WA WA - Burlington, WhtMale 20-30, UP13903, blue sunglasses, Unk shoes, Benrus watch, clothes, Feb’89

[Coffee56]

Unidentified Person Case

Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP13903Male, White / Caucasian
Date FoundFebruary 20, 1989
Location FoundBurlington, Washington

Case Information


Case Numbers
NCMEC Number--
ME/C Case Number89-01753
Demographics
SexMale
Race / EthnicityWhite / Caucasian
Possible First Name--
Possible Middle Name--
Possible Last Name--
Possible Nickname--
Estimated Age GroupAdult - Pre 30
Estimated Age Range20-30 Years
Estimated Year of Death1988-1989
Estimated PMIMonths
Height5' 8"(68 inches) , Estimated
WeightCannot Estimate
Circumstances
TypeUnidentified Deceased
Date FoundFebruary 20, 1989
NamUs Case CreatedMay 29, 2015
Agency QA Reviewed--
Location Found Map
Street AddressChuckanut DrBurlington, Washington 98233
CountySkagit County
GPS Coordinates--
Circumstances of RecoveryFound deceased on Chuckanut Drive.
Details of Recovery


Inventory of Remains--
Condition of RemainsNot recognizable - Near complete or complete skeleton
Physical Description
Hair ColorBrown
Head Hair DescriptionSample of head hair, item #1-14 (destroyed 2002)
Body Hair Description--
Facial Hair Description--
Left Eye ColorUnknown or Missing
Right Eye ColorUnknown or Missing
Eye Description--
Distinctive Physical Features
No Information Entered

Clothing and Accessories
Category
Description
Accessories
blue colored sunglasses on ground, small hair brush ( both covered with leaves)
Near the Body

Clothing
Grey-blue-red plaid long sleeve shirt, blue Levi zip jeans, leather belt with small silver buckle, socks with red ring.
On the Body

Clothing
Grey-blue jacket (on ground beneath body)
Near the Body

Footwear
Unk brand of tennis shoes, probably white with blue stripes
On the Body

Jewelry
gold colored Benrus watch
On the Body

Sheriff's Office renews effort to identify 1989 John Doe

The identity of the man buried under the grave marker remains a mystery; the stone simply reads “John Doe.”

Breckenridge remembers being the Skagit County Sheriff’s deputy leading a search and rescue crew sent into the Oyster Creek area off Chuckanut Drive where the man had been found Feb. 21, 1989.

 

[Nancy Drew RN]

Per the article, they are trying to raise money to have him exhumed. Their Facebook page says they've raised $794 of the estimated $1600 it will take.

"Once the body is exhumed, the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, which has a forensic anthropologist and odontologist on staff, has agreed to take possession of the body and re-evaluate it, Walker said."

His local agency refers to him as "Bow Doe."

 

[iulia]

From Nov. '18

Effort to identify 1989 John Doe continues

The body of an unidentified man found in Skagit County nearly 30 years ago was exhumed Wednesday as part of an ongoing effort to identify him.
[...]
The exhumed body will now be sent to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office for DNA extraction, a new dental examination and facial reconstruction imaging, Sgt. Jennifer Sheahan-Lee said.

 

[sasha17]

A white deceased male between the ages of 20 and 30 was found in the Oyster Creek area off Chuckanut Drive. He had brown hair, estimated to be 5'8". His PMI was "months" according to NamUs or "at least a year" according to the news article linked below. He was wearing a gray/blue/red plaid long sleeve shirt, blue Levi zip jeans, a leather belt with a small silver buckle, socks with red ring, tennis shoes (probably white with blue stripes), and a gold colored Benrus watch. Near his body were blue colored sunglasses, a small hair brush, cigarettes, and a gray-blue jacket.

NamUs #UP13903 - The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Sheriff's Office renews effort to identify 1989 John Doe

 

[Melt71]

Although Namus hasn't been updated and there are no ruleouts, Doe Network was updated in July 2022.

COD appears to be suicide - sad that he's not been returned to his loved ones yet. He appears to have distinctive front dentals.

R

Date of Discovery: February 20, 1989
Location of Discovery: Burlington, Skagit County, Washington
Estimated Date of Death: Months prior
State of Remains: Not recognizable - Near complete or complete skeleton.
Cause of Death: Hanging

Physical Description​

Estimated Age: 20-30 years old
Race: White
Gender: Male
Height: 5'8"
Weight: Unknown
Hair Color: Brown. Sample of head hair, item #1-14 (destroyed 2002).
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown

Identifiers​

Dentals: Unknown
Fingerprints: Unknown
DNA: Unknown

Clothing & Personal Items​

Clothing: Grey-blue-red plaid long sleeve shirt, blue Levi zip jeans, leather belt with small silver buckle, socks with red ring, Grey-blue jacket (on ground beneath body), Unk brand of tennis shoes, probably white with blue stripes.
Jewelry: Gold colored Benrus watch.
Additional Personal Items: Blue colored sunglasses on ground, small hair brush, pack of cigarettes.

Circumstances of Discovery​

A logger surveying in the area stumbled upon the remains by the Whatcom/Skagit County border, near Bow, WA. He may have died months prior. He had hanged himself from a tree.

Investigating Agency(s)​

Agency Name: Skagit County Cororner's Office
Agency Contact Person: Deborah Hollis
Agency Phone Number: 360-416-1996
Agency E-Mail: Unknown
Agency Case Number: 89-29

Agency Name: Skagit County Sheriff's Office
Agency Contact Person: Kay Walker
Agency Phone Number: 360-416-1911
Agency E-Mail: Unknown
Agency Case Number: 89-01753

NCIC Case Number: Unknown
NamUs Case Number: 13903

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Could someone please post this gentleman's Doe Network link (somehow I don't see it) and check for any new exclusions? Thanks.
NamUs:

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

 

[iulia]

Could someone please post this gentleman's Doe Network link (somehow I don't see it) and check for any new exclusions? Thanks.
NamUs:

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

Here's his Doe Network page: 3839UMWA

Can't help with the exclusions, though, I can't make an account on NamUs.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

What about this man as a possible match?

NamUs #MP6193, initials ALH, missing since Feb. 4, 1989

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

- Against: I am not sure if there would have been enough time for skeletal remains? He was only 18-years-old. His photo isn't a "close match" to the reconstruction, IMO.
- Neutral info: He would have needed to travel from CA to WA. He sounds down on his luck: "may be frequenting soup kitchens and shelters."
- For: "front middle right tooth chipped," 5'7, brown hair.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Also caught my attention:
NamUs #MP19563, initials JWD, missing since Dec. '88

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

-Against: He's thought to be a homicide victim(?) Not sure he matches reconstruction either.
-Neutral: A bit above the age estimate in DN. He was 38, estimate of UID there is 20 - 30 y.o.
-For: Missing from WA. 5'8, brown hair.

ETA: Sadly there are quite a few men still missing since approx. 1988 who meet the basic description, though. Especially from nearby states like CA. I hope most have been automatically ruled-out.

 

[Caring1]

Could someone please post this gentleman's Doe Network link (somehow I don't see it) and check for any new exclusions? Thanks.
NamUs:

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

0 Missing Person Exclusions

 

[RobbyDel]

For anyone who is interested. I filed a public records request with the Skagit County Sheriff's Department for records related to this unidentified person. I used Muckrock. They quickly granted my request.

Here's a link to the Muckrock request:

Skagit County Sheriff: 1989 Bow, Washington John Doe

Here's a collection of documents (press clippings, emails, etc.) related to the unidentified man.

Bow Washington John Doe Case Number 89 01753 : Skagit County Sheriff's Department : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Among the released information includes around 139 photographs. These should be accessible via the Muckrock link.

Most of these photographs are from an exhumation of the man's grave. Included are images of the clothes, the noose, a wristwatch the man might have been wearing, shoes, etc. While I myself don't think any of the images are particularly graphic, you should be aware that there are a couple images of a skull and some teeth.

Here's a link to a shared Google Photos folder with images taken by the Skagit County Sheriff's Department:

Skagit County John Doe Case Number: 89-01753

I am thinking of creating a blog and/podcast related to materials on unidentified people released as a result of a public record request. Please post here in this forum if you spot anything of interest. Based on my cursory knowledge of this case it would appear that the watch might provide more insights. Also, there doesn't seem to be much thought about this person being Canadian - which is odd, considering how close the Canadian border is to where the man was discovered.

 

[victoriarobinson642]

For anyone who is interested. I filed a public records request with the Skagit County Sheriff's Department for records related to this unidentified person. I used Muckrock. They quickly granted my request.

Here's a link to the Muckrock request:

Skagit County Sheriff: 1989 Bow, Washington John Doe

Here's a collection of documents (press clippings, emails, etc.) related to the unidentified man.

Bow Washington John Doe Case Number 89 01753 : Skagit County Sheriff's Department : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Among the released information includes around 139 photographs. These should be accessible via the Muckrock link.

Most of these photographs are from an exhumation of the man's grave. Included are images of the clothes, the noose, a wristwatch the man might have been wearing, shoes, etc. While I myself don't think any of the images are particularly graphic, you should be aware that there are a couple images of a skull and some teeth.

Here's a link to a shared Google Photos folder with images taken by the Skagit County Sheriff's Department:

Skagit County John Doe Case Number: 89-01753

I am thinking of creating a blog and/podcast related to materials on unidentified people released as a result of a public record request. Please post here in this forum if you spot anything of interest. Based on my cursory knowledge of this case it would appear that the watch might provide more insights. Also, there doesn't seem to be much thought about this person being Canadian - which is odd, considering how close the Canadian border is to where the man was discovered.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1609609758/vintage-benrus-3-star-series-7035-self?show_sold_out_detail=1&ref=nla_listing_details

Looks like he had this watch

 

[Caring1]

For anyone who is interested. I filed a public records request with the Skagit County Sheriff's Department for records related to this unidentified person. I used Muckrock. They quickly granted my request.

Here's a link to the Muckrock request:

Skagit County Sheriff: 1989 Bow, Washington John Doe

Here's a collection of documents (press clippings, emails, etc.) related to the unidentified man.

Bow Washington John Doe Case Number 89 01753 : Skagit County Sheriff's Department : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Among the released information includes around 139 photographs. These should be accessible via the Muckrock link.

Most of these photographs are from an exhumation of the man's grave. Included are images of the clothes, the noose, a wristwatch the man might have been wearing, shoes, etc. While I myself don't think any of the images are particularly graphic, you should be aware that there are a couple images of a skull and some teeth.

Here's a link to a shared Google Photos folder with images taken by the Skagit County Sheriff's Department:

Skagit County John Doe Case Number: 89-01753

I am thinking of creating a blog and/podcast related to materials on unidentified people released as a result of a public record request. Please post here in this forum if you spot anything of interest. Based on my cursory knowledge of this case it would appear that the watch might provide more insights. Also, there doesn't seem to be much thought about this person being Canadian - which is odd, considering how close the Canadian border is to where the man was discovered.

Just read through the records. Interesting that a handful of MP were ruled out soon thereafter with dentals. (Not noted in NamUs)

Rope found with or near remains appeared to be fishing rope with a fisherman’s knot per report.

MOO - Could have been a deck hand for commercial fishing industry in the PNW. Fisherman’s rope used for patching nets, attached to buoys or crab pots.

Crumpled pack of “Marlboro” cigarettes on the ground near the remains.

Actual photo of his watch:

 

[Brightchaser47]

Is it possible this wasn't self-inflicted?JMO, but I think he would have to be pretty nimble and agile to successfully hang himself on a very steep hillside. Again, jmo.

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Ruled out:
John Deetz (12/30/1989)
George Pooler (11/18/1988)
Jesse 'Wilbarri' (Ulibarri)
James Francis Schroeder (09/25/1982)
Franklin Harder (04/23/1978)
Daniel Naylor
James Lee Peters
Stephen Hugh Halladay (1980) (Probably suicide)
David Listin
Jesse Barton (11/16/1988)

 

[Brightchaser47]

Just read through the records. Interesting that a handful of MP were ruled out soon thereafter with dentals. (Not noted in NamUs)

Rope found with or near remains appeared to be fishing rope with a fisherman’s knot per report.

MOO - Could have been a deck hand for commercial fishing industry in the PNW. Fisherman’s rope used for patching nets, attached to buoys or crab pots.

Crumpled pack of “Marlboro” cigarettes on the ground near the remains.

Actual photo of his watch:

View attachment 547422

There are some things here that don't add up....
The man was found with no wallet (hence no ID), yet he was wearing a nice watch. Ironically, there was one penny in his jeans pocket.
Sorry, but I have doubts that he worked in the fishing industry (or that he hanged himself). A windbreaker and tennis shoes seem out of place for someone who worked outdoors in the PNW and died by hanging on a very steep hillside, possibly in winter. Although it's possible he tangled with someone in the fishing industry.
Also, I don't think the crumpled package of Marlboros was his. The files  RobbyDel shared go into detail regarding how the body was found and what items were found near it, and there's no mention anywhere of either matches or a lighter. So, imo, it's possible that either this man had "help" dying, or someone found him, but didn't report it.
I don't know who he was, or what happened, but I think there may be more here than meets the eye. JMO