Resolved WV - Harpers Ferry, Appal'n Trl, UnkSexAgeRace, UP75513, male clothes, Saint Mary nklce, Apr'20 - NamUs removed

[gogrannypop]

Welcome, Umlaut!! Glad you joined us!

 

[Umlaut]

Great to be here. I was following this story since it made the news and noticed that more evidence was found AND the case was turned over to the FBI-ViCAP. But then, no updates.

A few questions:

- is this standard procedure that the FBI gets involved with unclaimed human remains?

- or did evidence suggest the person was a victim of a violent crime and that's why the FBI is involved?

- any working theories?

 

[proctorelites]

In my understanding the fbi gets involved if they're invited by local law enfrocement (fir the resources). Violent crimes or crimes in a park (on federal land) or a crime was committed that invooved crossing more than 1 state/state lines. That is my understanding- and it os very limited lol

 

[Umlaut]

My theory and I’m coming from a fashion-trend perspective...

this a Catholic adult male, not a teenager - who has been missing since 1979-1980, based upon clothes and evidence found.
The ski jacket, Pumas and “striped sock” (that I know as tube socks) were pretty much the standard clothes that a young guy of that specific time wore to school, for example.

The Montgomery Ward dress shirt and Miraculous Medal are telling and skews older. I think this is an older male who borrowed or had access to a teen’s wardrobe. It’s as if the jacket and shoes were newer and “in” but the dress shirt wasn’t.

No mention of pants. I imagine that denim jeans would have remained (?) but a lighter cotton (what we’d now call khakis) might not have? A man who’d wear an 10 year old Montgomery Ward “dress shirt” would likely have paired it with similarly-aged cotton pants. The Miraculous Medal is/was an older Catholic thing...again not common for a teen to wear in the late 70s...someone who was a teen in the 1950s? Yes.

Shoes are a size 10. Can’t find a picture of the Pumas but I recall theses were described as high tops. Quick research shows Puma high tops weren’t super common and were introduced in the late 70s. Probably expensive? Someone who wore a MW shirt wasn’t buying himself new trendy Pumas high tops.

Another site shows a very similar jacket for sale (just different colors) on EBay and the tag shows Chess King brand.

 

[Umlaut]

Ebay listing has expired but grabbed photo

 

[Umlaut]

Side by side comparison: E-bay vs. evidence

 

[CCJD]

View attachment 266750 View attachment 266751
Side by side comparison: E-bay vs. evidence

Link to the E-bay listing please.

 

[Umlaut]

Pinterest

Sold by The Thrifty Manatee

 

[Umlaut]

Sorry for junking this place up...I’m new at all of this...
The Nifty Thrifty Manatee


ebay.us
Vintage Mens Lg CHESS KING Puffer Coat Down Filled Blue Off-White Stripe 70s 80s #OFFWhite #PufferJacket

 

[CCJD]

Sorry for junking this place up...I’m new at all of this...
The Nifty Thrifty Manatee


ebay.us
Vintage Mens Lg CHESS KING Puffer Coat Down Filled Blue Off-White Stripe 70s 80s #OFFWhite #PufferJacket

I remember Chess King ('cause I'm old and born and bred in RI) Not to say an older man couldn't be wearing the jacket but the chain targeted young men.

The first Chess King branch opened in the Dedham Mall in Dedham, Massachusetts (just outside Boston), in March 1968. In 1970, The New York Times described the store's concept as "teen-male apparel dress shops whose stores are highly identifiable, with bold coloring and designs aimed at appealing to the 12-to-20 male market." Five additional locations were opened in 1968, and 21 more in 1969. By late 1972, it had already grown to about 150 locations. By 1978, it had 300 locations. And by 1984, it had grown to over 500 stores.
Chess King - Wikipedia

 

[Umlaut]

I also remember Chess King and that it was a young men’s store. This leads into my idea that the Montgomery Ward dress shirt plus the Miraculous medal both skew older. The man owned and wore the jewelry and the shirt but all else was maybe borrowed from a younger/teenage boy. Maybe he grabbed his younger brother’s clothes?

 

[CCJD]

I also remember Chess King and that it was a young men’s store. This leads into my idea that the Montgomery Ward dress shirt plus the Miraculous medal both skew older. The man owned and wore the jewelry and the shirt but all else was maybe borrowed from a younger/teenage boy. Maybe he grabbed his younger brother’s clothes?

Or a younger person who may have attended a Catholic school (or college) where dress shirts were required.

As I recall, the wearing of Catholic jewelry wasn't rare in young Catholics who were active in church (myself included) or attended Catholic schools. Just as an example, when Sandy Stiver's remains were found, she was wearing a medal that said "I am a Catholic. In case of emergency, call me a priest." She was 14.
PA - PA - Martha, 17, & Sandra Stiver, 14, Philadelphia, 1968

 

[Umlaut]

So the crucifix was found at a second, more through search? Reading through this thread the cross or crucifix is described as being large. Too large to wear as a necklace? Could this have been in a pocket?

 

[branmuffin]

The crucifix in each picture looks very similar to me, too.

I read a bit about Tom's case and it sounds very sad to me - losing his job, something he clearly very much loved.

It's interesting that in the article it made mention that his termination wasn't a criminal matter. What does that mean?

 

[branmuffin]

Do you mean Tom Duesterhaus's vs. UIDs? They look similar to me but that's just a casual glance on mobile so I probably missed something.

Side note about the jewelry: IMO these remains have probably been out there for many years. The remains are skeletal and scattered and the clothing degraded, but the state of the jewelry stands out to me. I would be surprised if the PMI is less than 5 years and I don't think this is Aigeltinger.

Gold is the only non-reactive metal in the elements so it's likely the jewelry is either silver or other metals.

 

[branmuffin]

Obvious this crucifix is much bigger than the one Duesterhaus wore.

Has there been any reports of missing priests in that area within the past, I don't know, maybe 5 to 10 years?

I think it more likely a lay person wore such a big crucifix. It would be nice to know what metal it is.

 

[branmuffin]

Sorry for junking this place up...I’m new at all of this...
The Nifty Thrifty Manatee


ebay.us
Vintage Mens Lg CHESS KING Puffer Coat Down Filled Blue Off-White Stripe 70s 80s #OFFWhite #PufferJacket

If this is a down filled jacket, I wonder how long it would take for the feathers to degrade?

 

[JerseyGirl]

I remember Chess King ('cause I'm old and born and bred in RI) Not to say an older man couldn't be wearing the jacket but the chain targeted young men.

The first Chess King branch opened in the Dedham Mall in Dedham, Massachusetts (just outside Boston), in March 1968. In 1970, The New York Times described the store's concept as "teen-male apparel dress shops whose stores are highly identifiable, with bold coloring and designs aimed at appealing to the 12-to-20 male market." Five additional locations were opened in 1968, and 21 more in 1969. By late 1972, it had already grown to about 150 locations. By 1978, it had 300 locations. And by 1984, it had grown to over 500 stores.
Chess King - Wikipedia

I remember Chess King stores in the late 70s and early 80s in our area malls.

Chess King was a young men's shop dating back to the 1960s. Its founder figured boys liked chess and racing, and came up with Chess King.

In the 1980s, this became the depot for those fashion plates hoping to emulate Jon Cryer in Pretty in Pink. It died off in 1995.

13 bygone mall stores we want to shop at again

 

[Umlaut]

It's interesting that in the article it made mention that his termination wasn't a criminal matter. What does that mean?

I took this mean that Duesterhaus wasn’t fired while under criminal investigation for inappropriate contact with a minor, for instance.
He could have lost his job for budgetary or personnel-related issues.

 

[Filly]

Thanks, @inmyhumbleopinion! Awesome information, BTW! And I agree, @MaryG12. I don't think this is Duesterhaus, but you never know...

My fascination with the St. Mary's necklace took me down a slight rabbit hole. I ended up finding out it's called the Miraculous Medal. See background information here: The Meaning of the Miraculous Medal

Additionally, I took a screenshot of the medal and pulled it up in photoshop to try and lighten it up a bit (see photo). Something interesting to me is that Mary has no face. Quick Google searches of the medal all showed a rendition of the medal with a face. Depending on the age of the medal, and it being subjected to the weather/outside environment over the years, it could have definitely worn off. But I find this unlikely since other parts of the medal are still so detailed. I'm curious about what other think on this.

Perhaps I'm deep diving into something that has little substance in the grand scheme of things, but I still think there is more to see here...

Greetings, and welcome RubbleWoman. I've not much knowledge of this case, but thought I could help you with The Miraculous Medal.

Good photoshop BTW. Indeed Our Lady always has a face on the Miraculous Medal. As Catholics it is an extremely important medal for us. They say if you die with it on you will go to heaven. Mt are actually silver plated. Even very devout Catholics who wear good gold jewelry may wear a cheapy Miraculous Medal smewhere on their body.

To confuse you more it is actually a medal of the Immaculate Conception. Also important it has two significant sides with symbolism. In short you have Our Lady on the front stepping on the serpent (evil), and she is standing on the world. The back has stars which indicate different things depending who taught you. I see them as twelve apostles and the big "M" stands for Mary.

Now to answer your question. LOL I truly don't believe Our Lady's face was removed. Again you can get them very cheap and personally myself and others I know have replced them because they corrode and wear down. So I don't think it is sinister.

As for cross/crucifix. A cross does not have Jesus hanging on it. A crucifix does. And that one is huge like possibly a Priest for Mass may wear if even that?

Sorry so long wided. I was taught by the good Sister's Of Saint Joseph ad have a great devotion to Our Lady.

Great sleuthing BTW. All good things to you.