SC SC - Westminster, WhtMale, 50-70, UP5816, found near SC/GA line, poss. migrant worker, poss. "rich" relatives in Philadelphia, June '84

[citizen_sleuth]

NamUs #UP5816 / DoeNetwork 1685UMSC

Demographics
Sex: Male
Race/Ethnicity: White / Caucasian
Estimated Age Group: Adult - Pre 70
Estimated Age Range (Years): 50-70
Estimated Year of Death: 1984
Estimated PMI: N/A (News reports say approximately 1 week)
Height: 5'10" (70 inches), Measured
Weight: 170 lbs, Estimated
Cause of Death: Natural

Circumstances
Type: Unidentified Deceased
Date Body Found: June 12, 1984
NamUs Case Created: August 27, 2009
ME/C QA Reviewed: August 28, 2009
Location Found: Westminster, South Carolina
County: Oconee County
Circumstances of Recovery: A well nourished, moderately decomposed white male was discovered dead on June 12, 1984 lying along highway in Oconee County, SC. He was discovered dead by a SC Highway Department worker while cutting grass. He was found approximately .5 miles from the South Carolina / Georgia state line. No identification was found on the decedent or with personal belongings. A passerby reported to authorities he had given a man a ride approximately two weeks prior that fit this description; it was possible the decedent was a migrant worker in Florida and was headed north for the summer; he reportedly had never married and perhaps had relatives described as "rich" in the Philadelphia, PA area.
Inventory of Remains: All parts recovered
Condition of Remains: Not recognizable - Decomposing/putrefaction

Physical Description
Hair Color: Blonde/Strawberry
Head Hair Description: Blondish -Grey 5 inches in length
Facial Hair Description: Full growth of beard Blondish-Grey
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinctive Physical Features: No information entered

Clothing and Accessories
- Two Sports Coats: Checkered/Plaid Tan & Maroon Two Long Sleeve Shirts; Tan pants with a white cord used as a belt. (On the Body)
- One Arrow brand LS Shirt: Size 16.5 (Near the Body)
- Sears High Top Shoes: Size 9 D (On the Body)

News Coverage
"Unidentified man's body found near Westminster," Greenville News, 13 June 1984, 3C.

"Body Believed To Be Migrant's," Anderson Independent-Mail, 15 June 1984, 3B.

 

[AguaFlorida2001]

If he was from Florida, he could possibly be Latino. NamUs sometimes puts people as white/caucasian due to their Spanish heritage when usually they are from a Latin American country.

 

[Melt71]

The earlier article says the plastic bags of personal items indicate he was a 'drifter'.

It seems like even LE aren't sure whether he was a worker relocating domestically within the US, a migrant worker, or a traveller/drifter/itinerant. Makes you wonder, since he was noted to be well-nourished.

 

[Springrain]

If he was from Florida, he could possibly be Latino. NamUs sometimes puts people as white/caucasian due to their Spanish heritage when usually they are from a Latin American country.

Possibly Cuban or Argentinian? He was fair-complexioned and had light features, so I think he was probably racially white, but could definitely be a white Latino I would think.

Doe Network says just pre-70 for age range, NamUs says 50-70. NamUs link has a lot more info than Doe. He was in bad shape and decomposing although not severely so. I think the Doe and NamUs links were edited after the thread was started since they both now say COD is unknown. Not sure what that's about.

I wish there was a range for PMI besides just that he died the same year he was found. He was found with two sports coats and three long-sleeved shirts. I wonder if he had been wearing all of them layered when he died or was keeping all his belongings with him due to homelessness.