TX TX - Fresno, WhtMale 17-25, #UP778, bad teeth w/ remaining baby tooth, found in woods, Feb'78

[lightofmine99]

Fort Bend Co. John Doe (1978)
a.k.a "Baby Tooth John Doe" (by me)

Clay reconstruction of John Doe.​

Circumstances
The victim's skeletal remains were located in the woods between Texas 288 and 20 feet east of railroad tracks near Evergreen in Fresno. (per Doe Network).

Skeletal remains in the woods (per NamUs).

Spoiler: INFORMATION

Case Numbers:

• Doe Network: 1258UMTX
• NamUs: UP778
• ME/C: PA78-0032
• NCMEC: 1184340

Overview:

• Location: Fresno, Texas. (Fort Bend Co.)
• Date Body Found: February 13, 1978.
• NamUs Created: December 27, 2007
• Tribal Land: NO
• PMI: 1 MONTH
• State of Remains: SKELETONIZED
  • All parts recovered
  • Not recognizable - Near complete or complete skeleton
• Cause of Death: HOMICIDE (not specified)

Physical:

• Sex: Male
• Race/Ethnicity: Caucasian
• Age: 17-25 (adult, pre-30s)
• Height: 5'6" (est.)
• Weight: 145 lbs. (est.)
• Hair: Brown
• Eye: UNKNOWN

Identifiers:

• Dentals: Available
• DNA: Available
• Prints: N/A
• Marks / Features: Poor teeth quality, history dental work.
  • numerous dental fillings
  • partially completed root canal/crown of lower left first molar
  • root canal occurred within 1 year of death
  • baby tooth remains in place of the lower right 2nd premolar
  • majority of his teeth exhibited signs of decay
  • had a dental abscess that may have caused him discomfort

Personal Affects:

• Clothing: UNKNOWN
• Jewelry: UNKNOWN
• Add'l Items: NONE

Links:

• NamUs: #UP778 (ARCHIVE)
• Doe Network: 1258UMTX (ARCHIVE)
• Harris Co. Institute of Forensic Sciences

** This case is currently being investigated by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. **​

 

[lightofmine99]

There are currently 3 exclusions on NamUs:

I could not find a thread on this Doe; I apologize if this is a duplicate.

I cannot find anything explaining why they believe this to be a homicide victim aside from his being found in a forest.

 

[ServerNotResponding]

2025DMNM - Michael James Gaughan

Not a ton of info on this guy.

 

[lightofmine99]

The three exclusions for baby Tooth John Doe all have threads here. Linking just because.

AR - AR - Gary Mullinax, 21, Benton, 9 May 1976

At the time of this posting, Gary Mullinax is not listed on Doe Network, Charley Project or NamUs: http://www.todaysthv.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=121543&catid=2 He would have been about 22 when he disappeared.

www.websleuths.com

TX - TX - Brian Thomas Vargo, 20, Austin, 9 March 1976

Recent Addition to NamUs. The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) Vargo was a Univ of Texas at Austin Student. Vargo dropped out of school in March. Vargo traveled to Colorado in his vehicle. His vehicle broke down in Colorado. Vargo travel to Houston Texas to pick up...

www.websleuths.com

AL - AL - Chris Lirette, 27, Brewton, 19 August 1977

I know this is an old case but it always gripped my attention. It seems there is to many clues for this not to be solved! Here is the link to the Doe Network listing: http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1841dmal.html I can't find much of anything on Google or on here. Has anyone come across any...

www.websleuths.com

 

[lightofmine99]

The NamUs for Baby Tooth John Doe 1978 was modified yesterday, but I'm not sure what was added or changed.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

Still only 3 exclusions.

 

[lightofmine99]

His NamUs was again modified yesterday but there are no new exclusions.

 

[lightofmine99]

His NamUs was updated again yesterday but there are still no new exclusions.

Hopefully they're getting close.

 

[lightofmine99]

His NamUs was updated again today! But there are still no new public exclusions...

 

[chaddylex]

New reconstruction was added to NamUs on 10/8/24

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

 

[lightofmine99]

Oh wow! When I looked on 10/8/24 it was not on there. Strange.

Looks quite a bit different from the original 1970s/1980s recon, but that's often the case. What is most notably different is the original recon depicts him with a more narrow jaw and chin.

 

[SweetCaroline]

Kind of a long shot, but Steve Lewis Arrowood went missing from my area in 1975 and had ties to Texas.

 

[lightofmine99]

NamUs was modified again today; no new exclusions.

 

[chaddylex]

What about this guy - Richard Allen Rhyne?

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

Went missing in March 1977 from Angelton TX Body found Fresno TX February 1978.

Rhyne went to his place of employment in Freeport, Texas to verify if he was still employed there and was never seen again. He was driving a 1969 Chevrolet pickup with a white top, green body and gold passenger fender and door bearing Texas plates HR3152


The John Doe's body was found in Fresno TX to Angleton TX were Richard went missing from is only 30 miles.


Richards height and weight

Height5' 7" - 5' 10" (67 - 70 Inches)
Weight135 - 145 lbs

John Doe's Estimated Height and Weight
Height5' 6"(66 inches) , Estimated
Weight145 lbs, Estimated

 

[lightofmine99]

His NamUs was modified again today; no new public exclusions.

 

[chaddylex]

I just looked on Richard Rhyne's NamUs profile, this John Doe just came up as a rule out. It might take a little longer for Richard to show up on this John Doe's.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

I really thought I had a match!

 

[iamshadow21]

I just looked on Richard Rhyne's NamUs profile, this John Doe just came up as a rule out. It might take a little longer for Richard to show up on this John Doe's.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

I really thought I had a match!

Don't be disheartened! Knowing who it isn't is just as important. Otherwise we'd all get fixated on the ones we thought were sure things, and never move on and find the right ones.

Onwards and upwards!

MOO

 

[summergirl1]

What about this guy - Richard Allen Rhyne?

View attachment 576020View attachment 576021

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

Went missing in March 1977 from Angelton TX Body found Fresno TX February 1978.

Rhyne went to his place of employment in Freeport, Texas to verify if he was still employed there and was never seen again. He was driving a 1969 Chevrolet pickup with a white top, green body and gold passenger fender and door bearing Texas plates HR3152


The John Doe's body was found in Fresno TX to Angleton TX were Richard went missing from is only 30 miles.


Richards height and weight

Height5' 7" - 5' 10" (67 - 70 Inches)
Weight135 - 145 lbs

John Doe's Estimated Height and Weight
Height5' 6"(66 inches) , Estimated
Weight145 lbs, Estimated

It's too bad he wasn't a match. There's certainly a resemblance.

 

[PeregrineFalcon]

IMO trying to match people to reconstructions is rarely constructive. It's been necessary before Othram, but at this point DNA needs to be used if at all possible. Give this man back his ID.