TX TX - Houston, Wht/HispMale 20-30, UP4609, poss Antonio frm Honduras, worked @ carpet co?, Dec'81

Grungster

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This man was found on 119 North Bryan in Houston, Texas, on December 12, 1981. He died of a gunshot wound to the back, per my contact at the HCIFS. He possibly went by the name "Antonio". He may have been employed at a carpet company and may have been a sea man. Possibly from Honduras.

SOURCES:

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

183UMTX
 
  • #2
@apearn This is a potential VD case, IMO. I think you are the one who runs VD but I am not sure.
 
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Estimated Age: 20-30 years old
Race: White/Hispanic
Gender: Male
Height: 5'5" to 5'7"
Weight: 125-135 lbs.
Hair Color: Black, curly.
Eye Color: Brown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Full black beard and mustache with sideburns. Light freckles. No known fractures or scars.

Dentals, Fingerprints, DNA: Not available.

Clothing: Blue jersey with "Allied Humble Bank 13" on the back, blue jeans, tan or brown belt, green socks, and white and blue jogging shoes or brown shoes (differing sources).
Additional Personal Items: Keys and cigarettes.
 
  • #6
I think he was wearing brown shoes. That’s what’s listed on his HCIFS flier and they are very accurate. Maybe he owned white jogging shoes.
 
  • #7
I came across this guy... 4728DMPA - Edward Portela , The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) .

It lists his hair as curly and either brown or brown w/red highlights, and his eyes as brown/green/hazel. All his other stats line up pretty well though. Also, on his Doe Network profile there is a place that looks like some info was added, maybe outside the page format/code... it has “Portela, Cuba”. Might indicate he was from Cuba. Unfortunately there are no identifiers available for him.

upload_2021-3-17_15-57-2.jpeg upload_2021-3-17_15-57-26.jpeg
 
  • #8
I requested the autopsy report for this case to the HCIFS. They fowarded this email to the archived files library, as they were in possession of the report. Some additional information was included, which I didn't expect to see, but I think it was because the HCIFS isn't the sole owner of the full report, but the investigators for the case. Anyways, here's what everything indicates; I can't attach it because of computer issues.

The decedent had been living on 119 North Bryan Street for only a week (it was an apartment at the time, I don't think it is anymore). He did work at a carpet company, Texas Carpet Company, and his boss, who I think may have been related to his landlord, picked him up for work every morning. He had been using the name Antonio Saphrey, and indicated that he was a seaman from Honduran, and I think he self identified as 19 years old, not entirely sure. When someone from the Honduran Consulate pulled some strings, she established that Antonio Saphrey was alive and well, stationed on a ship at sea in Louisiana.

In regards to his death, at around 2:15 AM on December 12, 1981, his neighbors heard gunshots and saw him fall into their doorstep. At the time, there was no suspect or gun in police custody.
 
  • #9
Also MM, I think you may have found Antonio...great work
 
  • #10
So I am trying to get the police report for this case by email but I have to pay online, yet I have no way to.
 
  • #11
It appears I have to only pay 10 cents however...
 
  • #12
I only got the incident report but that's okay - this is still an open homicide case and there are no suspects. It appears that Antonio was shot for "no apparent reason".
 

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  • #13
I still can't link the autopsy report, but Antonio was VERY drunk when he died.
 
  • #14
Me and @PatLaurel have been talking about this case and we think that someone must have been waiting for him outside his apartment....and when he was opening his door, was shot. That would make sense as he was shot in the back and left hip. We also think something else but I won't share what it is...not yet at least.
 
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Attachments

  • #16
I thought I had already mentioned this but it turns out I haven't. I did end up getting the incident report which says that he was shot for "no apparent reason". Also, there is allegedly no person of interest in the case, but me and @PatLaurel have an idea of who....at this point we won't say though.
 
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I just reread Antonio's autopsy report and there is something that we missed the first time, @Grungster!

"There was a massive hemorrhage of the strap muscles of the neck"... Someone tried to strangle Antonio but to no avail. "The hyoid bone was intact, the larynx and vocal cords were unremarkable." Antonio probably fought back and was able to escape for a brief moment, and is then shot to death. MOO JMO

EvidenceProf Blog: The Autopsy Posts, Take 2: Focal Hemorrhaging of the Strap Muscles & Strangulation

MOO JMO
 
  • #19
Another thing I noticed was that the detective requested "fingernail scrapings to be taken during autopsy". This leaves me wondering if evidence of a physical altercation was found at the crime scene or, was just a standard procedure?
Unfortunately, the autopsy report does not mention if fingernail evidence was collected or not.

MOO JMO
 
  • #20
I just reread Antonio's autopsy report and there is something that we missed the first time, @Grungster!

"There was a massive hemorrhage of the strap muscles of the neck"... Someone tried to strangle Antonio but to no avail. "The hyoid bone was intact, the larynx and vocal cords were unremarkable." Antonio probably fought back and was able to escape for a brief moment, and is then shot to death. MOO JMO

EvidenceProf Blog: The Autopsy Posts, Take 2: Focal Hemorrhaging of the Strap Muscles & Strangulation

MOO JMO

I just reread Antonio's autopsy report and there is something that we missed the first time, @Grungster!

"There was a massive hemorrhage of the strap muscles of the neck"... Someone tried to strangle Antonio but to no avail. "The hyoid bone was intact, the larynx and vocal cords were unremarkable." Antonio probably fought back and was able to escape for a brief moment, and is then shot to death. MOO JMO

EvidenceProf Blog: The Autopsy Posts, Take 2: Focal Hemorrhaging of the Strap Muscles & Strangulation

MOO JMO
There is a missing piece of the jigsaw somewhere. It seems he probably knew his killer considering the level of brutality. Hopefully the police get a person of interest finally. Someone has gotten away with his death for 4 decades and they need to be held accountable.
 

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