TX TX - Houston, Buffalo Bayou, WhtMale 25-40, 2234UMTX, dentures w/ EJC 810-56, combs, clothes, Jul'57

[HMSHood]

An unidentified white male was found in the Buffalo Bayou in downtown Houston, Texas on July 8, 1957. No autopsy was ever done as he was badly decomposed and buried in a pauper's grave. He had been initially identified as Nolan Pruitt.

Estimated Age: 25-40 years old
Approximate Height: 5' 5" to 5' 7"
Approximate Weight: 135 to 150 lbs.
Distinguishing Characteristics: Dark brown hair. No obvious jaw or skull fractures.
Clothing: Green/brown striped, long sleeved sport shirt with one pocket on the left upper chest; khaki pants; white cotton socks; size 9 A, brown shoes fastened with a strap and a buckle. Brown, woven belt with a cowboy style buckle. Two combs were found in a pocket.
Dentals: Dentures with notation "EJC 810-56"
Identifying Notes: None

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

2234UMTX

John Doe (unknown-1957) - Find a Grave Memorial

An unidentified white male was found in the Buffalo Bayou in downtown Houston, Texas on July 8, 1957. John Doe was believed to be between 25-30 years old, about 5'6, around 142 pounds, and had brown hair. He was also wearing dentures that were labeled EJC 810-56.

www.findagrave.com

<MOD NOTE: Several original links throughout the thread were broken and have been edited to include the current link (when available) and images as of August 17, 2023>

 

[Ms Suzanne]

Are there any more newspaper articles on him or the body found?


http://www.chron.com/news/houston-t...-exhume-bodies-in-victim-identity-1691577.php

'Detective' will exhume bodies in victim identity hunt



The oldest known unidentified victim, found in 1957, may have been named Nolan Pruitt - but it remains unconfirmed decades later.

He wore an oversized cowboy belt buckle, had false teeth, and appeared to be under 40.

 

[Ms Suzanne]

May I please ask how they got the name Nolan Pruitt. Is he still Identified as Nolan Pruitt?

 

[Ms Suzanne]

Namus says no DNA.I thought the article said they were exhuming him to get DNA?

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

 

[HMSHood]

May I please ask how they got the name Nolan Pruitt. Is he still Identified as Nolan Pruitt?

It was from this link. <modsnip: broken link>

The identity as Nolan Pruitt was initial. As of today he is unidentified.

 

[FigTree]

Possibly they got a match with Nolan Pruitt with another UID?

 

[Houston Mom]

Could this UID be Clarence Theodore Moore a soldier who is rumored to have gone AWOL. I know a lot of ex-military who still like to wear khaki. Mr Moore was 5'8" and 160 lbs and had dark brown hair.

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/639dmwv.html

 

[MadMcGoo]

2234UMTX - Unidentified Male
[no photo]

Date of Discovery: July 8, 1957
Location of Discovery: Houston, Harris County, Texas
Estimated Date of Death: 3 days prior
State of Remains: Not recognizable - Decomposing/putrefaction
Cause of Death: Unknown

Physical Description
Estimated Age: 25-40 years old
Race: White
Gender: Male
Height: 5'5" to 5'7"
Weight: 135-150 lbs.
Hair Color: Dark brown to black
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: No obvious jaw or skull fractures. No marks noted.

Identifiers
Dentals: Available. Dentures with notation "EJC 810-56."
Fingerprints: Not available
DNA: Not available

Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: Green/brown striped long sleeved sport shirt with one pocket on the left upper chest, khaki pants, white cotton socks, brown shoes fastened with a strap and a buckle (size 9A), and a brown woven belt with a cowboy-style buckle.
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Two combs were found in a pocket.

Circumstances of Discovery
The victim was found face down, floating in Buffalo Bayou where the south bank of bayou runs through downtown Houston, near the 1200 block of Commerce Street. The young man's body was deemed too decomposed for an autopsy in 1957.

He received a pauper's burial in unmarked Grave 5 in a county-owned cemetery. He was initially identified as Nolan Pruitt.

Investigating Agency(s)
Agency Name: Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences
Agency Contact Person: MEO ID Unit
Agency Phone Number: 713-796-6774
Agency Case Number: ML57-0694

NCIC Case Number: U480005318
NamUs Case Number: UP #2970

Information Source(s)
NamUs
Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences
Houston Chronicle News Archive

Admin Notes
Added: Prior to 2014; Last Updated:7/14/2019

 

[MadMcGoo]

NamUs #UP2970

Estimated Height: 5' 6" (66 inches)
Estimated Weight: 142 lbs
Accessories: DENTURES WITH NOTATION
EJC 810-56 -- possible initials E.J.C. with a date of August 10, 1956

“0 Missing Person Exclusions”

Case Contributors:
Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences
Sharon Derrick, Forensic Anthropologist
(832) 927-5000

Regional Program Specialist:
Michael Nance
(918) 527-0080

 

[MadMcGoo]

Refreshing the thread ...

 

[ralynn]

Here's an article from The Houston Post when he was found; a 1957 yellow pages directory listing for a dentist with initials EJC in Houston, TX.

Edit*** I now see there is another with initials EJC right below the highlighted