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

[EmiliaRT007]

Bumping for our guy.
Sadly I haven’t seen any new leads on him.
I wonder if his family never even reported him missing…

 

[John/Jane Doe]

@Caring1 Hey could you post the current list of NamUs exclusions for this John Doe? I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[Caring1]

@Caring1 Hey could you post the current list of NamUs exclusions for this John Doe? I would greatly appreciate it.

Just the one exclusion still showing.

 

[Seattle1]

His COD has been speculated in this thread but I just found where Harris County ME posts their case statuses (thank you @ralyla for indirectly showing me !) and I found confirmation that this was a death due to hanging.
View attachment 378195

I know our UP (NamUs #UP87935) was initially entered as PRE30 but looking at his profile today on the site -- seems the estimated age range was revised to 13-19.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

My next question is whether or not it's possible he was identified and just not deleted from the UP database.

I ask because he no longer appears on the Harrison County ME site
(ML-22-0168). Also, in the quoted post above, I see his case indicates NOK (next of kin) county burial.

I understood that the next of kin has to authorize any burial and waive future claims to the body and remains before a body is buried by the county. Otherwise, I thought the remains are shelved in the county morgue or a "cremated remains closet" leased by the county.

I dunno -- I think about remains on the self at the county morgue for 40 years so it doesn't follow that the county would bury a body without consent. But maybe it varies from state to state.

The following MSM cites similar but also how some coroners have turned to amateur sleuths and genealogy websites to find next-of-kin.

3/9/2018 - Why the dead go unclaimed

When next-of-kin refuses to claim the deceased, the person is asked to authorize a county cremation or burial and waive future claims to the body and remains. If there is no response, a follow-up letter is sent with a deadline, after which counties move forward with disposal.

ETA: I'm thinking a DOD in Jan 2022 would be very early for the decedent to be buried without next of kin authorization. Seems he should still be on the coroner's shelf if not identified.

 

[Seattle1]

This is a dated article but seems Harris County, TX has a good rate for identifying the dead.

Unclaimed, unidentified bodies fill Harris County cemetery

Newly released numbers obtained by Local 2 show that in 2013, 24 bodies at the Harris County morgue were listed as "unclaimed."

www.click2houston.com

6/12/2014

The majority of the 200 to 500 people buried at the cemetery on Oates Road every year are indigent.

In the vast majority of these cases, 182 in 2013, next of kin told Harris County's Bereavement Services Department they can not afford to pay for burial or cremation of their family member.

The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences has an "ID Team" that specializes in verifying identities. In 2013, only one person remained unidentified.

Since 1957, 370 remain unidentified. Some of those people are listed here.

One such victim, known as the "Smurf Shirt Girl," was murdered in 2012 in northeast Houston in October 2012. Her partially skeletonized remains, found in a trash bag, have never been identified. She is believed to be 15 to 17 years old.

If think you can help identify someone who has died in Harris County, call the "ID Team" at 713-796-6774.

 

[ralyla]

This is a dated article but seems Harris County, TX has a good rate for identifying the dead.

Unclaimed, unidentified bodies fill Harris County cemetery

Newly released numbers obtained by Local 2 show that in 2013, 24 bodies at the Harris County morgue were listed as "unclaimed."

www.click2houston.com

6/12/2014

The majority of the 200 to 500 people buried at the cemetery on Oates Road every year are indigent.

In the vast majority of these cases, 182 in 2013, next of kin told Harris County's Bereavement Services Department they can not afford to pay for burial or cremation of their family member.

The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences has an "ID Team" that specializes in verifying identities. In 2013, only one person remained unidentified.

Since 1957, 370 remain unidentified. Some of those people are listed here.

One such victim, known as the "Smurf Shirt Girl," was murdered in 2012 in northeast Houston in October 2012. Her partially skeletonized remains, found in a trash bag, have never been identified. She is believed to be 15 to 17 years old.

If think you can help identify someone who has died in Harris County, call the "ID Team" at 713-796-6774.

There are 39 unknown individuals buried in the Harris County Cemetery:

Memorials in Harris County Cemetery #2 - Find a Grave

The World’s largest gravesite collection. Contribute, create and discover gravesites from all over the world. Memorials in Harris County Cemetery #2, a Find a Grave.

www.findagrave.com

IMO our Doe has not yet been identified. Harris County is good about posting press releases and communicating when someone has been identified.

 

[EmiliaRT007]

I know our UP (NamUs #UP87935) was initially entered as PRE30 but looking at his profile today on the site -- seems the estimated age range was revised to 13-19.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

My next question is whether or not it's possible he was identified and just not deleted from the UP database.

I ask because he no longer appears on the Harrison County ME site
(ML-22-0168). Also, in the quoted post above, I see his case indicates NOK (next of kin) county burial.

I understood that the next of kin has to authorize any burial and waive future claims to the body and remains before a body is buried by the county. Otherwise, I thought the remains are shelved in the county morgue or a "cremated remains closet" leased by the county.

I dunno -- I think about remains on the self at the county morgue for 40 years so it doesn't follow that the county would bury a body without consent. But maybe it varies from state to state.

The following MSM cites similar but also how some coroners have turned to amateur sleuths and genealogy websites to find next-of-kin.

3/9/2018 - Why the dead go unclaimed

When next-of-kin refuses to claim the deceased, the person is asked to authorize a county cremation or burial and waive future claims to the body and remains. If there is no response, a follow-up letter is sent with a deadline, after which counties move forward with disposal.

ETA: I'm thinking a DOD in Jan 2022 would be very early for the decedent to be buried without next of kin authorization. Seems he should still be on the coroner's shelf if not identified.

Interesting. Haven’t seen anything come up about him being identified yet. I think he’s still yet to be identified but we’re very close to it.

 

[Seattle1]

IMO our Doe has not yet been identified. Harris County is good about posting press releases and communicating when someone has been identified.

^^rsbm

You're probably right, and since I'm used to seeing shelves and shelves of the unidentified/unclaimed in morgues across the country, I'm shocked that this John Doe was buried by the county, less than a year after his January 2022 death at the hospital.

So what happens if let's say somebody from a foreign land comes forward to make an inquiry?

Does Harris County now keep John Doe's (unauthorized) DNA and/or specimens on file for comparison, and if a match, go unearth the decedent (probably at the expense of the family), so the family can repatriate him home?

For example, in Philadelphia, as of April 1, 2017, the Medical Examiner's Office (MEO) toxicology lab began retaining blood samples for DNA testing indefinitely. If the decedent’s date of death was before April 1, 2017, a blood sample of their DNA was held for one year from the date of death.

In the event that a blood sample is unavailable, the lab will hold a tissue sample for one year from the date of death.

Also, obtaining DNA or a specimen on a person whose body was handled by the MEO requires permission from the deceased person’s next of kin, and selected laboratory to perform the testing. If next of kin is unavailable or refuses to consent to the release of a specimen, a court order is required to release any samples.

I've not been successful in finding regulatory information from Harris County.

I dunno... I'm foreign-born and to me, being buried by the county less than a year after my death seems unauthorized, expensive, inefficient, and disrespectful to me. JMO.

ETA: In my experience, I agree that Texas is very responsive but there's no guarantee the public will be informed.

Last June 2022 when I contacted Michael Nance, the Regional Program Specialist for Texas (Region 4) to submit Julian Marcelino Perez Mendez (MP-90997) for our John Doe, he responded the next day and provided that NamUs staff would review the submitted information as well as notify the investigating agencies for their consideration, if the agencies had not been previously notified.

He also wrote and I'm quoting: "Please note, identifications are only made and/or confirmed by investigating agencies. The results of comparisons may or may not be made available to the public for investigatory and privacy reasons."

 

[Seattle1]

You're probably right, and since I'm used to seeing shelves and shelves of the unidentified/unclaimed in morgues across the country, I'm shocked that this John Doe was buried by the county, less than a year after his January 2022 death at the hospital.

Appending my own post to add that as early as May 28, 2022, per my quoted post below, our John Doe was already buried by the county. This was 5 months after his death in hospital.

I noticed that UID #ML22-0168 Case Status was recently updated and NOK Relationship now reports "County Burial," Report Completed, and Ready for Transport.

Case Status

 

[ChatteringBirds]

I wish all states would DNA test all UIDs and hold the results indefinitely in a national database available to LE. Burials or cremations then go into marked graves. One year isn't long enough for many families to realize they have a truly missing relative and navigate what to do about it.

 

[Seattle1]

I wish all states would DNA test all UIDs and hold the results indefinitely in a national database available to LE. Burials or cremations then go into marked graves. One year isn't long enough for many families to realize they have a truly missing relative and navigate what to do about it.

I couldn't agree more @ChatteringBirds. Speaking from my own experience, during my decades in the US, I've kept abreast with my family through my mum (and they of me). But having recently lost my mum, I expect contact will dwindle down to Christmas or birthday greet. We are entering June and I don't know where 2023 has gone! One year is NOT long enough!

 

[ChatteringBirds]

@Seattle1 I am very sorry for your loss, Seattle.

 

[EmiliaRT007]

I wish all states would DNA test all UIDs and hold the results indefinitely in a national database available to LE. Burials or cremations then go into marked graves. One year isn't long enough for many families to realize they have a truly missing relative and navigate what to do about it.

I agree! I’m so tired of shoddy work done with Doe remains. I’ve literally seen one case where there was this man, they only got fingerprints from him, later lost them. They never got any dentals or DNA from him, they just cremated him right away. So glad that’s not the case with this young man.

 

[Bit of hope]

Was this boy ever suggested? I know height is off. Sadly the PM picture in Namus won't open for me, so I couldn't have a possible look at his teeth. (Having other problems too with it, so I must look into it) I can't see his ears very clearly.

 

[EmiliaRT007]

Was this boy ever suggested? I know height is off. Sadly the PM picture in Namus won't open for me, so I could have a possible look at his teeth. (Having other problems too with it, so I must looked into it) I can't see his ears very clearly.

View attachment 427936

He’s way too tall to be the John Doe. I feel like a bit too off. I think that’s a reason to exclude him. Other than that he does bear a resemblance to our Doe. He might be related to him, but not him?

 

[souljaman2022]

 

[souljaman2022]

View attachment 429896

Here is a possible match.

 

[souljaman2022]

 

[souljaman2022]

View attachment 429898View attachment 429899View attachment 429900

https://galvestontx.mugshots.zone/gonzales-martinez-alejandro-mugshot-12-13-2021/

Source for the picture.

 

[Caring1]

Here is a possible match.

If you haven’t already, please submit this match. Nice work.

CASE OWNER

Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences​

(832) 927-5000
Agency Case Number ML22-0168

Houston Police Department​

(832) 707-1284
Agency Case Number 41767-22