brother. Using this information along with confirmatory DNA testing, John Doe 36 is now known to be William Irving Monroe, III.

William is believed to have lived in Orlando at the time he was picked up by the labor camp van and that he may have been in Pomona Park because his ex-wife and children were living in the area. William has several ties to Putnam County, including speeding tickets in the decade prior to his murder. William’s family confirmed that he stopped contacting his family in 1980, and they did not know his whereabouts. William was a United States Marine, serving during the Vietnam War time.''

 

[lightofmine99]

RIP Mr. Monroe.

What is "the labor camp van?" The wording talks as if the reader already knows the context.

 

[dotr]

william Irving Monroe - Google Search

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Putnam sheriff: ‘John Doe’ killed in 1980 is William Irving Monroe III, Marine who served in Vietnam

A man who was found dead in 1980 in Pomona Park has been identified “through DNA processing and genealogic review,” Putnam County Sheriff “Gator” DeLoach announced Friday.

www.actionnewsjax.com

Investigators found that Monroe was last seen alive on Nov. 15, 1980, by a convenience store worker who saw Monroe in her store. The driver for Simmons’ Labor Camp in Pomona Park said he had picked up Monroe in Orlando on that same day, three days before his disappearance.

 

[Blurgle]

So he'd been dead less than a month when his remains were found.

 

[PayrollNerd]

RIP Mr. Monroe.

What is "the labor camp van?" The wording talks as if the reader already knows the context.

There are a lot of men who stand in a parking lot and wait for a driver to come by looking for day laborers. The driver takes them to where the work is. It used to be mostly agricultural workers, paid in cash daily.

There are other professions who do this too, notably construction workers, landscapers, etc. I don't think it is as prevalent as it used to be tho. Undocumented workers tend to fly under the radar still. However, employers are better at verifying the right to work in the US now. JMO

 

[iulia]

His NamUs page was removed today.

 

[Lyanna]

RIP Mr Monroe. ♥

Gutted @PatLaurel is no longer here to read about this, hoping wherever they are they heard the news x

jmo

 

[MagicCityMan]

Thank you for your service Mr. Monroe, III.

 

[PatLaurel]

RIP Mr Monroe. ♥

Gutted @PatLaurel is no longer here to read about this, hoping wherever they are they heard the news x

jmo

I'm here!

R.I.P William I. Monroe III.

 

[Lyanna]

I'm here!

R.I.P William I. Monroe III.

Love that you're back ♥