WI WI- Howard Takanaka, 27, Superior, 1 Jan 1984

[Keiri]

I called for an update yesterday. They are first verifying that there aren’t two people with the same name and similar backgrounds by pulling various records. I was told to expect that it may be a while before there’s results. Which makes sense to me because as current urgent things come into their desk, I would expect this to be low priority. But I was very happy to get an update. I’ll check back this spring.

this is great, I think following up gets more responses from my experience. I email, once a month, and poke at them.

 

[Teamir]

I have a small update on this case. First of all, the feedback. I'd asked for feedback on if the info was useful or any tips on how to improve cold case sleuthing, etc. The investigator I spoke with said all tips are welcomed, and explained why to keep an open mind regarding who/what/where I think the answer is. Follow where the facts lead, rather than getting attached to one answer. Excellent reminder I think.

They are still looking into Howard's case. In general, they are open to him maybe being alive and denying that it's himself when contacted, but also open to it maybe being an unidentified deceased. They work on it as they have time since current cases are more pressing.

I also found marriage and divorce records via Ancestry dot com. He was married 3/25/1978 in St Louis County, MN (which is just over a bridge from Superior, WI) (source link), and he divorced 12/21/1982 Douglas County WI. He is for sure a "Junior"; his father had the same name.

I did additional research via Ancestry and Newspapers dot coms. In the Duluth News Tribune 1/13/1984, it states he was put on two years probation for a felony. So it would seem he was skipping out on his probation.

The probation in lieu of 18 months of prison puts a different light on why he left the area. It also lends credence (IMO) to the idea that he is alive but denying it's him when contacted.

 

[Teamir]

After many hours of research, I determined that there is FOR SURE a different Howard Takenaka with similarities. They have different middle initials, different family members. They have the same first name, last name; look the same; both were in the Army; both were in Hawaii and Minnesota and California at points in their lives. So if you see one on Facebook holding a dog - that is definitely NOT the missing Howard Takenaka. If you need to privately message me to get the evidence that's fine with me.

It completely demolished my favorite theory, so I'm starting to sadly think he may be an unidentified deceased.

 

[Keiri]

This is good though, tea. It means you didn’t go into this with a closed mind, you may have expected a certain result but got another, and you were enough of a scientific mind to be able to accept that and not hammer it to fit. This is what we are supposed to do, not assume something is serial killer x and fixate on making that scenario work despite evidence to the contrary. You have proved something we needed to know and set the investigation back on track.

When others are obsessed with serial killers and single cases, they need people like you to do research and extrapolate from it sensibly.

 

[Keiri]

@Teamir any hints as to where the doe was found or when?

 

[Teamir]

@Teamir any hints as to where the doe was found or when?

No nothing - he only said that someone contacted him with a possible UID and he said it looked a lot like Howard.

 

[Keiri]

No nothing - he only said that someone contacted him with a possible UID and he said it looked a lot like Howard.

Hmm, well I only have the two guesses I sent you then.

 

[Teamir]

I finalized my research on this case and sent it to the investigator. Since the FB Takenaka is NOT the missing Takenaka, I looked deeper into the missing Takenaka.

He has a few living relatives, so hopefully someone gets DNA on file. At the time he went missing, this was in the newspaper: 1/13/1984 Duluth News Tribune, Howard S Takenaka, 25, of 22-A Catlin Courts, Superior receiving and concealing stolen property , felony shoplifting and possession of a controlled substance (marijuana), sentence of 18 months in WI state prison system stayed for two years probation.

He had a female roommate with similar charges at the same time AND their immediate next door neighbors also had similar charges at the same time. (I had been searching Howard's address on newspapers dot com and they kept popping up too.)

Since he got probation in lieu of a prison sentence, it would have been a bad idea for him to randomly leave the state for work, as was proposed in his missing person profile. I'm wondering who told LE that fact/idea? If he was caught out of state, violating probation, he was facing prison time. So why would he leave the state??

Starting to look like foul play to me.

 

[Keiri]

I finalized my research on this case and sent it to the investigator. Since the FB Takenaka is NOT the missing Takenaka, I looked deeper into the missing Takenaka.

He has a few living relatives, so hopefully someone gets DNA on file. At the time he went missing, this was in the newspaper: 1/13/1984 Duluth News Tribune, Howard S Takenaka, 25, of 22-A Catlin Courts, Superior receiving and concealing stolen property , felony shoplifting and possession of a controlled substance (marijuana), sentence of 18 months in WI state prison system stayed for two years probation.

He had a female roommate with similar charges at the same time AND their immediate next door neighbors also had similar charges at the same time. (I had been searching Howard's address on newspapers dot com and they kept popping up too.)

Since he got probation in lieu of a prison sentence, it would have been a bad idea for him to randomly leave the state for work, as was proposed in his missing person profile. I'm wondering who told LE that fact/idea? If he was caught out of state, violating probation, he was facing prison time. So why would he leave the state??

Starting to look like foul play to me.

My guess is a game of telephone. Daughter, I believe, is the one who filed the missing person report. She was essentially an orphan - neither parent in her life, and what she knows comes from his remaining family - and could just all be guesswork they made. His mother just recently died, believe it or not. As I understand it, things may have been strained between him and his parents. His daughter posted this: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/boards/topics.adoption.usa.adopthi/5

Another point, if you are looking for logic from people who commit illegal acts (more the felony shoplifting than the weed) you are looking in the wrong place. They often make bad choices. :/

 

[Teamir]

My guess is a game of telephone. Daughter, I believe, is the one who filed the missing person report. She was essentially an orphan - neither parent in her life, and what she knows comes from his remaining family - and could just all be guesswork they made. His mother just recently died, believe it or not. As I understand it, things may have been strained between him and his parents. His daughter posted this: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/boards/topics.adoption.usa.adopthi/5

Another point, if you are looking for logic from people who commit illegal acts (more the felony shoplifting than the weed) you are looking in the wrong place. They often make bad choices. :/

I’m always guilty of expecting logical or intelligent decisions from criminals - it’s an Achilles heel for me, for real. Very valid point that he may have left the state even if it was a bad decision.

I forgot that his daughter was looking for info on her grandfather. She has an aunt too on that side.

I also couldn’t track Howard’s roommate after she missed a trial date. I wonder if she is missing too but unreported.

 

[Keiri]

I’m always guilty of expecting logical or intelligent decisions from criminals - it’s an Achilles heel for me, for real. Very valid point that he may have left the state even if it was a bad decision.

I forgot that his daughter was looking for info on her grandfather. She has an aunt too on that side.

I also couldn’t track Howard’s roommate after she missed a trial date. I wonder if she is missing too but unreported.

She's aware of the dad's side of the family now, they are in touch and it's very good on that side. Just not dad. And yeah, that's a decent idea too. I can't find old court records, not sure why Duluth is reporting on Wisconsin court news?! Worth it for me to recheck my old cases there.

 

[Teamir]

She's aware of the dad's side of the family now, they are in touch and it's very good on that side. Just not dad. And yeah, that's a decent idea too. I can't find old court records, not sure why Duluth is reporting on Wisconsin court news?! Worth it for me to recheck my old cases there.

Superior's newspaper isn't on Newspapers dot com, but Duluth News Tribune is. Since they are so close to Superior (just over the bridge), alot of their news crosses over. Many people live on one side and work on the other side.

 

[Teamir]

I can see if I can pull this court file:

TAKENAKA, HOWARD S
Birth Year:
1957
83CR179
DOUGLAS

Are you able to locate the court file numbers for his roommate from 1983? Then maybe I can open records request. I'm trying to determine if she is alive and can be interviewed, or if she is also missing. I cannot locate a birthdate or confirm middle name that starts with A. Approximate year of birth 1963? Unsure.

5/6/1983 Duluth News Tribune, Cheryl A Carlson 20 and Howard S Takenaka, both of 22-A Catlin Courts, shoplifting, receiving stolen property, possession of marijuana.
6/29/1983 Duluth News Tribune, Cheryl A Carlson, 22-A Catlin Courts, shoplifting, sentenced to two years probation.
8/12/1983 Duluth News Tribune, Cheryl A Carlson, 20, of 22-A Catlin Courts, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to appear for trial, warrant issued.

 

[Keiri]

Are you able to locate the court file numbers for his roommate from 1983? Then maybe I can open records request. I'm trying to determine if she is alive and can be interviewed, or if she is also missing. I cannot locate a birthdate or confirm middle name that starts with A. Approximate year of birth 1963? Unsure.

5/6/1983 Duluth News Tribune, Cheryl A Carlson 20 and Howard S Takenaka, both of 22-A Catlin Courts, shoplifting, receiving stolen property, possession of marijuana.
6/29/1983 Duluth News Tribune, Cheryl A Carlson, 22-A Catlin Courts, shoplifting, sentenced to two years probation.
8/12/1983 Duluth News Tribune, Cheryl A Carlson, 20, of 22-A Catlin Courts, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to appear for trial, warrant issued.

I doubt it. All the old cases from the 80s and earlier were sent to the archives, which kept some of interest but the rest are gone. I found it out by researching where to find the files. Where did these crimes occur? Superior? Theres a chance reference to them are kept in the computers they have (but not ccap, I’m guessing)

 

[Keiri]

You may be able to request the documents without a case number. A date, case name and the cause of action might be enough. If the form page won’t let you, just email them. I don’t know about that county, but I’ve had Waukesha county go over and above to find things for me. It’s possible.