TX TX - Houston, *GRAPHIC*, suicide, Wht/Hsp Male, 13-19, UP87935, found dead in bus, Jan'22

[bombardier]

To me it looks like there are bits of hair in his ear from a recent haircut. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had gotten that cut the same day or the day before and hadn’t even showered yet.

Will they put a cause of death in the profile once it’s known?

I'd say they only include it if it's somehow relevant to the identification i.e. this patient was hit by a car and that's why they have traumatic injuries. Often you sort of have to read between the lines (is there a ligature mark in the post-mortem, was individual found in water, was individual old and the circumstances were collapsed on the bus, etc). Usually I try to look for external news sources, which usually provides more circumstances and perhaps COD. Sadly, I have not seen any MSM cover this young man.

 

[branmuffin]

I know PD has only narrowed it down to under 30 but I really feel like this guy is possibly a teenager... his skin looks baby smooth and he's practically hairless!
Also looks extremely well groomed for someone who would shelter in a school bus. Hair looks clean/styled, if you zoom in you can see he shaved recently, and the star print on the side of his head looks like it was done/touched up no more than a week or two ago. One weird aspect if I believe he was shirtless? No shirt description and a black shirt is photoshopped on in the postmortem photos.

He definitely had recently shaved and had his hair trimmed. If you zoom the second image you can see he has some snipped hair still in his ears.

The wording on Namus suggests he was still alive when found in the abandoned bus but died later in hospital. It was raining steadily in Houston on January 8 and 9th so I wonder if he was a runaway who broke into the bus to take shelter.

What bothers me is if you really zoom the image around the neck area he looks like he has abrasions to the skin around his neck. Did he really die in hospital or was he DOA? If he died in hospital as an unidentified youth you'd think the medical staff would have closed his mouth for identification purposes.

 

[bombardier]

What bothers me is if you really zoom the image around the neck area he looks like he has abrasions to the skin around his neck. Did he really die in hospital or was he DOA? If he died in hospital as an unidentified youth you'd think the medical staff would have closed his mouth for identification purposes.

I see what you mean, on the 3/4 view photo... that's really strange. It doesn't look like a bruise or ligature mark, it just looks like a scratch? Like when you scratch your arm too hard and it raises up some skin which then dries up and falls off? I can't think of a COD that would explain that.
That might be why they put him in a photoshopped shirt, if he did have neck bruising/ligature marks further down and they didn't want it in the photo.
I'm also going to go out on a limb and say this picture was taken very very soon after this young man died..his color is good, lips a bit pale, but his tongue is still pink and wet (sorry if that sounds creepy). I'll buy that he was alive when they found him initially.

 

[rosesfromangels]

I see what you mean, on the 3/4 view photo... that's really strange. It doesn't look like a bruise or ligature mark, it just looks like a scratch? Like when you scratch your arm too hard and it raises up some skin which then dries up and falls off? I can't think of a COD that would explain that.
That might be why they put him in a photoshopped shirt, if he did have neck bruising/ligature marks further down and they didn't want it in the photo.
I'm also going to go out on a limb and say this picture was taken very very soon after this young man died..his color is good, lips a bit pale, but his tongue is still pink and wet (sorry if that sounds creepy). I'll buy that he was alive when they found him initially.

Yes, I agree that the post mortem was taken very shortly after he passed. Post mortem's usually don't bother me, but for some reason this one does. Maybe b/c there seems to be a bit of life lingering behind as he transitions. While the open mouth is hard to look at, it does give the advantage of seeing the teeth.

I keep thinking of how traumatized his mother will be to see this.

Amateur opinion and speculation

 

[Wild Rose]

6.5 shoe size is tiny

 

[annpats]

On the names page, when you click through on Google Maps to the location found, it is on San Felipe Street, just south-east of Hunters Creek Village.
It seems like a normal suburban road with normal suburban houses.

But the description states he was found on a bus on the property of some offices, so I'm not sure where they'd be....? I can't see any down this street.

 

[EGirl]

On the names page, when you click through on Google Maps to the location found, it is on San Felipe Street, just south-east of Hunters Creek Village.
It seems like a normal suburban road with normal suburban houses.

But the description states he was found on a bus on the property of some offices, so I'm not sure where they'd be....? I can't see any down this street.

There used to be a lot of office buildings on San Felipe, mixed with urban residential dwellings. (Apartments and condos) I lived at the corner of San Felipe and Voss for many years a lifetime ago.

 

[carbuff]

6.5 shoe size is tiny

Yeah, but seems about right for a guy who's only five feet tall and looks like a young teen.

 

[annpats]

There used to be a lot of office buildings on San Felipe, mixed with urban residential dwellings. (Apartments and condos) I lived at the corner of San Felipe and Voss for many years a lifetime ago.

Aaah, thanks. That could explain it then. Wonder how local he was to this area?
He doesn't look like he was long-term homeless, in fact, he doesn't look like a typically homeless person at all.....the fresh haircut and being clean-shaven (if he is even old enough to grow facial hair!?) gives that away.
I wonder if he had left home for a few days after an argument with his Mom/Dad/Parents etc.

Would still like to know cause of death. His face in unmarked, so not a typical beating or a fight. Will a toxicology result be posted on Namus?

 

[cocomod]

I would assume if this was a recent hair cut, they could check local barber shops to see if anyone recognizes him. So sad! So young! I wonder what happened?!!

 

[iulia]

Sadly, the cause of date is suicide, per DPS.

unDetails

Case Number: U2202001
Agency: INST OF FORENSIC SCIENCES OF HARRIS COUNTY
Date Found: 01/10/2022
Estimated Date of Death: 01/10/2022
Cause of Death: Suicide

Race: White
Age: 16 - 24
Height: 5' 00" - 5' 01"
Eye Color: Brown

Sex: Male

Weight: 112 lbs. - 112 lbs.
Hair Color: Brown

City Found: HOUSTON
County Found: HARRIS
State Found: Texas
Country Found: USA

Description:
LOCATED IN ABANDONED BUS WHERE PEOPLE ARE KNOWN TO LOITER. CLOTHING - BLK ADIDAS PANTS WITH WHI STRIPE DOWN LEGS, TEAL TOP IN RED AND BLU - BLK HI-TOPS SIZ 6-1/2

 

[Linskid]

Sadly, the cause of date is suicide, per DPS.

unDetails

Case Number: U2202001
Agency: INST OF FORENSIC SCIENCES OF HARRIS COUNTY
Date Found: 01/10/2022
Estimated Date of Death: 01/10/2022
Cause of Death: Suicide

Race: White
Age: 16 - 24
Height: 5' 00" - 5' 01"
Eye Color: Brown

Sex: Male

Weight: 112 lbs. - 112 lbs.
Hair Color: Brown

City Found: HOUSTON
County Found: HARRIS
State Found: Texas
Country Found: USA

Description:
LOCATED IN ABANDONED BUS WHERE PEOPLE ARE KNOWN TO LOITER. CLOTHING - BLK ADIDAS PANTS WITH WHI STRIPE DOWN LEGS, TEAL TOP IN RED AND BLU - BLK HI-TOPS SIZ 6-1/2

I’m surprised to see the the cause of death is suicide. I wonder what the manner of death was.

 

[branmuffin]

I’m surprised to see the the cause of death is suicide. I wonder what the manner of death was.

Based on the abrasions visible around his neck, I would say hanging.

 

[annemc2]

Based on the abrasions visible around his neck, I would say hanging.

I think so too. The way his mouth is open also looks like a hanging victim. Poor kid.

 

[branmuffin]

I think so too. The way his mouth is open also looks like a hanging victim. Poor kid.

Yep. Awfully young to decide life wasn't worth living. I think he perfectly represents those that suicide who continue with certain routines, like getting their hair cut, making dinner reservations and dropping off clothes to the dry cleaners, even while they are contemplating suicide. So many people never give hints about what is troubling them.

 

[Goecke]

Wasn't there a similar case out of Canada a while back, where a (formerly) unidentified man was found in a school bus?
I don't remember names, but I know in the Canadian case the man was living in the bus and died accidentally due to a gas leak in the bus and/or a fire (not 100% sure). Maybe this young man died from a gas leak, carbon monoxide, etc? Either from suicide, or an accidental death?

 

[Goecke]

Update, I was able to find the Canadian case. Brampton man found dead in empty school bus remembered as generous and kind soul
If it were a fire or smoke inhalation, I feel like that would have been noted, but it could be carbon monoxide. I see the marks on his neck that other people have pointed out, but they just look like normal neck creases/wrinkles to me.

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Opened his eyes and touched up his face - hopefully, he'll be identified soon.

 

[bombardier]

View attachment 334139
Opened his eyes and touched up his face - hopefully, he'll be identified soon.

Thanks for making this, it looks great!! If I were to link the NamUs profile on some Texas missing/unsolved facebook pages, do I have your permission to use your image rather than the postmortem?

 

[branmuffin]

Update, I was able to find the Canadian case. Brampton man found dead in empty school bus remembered as generous and kind soul
If it were a fire or smoke inhalation, I feel like that would have been noted, but it could be carbon monoxide. I see the marks on his neck that other people have pointed out, but they just look like normal neck creases/wrinkles to me.

People who die of carbon monoxide poisoning usually present with cherry red or bright pink skin.