TX TX - Houston, #UP599, HispMale, 40-45, walking into moving traffic, playing “chicken”, Nov ‘02

[EmiliaRT007]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) POSTMORTEM WARNING. Not gory

646UMTX

On November 5, 2002, an unidentified man was hit by a car while walking into incoming traffic. The decedent was reportedly playing “chicken” by walking in and out of traffic.

He was a Hispanic male with dark brown wavy, short hair, brown eyes, and was believed to be in his early forties.

He was 5’9” (175 cm) and weighed 202 pounds (92 kg). He had a mustache and a goatee, a 1/2 inch linear scar on his right earlobe, a 1/2 inch linear scar on his right wrist, multiple round 1/4 inch scars on his chest, a 4/5 inch oblique scar on his right thigh, a 2.5 inch irregular scar on his abdomen, and a mole on his right cheek near his mouth.

He had silver caps on left and right side top teeth. His dentals are available, as are his fingerprints. His DNA has been collected and submitted but the tests are not complete.

He was wearing a white T-shirt, blue denim pants and tan boots.

LE submitted his fingerprints to area police agencies and the state, but nobody was able to identify him. The police department is submitting the victim's fingerprints to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as he was possibly reported missing in another country.

 

[Myrrh]

2 rule outs in NamUs

 

[EmiliaRT007]

2 rule outs in NamUs
View attachment 423587

Neither of these men even look like our guy. Not to mention that these guys are also white and non-Hispanic, so that automatically would rule them out IMO.

 

[EmiliaRT007]

Alex Russell Zavala went missing from Reedley CA in April 2002 at 41. He’s 5’10” and 225 pounds. I find that he and the John Doe look rather alike. Nose is a bit smaller on Alex but it may be a combination of the angle and the facial expression.

 

[cheemsg]

I wonder if he had a mental disability or something, because playing chicken is a sort of a little kid thing (where I grew up it was a big thing with kids lol)

 

[EmiliaRT007]

I wonder if he had a mental disability or something, because playing chicken is a sort of a little kid thing (where I grew up it was a big thing with kids lol)

Maybe. I’m curious about that. He may have had special needs but if so why would he be out there by himself? Sounds like a recipe for disaster. Maybe he was under the influence. Just another possibility.

Edit: Maybe he did it with the intention of being hit by a car. Maybe it was a suicide.

 

[SimsGuy67]

I wonder if he had a mental disability or something, because playing chicken is a sort of a little kid thing (where I grew up it was a big thing with kids lol)

I agree. When I heard the term "playing chicken", I immediately thought this was a child, not a middle-aged man.

 

[EmiliaRT007]

I agree. When I heard the term "playing chicken", I immediately thought this was a child, not a middle-aged man.

That’s how they described his act as. I am thinking it was either he had special needs, he was on drugs, or he was trying to commit suicide.

 

[cheemsg]

Maybe. I’m curious about that. He may have had special needs but if so why would he be out there by himself? Sounds like a recipe for disaster. Maybe he was under the influence. Just another possibility.

Edit: Maybe he did it with the intention of being hit by a car. Maybe it was a suicide.

I think there'd be a distinction between someone with a cognitive impairment playing in traffic without understanding the risks and a suicide. Since they're reporting it as playing chicken and not suicide its probably the former.

 

[EmiliaRT007]

I think there'd be a distinction between someone with a cognitive impairment playing in traffic without understanding the risks and a suicide. Since they're reporting it as playing chicken and not suicide its probably the former.

Now that I think about it you have a good point. He may have been autistic. People with autism tend to be less aware of social cues, body language, and, in this case as with a lot of others, danger. I feel like that may be a possibility too.

Edit: The scars on his chest! He had multiple 1/4 inch scars on his chest! They were round, so I’m thinking they’re from tubes or something put inside him from a medical procedure. That further proves the special needs theory.

 

[DS2021]

646UMTX - Unidentified Male​

Reconstruction of Victim. To view a postmortem photo of the victim, click here.

Date of Discovery: November 5, 2002
Location of Discovery: Houston, Harris County, Texas
Estimated Date of Death: Hours prior
State of Remains: Recognizable
Cause of Death: Struck by a vehicle

Physical Description​

Estimated Age: 40-45 years old
Race: Hispanic
Sex: Male
Height: 5' 9" (Measured)
Weight: 202 lbs. (Measured)
Hair Color: Dark brown, short and wavy
Eye Color: Brown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Facial hair sparse mustache and goatee. 1/2" linear scar on right earlobe, 1/2" linear scar on right dorsal wrist, multiple 1/4" round scars on chest, 4/5" oblique scar on right thigh, 2.5" irregular scar on the abdomen, mole on right cheek near the mouth.

Identifiers​

Dentals: Available. Silver caps on left side and right side top teeth.
Fingerprints: Available.
DNA: Samples submitted - tests not complete.

Clothing & Personal Items​

Clothing: He was wearing a white T-shirt, blue denim pants and tan boots
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown

Circumstances of Discovery​

The victim stepped out into moving traffic and was struck in the 2500 block of Texas 225 East about 18:15 on November 5, 2002. He was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital where he was pronounced dead. According to a police report, the man had been playing "chicken" by walking in and out of traffic before he was struck. Police have submitted the victim's fingerprints to area police agencies and the state, but none has been able to determine the man's identity. The police department is submitting the victim's fingerprints to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as he was possibly reported missing in another country.

Investigating Agency(s)​

Agency Name: Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences
Agency Contact Person: Deborrah Pinto, Identification Manager/Forensic Anthropologist
Agency Phone Number: (832) 927-5000
Agency E-Mail: [email protected]
Agency Case Number: ML02-3637

Agency Name: Pasadena Police Department
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 713-475-5590
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 2002068728

NCIC Case Number: U-620003692
NamUs Case Number: #UP599
Former Hot Case Number: N/A

Information Source(s)​

NamUs
Texas Department of Public Safety
Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences

Admin Notes​

Added: Prior to 2005 ; Last Updated: 1/2/22

 

[Hochman]

TxDPS Missing and Unidentified Persons Online Bulletin

Texas Missing Persons Clearinghouse Online Bulletin, Browse photos and searchable bulletins of missing persons, abductors, and unidentified persons, a central repository for information and pictures of missing and unidentified persons in Texas.

www.dps.texas.gov

From DPS

 

[EmiliaRT007]

TxDPS Missing and Unidentified Persons Online Bulletin

Texas Missing Persons Clearinghouse Online Bulletin, Browse photos and searchable bulletins of missing persons, abductors, and unidentified persons, a central repository for information and pictures of missing and unidentified persons in Texas.

www.dps.texas.gov

From DPS
View attachment 423619

It can’t just be me can it? But his eyelashes look SUPER long in that sketch.