RI RI - Francisco Pimentel, 18, Providence, 8 August 1976

[TheArtfulDetective]

Francisco Do Nascimento Pimentel



Case Classification: Endangered Missing
Missing Since: August 08, 1976
Location Last Seen: Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island

Description:

• Date of Birth: Circa 1958
• Age: 18 years old
• Race: White / Caucasian
• Gender: Male
• Height: 5'8" - 5'9"
• Weight: 128 - 135 lbs
• Hair Color: Brown
• Eye Color: Brown
• Nickname/Alias: Unknown
• Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown
• Clothing & Personal Items: Unknown
• Identifiers: Unknown

Circumstances of Disappearance:
Pimentel was last seen in Providence, Rhode Island on August 8, 1976. He had enlisted in the Massachusetts Army National Guard and his orders directed him to travel to Fort Dix, New Jersey. He went to the AMTRAK train station in Providence accompanied by friends and family. He boarded the train with other recruits and his recruiter but never arrived in Fort Dix. He has not been seen or heard from since and his whereabouts remain unknown.

Investigators:

• Fall River Police Department: (508) 676-8511
  Reference Case#: 86-11105

NamUs Case Number: MP78513

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
5505DMRI - Francisco Do Nascimento Pimentel

 

[TSL7584]

On August 8, Francisco will be missing for 46 years.

 

[Aurora90]

bumping for Francisco

 

[LeeBee]

It seems a lot is missing from this case. If he boarded a train with his recruiter and other recruits no one saw him? Did this train make additional stops where he might have exited the train? Otherwise how does he just disappear off the train and not seen? I dont know where the Amtrak stations are if there is one outside of Fort Dix.

 

[Beccalicious]

Bumping

 

[DD Byrd]

I've reached out to FRDP re Philipstown Doe found in NY in 1985 to see whether Francisco had braces at one point (assuming that is a correct finding for Doe). From there, I see enough potential identifiers to think it's worth a shot:
- east coast, found with NY/NJ map (Pimental originally headed there)
- strong build, bone structure (2 different facial recons on NamUs); I see notable similarity in "height" of eye placement
- brown hair, similar length, described as "straight" on Doe
- possibly traveled by hitching (cb mentioned)
- prayer card - "Nascimiento" is 'Christ's birth', potentially still practicing Catholic
- Deceased 1983 (or earlier), Francisco would be younger than upper est. of Doe, but that's likely based on wear to the bones and arthritis. He could certainly have survived through day labor work.

 

[DD Byrd]

Update: A DNA sample has been obtained from a relative of Francisco. I hope to hear more as, and if, this unfolds.
Meanwhile, a look at our tax dollars at work...I just called (4.11.24 3pm) the NYS Troop barracks listed for Philipstown Doe and said I'm in contact with FRPD and looking for which NY lab has the unidentified man's DNA. The officer then asked me Doe's name. This is real life, so ponder that for a few.

 

[ifindedout]

It seems a lot is missing from this case. If he boarded a train with his recruiter and other recruits no one saw him? Did this train make additional stops where he might have exited the train? Otherwise how does he just disappear off the train and not seen? I dont know where the Amtrak stations are if there is one outside of Fort Dix.

ITA. So much detail missing here.

August 8, 1976 was a Sunday, so that limited what train they all could've taken.

It isn't said what train he got on, but IMO it was in the morning, either #169, the Minute Man to Washington DC, or #171, the Southern Crescent to DC, Atlanta and (triweekly) New Orleans. Destination of these new recruits was probably Trenton, it's a 30-minute drive from the station to the Fort Dix base gate via US 206 and NJ 68, today and probably back then too (I-195, I-295 and the 29/129 freeway which Google prefers weren't completed in the area for many more years). I'm guessing an Army bus, probably the same as a school bus, took them from the station to the base.

Wallenberg Ave. across from Terminal to 202 Fort Dix St

www.google.com

I think it was train 169 which FP and his fellow recruits took. Originating in Boston South Station, after leaving Providence at 8:39 AM it stopped at Kingston, Westerly, Mystic, New London, New Haven, Bridgeport, Rye (long since replaced by New Rochelle as an Amtrak stop), Penn Station New York, Newark, reaching Trenton at 2:00 PM before going on to Philly, Baltimore and DC. Train 171 was exactly 2 hours later all around, it also would've worked out to reach base and have chow before sunset. The next train after that, 173, did not stop at Trenton.

The Museum of Railway Timetables (timetables.org)
The Museum of Railway Timetables (timetables.org)


Trains back then stopped at Penn Station for longer than they do today (this will have significance further on in this post). They also stopped at New Haven for at least 10 minutes to change from diesel to electric, before the line was electrified north to Boston in 2000 as part of the Acela project.

I think FP was first noticed missing at roll call on the platform at Trenton (or as the train approached Trenton), but I don't think that's where he went missing. I think it happened at Penn Station. Had he never been to NYC before, and did he want to catch a glimpse of the city before basic training (or have a beer in the station away from the watchful eye of the recruiter--drinking age in NY, NJ and all of New England was 18 back then), underestimated the time, missed the train, and something then (or later) happened to him in a New York minute? Or did he realize the deep doodoo he'd be in, and decide to strike out on a different career path then and there?

Why would an Amtrak train be late? /s Seriously, though, in Amtrak's national timetable effective June 15, 1976, the notation under the Northeast Corridor pages reads "Due to track rehabilitation in progress, schedules shown in this timetable between Boston and New Haven have temporarily been lengthened." This meant trains behind schedule might leave stations earlier to try and make up time, Penn Station included. FP undoubtedly had no idea of this, and possibly had never been on an Amtrak train before, only being told by his recruiter when and where to catch the train without ever needing to consult a timetable. Could he have heard the conductor announce "New York", and after sitting in his seat for hours, wanted to stretch his legs or have a cold one but ended up doing much more than he bargained for?

MOO

 

[SimsGuy67]

Update: A DNA sample has been obtained from a relative of Francisco. I hope to hear more as, and if, this unfolds.
Meanwhile, a look at our tax dollars at work...I just called (4.11.24 3pm) the NYS Troop barracks listed for Philipstown Doe and said I'm in contact with FRPD and looking for which NY lab has the unidentified man's DNA. The officer then asked me Doe's name. This is real life, so ponder that for a few.

I'm really hoping this turns out to be a match! The age is a bit off, but there's nothing that can't be explained.

When it comes to New York authorities, I lose faith in them more and more each day... All I can say is how does a police officer not know why we can't say an unidentified person's name? I'm praying they had a tiring day at that point because if this is the person who is supposed to serve and protect, I'm not moving to New York anytime soon.

 

[Nate_Bro]

Given his name I assume he has some Hispanic ancestral connection? According to Wiki, a nickname for Francisco is Pancho. There was a John Doe found near a Naval base in San Diego a year later with Pancho tattooed. Food for thought.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

 

[ifindedout]

Given his name I assume he has some Hispanic ancestral connection? According to Wiki, a nickname for Francisco is Pancho. There was a John Doe found near a Naval base in San Diego a year later with Pancho tattooed. Food for thought.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

IMO it's more likely Portuguese in origin. The surname Pimentel is associated with both Portuguese and Spanish, as is the given name Francisco. There are a large number of people of Portuguese ancestry in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Pimentel (surname) - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Portuguese Americans - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

edited links

 

[DD Byrd]

I haven't heard back re the cousin's DNA. I'll follow up and this week and see if I can get some answers.

 

[summergirl1]

This is definitely a strange disappearence. I could not seem to find any articles about his disappearence at the time on old newspaper online sites, but they may exist. He was obviously in the National Guard voluntarily so I'm not sure why he'd just disappear at that point.

 

[DD Byrd]

No word yet.

He was obviously in the National Guard voluntarily so I'm not sure why he'd just disappear at that point.

I guess it depends how "voluntary" it was. He wasn't shackled and dragged, but there are other types of coercion. Maybe he lost a bet. Or needed it to settle some other situation in which he 'owed' it. Or he went completely voluntarily bailed even after committing to the NG for various reasons, even while en route. Bumping, because regardless, he's missing.

 

[beavt]

What do you think of UP1524 as a potential match to Francisco? Body found in Denville, NJ on 10/24/1976. Early newspaper reports (vs NamUs) stated it was a young man 20-30 years old (30-40) deceased for 3-4 months (est 6 months) Possibly Hispanic/Latino (White/Caucasian) with dark curly/wavy hair and about 5’6” (5’5”-5’6”) with a slight build. Found with two keys on an eagle medallion key chain.
Maybe Francisco got off at the Newark, NJ station and met with foul play? Denville, NJ is about 20 miles from there.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

 

[DD Byrd]

What do you think of UP1524 as a potential match to Francisco? Body found in Denville, NJ on 10/24/1976. Early newspaper reports (vs NamUs) stated it was a young man 20-30 years old (30-40) deceased for 3-4 months (est 6 months) Possibly Hispanic/Latino (White/Caucasian) with dark curly/wavy hair and about 5’6” (5’5”-5’6”) with a slight build. Found with two keys on an eagle medallion key chain.
Maybe Francisco got off at the Newark, NJ station and met with foul play? Denville, NJ is about 20 miles from there.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

Hmm, that's certainly interesting. It looks like Doe was wearing 2" heels, but Francisco was slightly taller, I assume without heels. Does anyone know if there was a height requirement for the National Guard at that time? I'd also say that is quite the outfit on the Doe...if Francisco's friends and family went with him to the station they'd know if that outfit matched. And if there were days in between, I'd still think they would know if that was something he;d be likely to wear.

 

[beavt]

Hmm, that's certainly interesting. It looks like Doe was wearing 2" heels, but Francisco was slightly taller, I assume without heels. Does anyone know if there was a height requirement for the National Guard at that time? I'd also say that is quite the outfit on the Doe...if Francisco's friends and family went with him to the station they'd know if that outfit matched. And if there were days in between, I'd still think they would know if that was something he;d be likely to wear.

Since friends and family saw him off at the train station, it sounds like an event. Like, picture worthy! And I was wondering; would you dress in your best?