AZ AZ - Flagstaff, WhtMale UP9964, 15-18, in mortuary garage, May'01

Donjeta

Adji Desir, missing from Florida
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This case is kind of unusual.

Nobody knows where the skeleton came from.

What is known is that the skeleton was discovered in a casket packing crate in the attic of the former Flagstaff Mortuary on Oak Street in May 2001. A new funeral director was cleaning the attic and came across the crate.

The medical examiner's office had operated out of the mortuary for a period of time in the 1970s. An invoice with the crate was addressed to the T.J. Ruffner Mortuary and dated Aug. 9, 1965.

With the skeleton were a pair of gray plaid pants, a yellow plaid short-sleeve shirt and blue tennis shoes. At the time, despite attempts, no identification of the remains was made.
http://azdailysun.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/article_59f913a2-3a1f-5465-a3e2-2c778b355182.html

https://identifyus.org/en/cases/9964

I guess this might not be a missing person as such, if it's just some kind of massive bureaucracy screw-up with the paperwork that should have accompanied him to the mortuary, so I don't really know where to start looking. But maybe someone remembers a young man who died in 1965 or so and his family never got to bury him?
 
I'm going to make sure Raine1212 sees this thread. She is our Unclaimed mod and might be able to shed some insight on how we can identify this man.
 
Does anybody have access to newspaper archives in the area?

There could be an obituary for him somewhere in the early August editions.

I suppose someone could have got the clever idea to hide a tree in the forest and a body in a mortuary. Or else it was an empty crate when it was put in the attic and the body was placed there later.

What's the timing of the Donnis Redman and Michael Griffin case?
When Moran wanted to know of any possible leads in the case, Rucker said that there is one possibility. A young couple, Michael Griffin and Donnos "Pinky" Redman, were last seen in San Pedro, Calif., in the 1960s before they eloped. Their vehicle was found abandoned in Williams. Skeletal remains found in the area, belonging to a female, also had a cosmetic case with the initials "PR" nearby.

Coconino County Sheriff's Office cold case detectives are looking into whether the remains found at the scene belong to Redman. She had died as a result of homicide, Rucker said.

Given the approximate time the bones landed at Flagstaff Mortuary, Rucker said chances are good the skeleton might belong to Griffin.

Everything I've found has them disappearing in 1958, not in the 1960's.
https://www.findthemissing.org/en/cases/11219/0/
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/r/redman_donnis.html
http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/2409dfca.html
http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/4633dmca.html

Anyway, the UID has both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA in the system now and Michael Griffin has DNA available so they've presumably been able to compare and I'll assume it wasn't a match.
 
Namus report

Case Report - NamUs UP # 9964

Case Information

StatusUnidentifiedCase number01-162Date foundMay 22, 2001 00:00Date createdMarch 02, 2012 14:06Date last modifiedAugust 10, 2012 14:29Date QA reviewedMarch 03, 2012 06:01

Local Contact (ME/C or Other)

AgencyCoconino Cnty Med Examiners OfcPhone928-679-8775
Case Manager

NameAmy KellyPhone928.679.8775


Demographics

Estimated ageAdolescentMinimum age15 yearsMaximum age18 yearsRaceWhiteEthnicitySexMaleWeight (pounds), Cannot Estimate Height (inches), Cannot Estimate
Body Parts Inventory (Check all that apply)

All parts recoveredHead not recoveredTorso not recoveredOne or more limbs not recoveredOne or both hands not recoveredNotes on body parts recovered
Body conditionsNot recognizable - Near complete or complete skeleton
Probable year of deathto Estimated postmortem interval


Circumstances

Location Found

GPS coordinatesAddress 1302 W. Oak Ave.Address 2CityFlagstaffStateArizonaZip codeCountyCoconino
Circumstances of deathskeletal remains found at the Flagstaff Mortuary in the garage



Physical

Hair colorBrownHead hair4 inches in length
Body hair
Facial hair
Left eye colorUnknown or MissingRight eye colorUnknown or MissingEye description
No other distinctive body featuresDistinctive features as described belowAmputations
Deformities
Scars and marks
Tattoos
Piercings
Artificial body parts
and aids
Finger and toe nails
Other distinctive
physical characteristics

Medical

Medical implants
Foreign objects
Skeletal findingsthe metopic suture is persistent. there are bilateral inclusion bones in the lambdoidal suture.
Organ absent
Prior surgery
Other medical
information



Fingerprints

Fingerprint information is currently not available (Explain in comments box below)Fingerprint information is available elsewhere (Explain below)Fingerprint information below
RTLT
Commentsskeletal remains



Clothing and Accessories

No clothing or accessoriesClothing and accessories are described belowClothing on body
Clothing with body
Footwear
Jewelry
Eyewear
Other items found
with body



Dental

Dental information / charting is currently not available (Explain in comments box below)Dental information / charting is available and will be entered later (Explain below)Dental information / charting is below
X-Rays available
Models available
Photographs available
One or more teeth presentBaby/primary teeth presentFilling or crown presentRemovable denturesCemented bridge
ImplantsBracesRetainerRoot canal
Upper jaw presentUpper jaw had no teeth during lifeLower jaw presentLower jaw had no teeth during life
Upper Right12345678910111213141516Upper LeftNIPNPNNNPPNNNNNPNILower RightNINNPNONNPPNNNPNNNILower Left32313029282726252423222120191817
  • N
    =
    Natural tooth, no filling
  • F
    =
    Filling, inlay, onlay, or veneer
  • C
    =
    Crown or cap
  • B
    =
    Bridge work
  • R
    =
    Root canal
  • A
    =
    Antemortem loss (healed socket)
  • P
    =
    Postmortem loss (open socket)
  • I
    =
    Impacted
  • O
    =
    Other features (describe in dental comments)
CommentsDental postmortem digital radiographs and intra-oral photographs displayed in Images section. Four third molars present and Impacted. No dental restorations present on remaining teeth. Tooth #28 fractured. NCMEC reference case # TA-1126872. UP NCIC Dental report completed. Dr. Filippi 8/10/2012



DNA

Sample is currently not available (Explain in comments box below)Sample available - Not yet submittedSamples submitted - Tests not completeComplete - Insufficient DNA for profilingComplete and entered belowType mtDNA nucDNA Y-STR LocationUniversity of North TexasDescribe locationReference #12-0801Lab ORICommentsfull STR and mtDNA profiles at national CODIS
 
Need to search newspaper archives in 1970, Flagstaff AZ
 
I will look for an obit on Griffin, I hope they have already explored that ave.
 
.Donnis June Redman
Donnis Marie Redman
79
green_check_26x25.gif
green_check_26x25.gif
Mayville, MI
Lansing, MI
Elizabethtown, KY
Allen Redman
Shirley Redman
Tina Redman
Harry Redman
http://www.ussearch.com/consumer/al...risdiction=MI&searchCity=Mayville&firstAge=79

2.Donnis J Redman
59
green_check_26x25.gif
green_check_26x25.gif
Mayville, MI
Lansing, MI
Harry Redman
Lucille Redman

one more
 
Missing

Last known alive: March 01, 1958

Circumstances: Last seen accompanying boyfriend in Las Vegas, NV, boyfriend's car was found in Williams, AZ.
Boyfriend Michael James Griffin, age 18, still missing
First Name: Donnis Marie
Middle Name: Marie
Last Name: Redman

Notice name of Michael here not Michael Lawrence

http://www.missingin.org/reg1125/donnis_marie_redman.htm
 
I agree. As soon as I have some time this weekend I want to get into investigating this . . .

With the teeth, I'm thinking was this a disabled person left in a facility and no one ever actually claimed the body, after they said they would?

Very strange.

Sounds like a late night for raine and I soon! We gotta lots of catch up to do!
 
I agree. As soon as I have some time this weekend I want to get into investigating this . . .

With the teeth, I'm thinking was this a disabled person left in a facility and no one ever actually claimed the body, after they said they would?

Very strange.

Sounds like a late night for raine and I soon! We gotta lots of catch up to do!



Late night at anytime, yes we have lots to get done. I will get my coffee and or wine ready, you get your salty dog...lol
 
I agree. As soon as I have some time this weekend I want to get into investigating this . . .

With the teeth, I'm thinking was this a disabled person left in a facility and no one ever actually claimed the body, after they said they would?

Very strange.

Sounds like a late night for raine and I soon! We gotta lots of catch up to do!

It would be a reasonable explanation but I don't follow the teeth aspect. What about the teeth specifically makes you think he was disabled?

The main thing I notice about the teeth is that if MG had teeth removed this is not Michael Griffin. "Teeth had been straightened through orthodontia. Two or more teeth may have been removed to aid in alignment."
 
I read where he had no teeth in his (the skeleton's) upper jaw. Sometimes those with a disability self-injure by biting themselves and their teeth are removed to keep them from injuring themselves.
 
http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1675dmca.html


Peter Joseph Bonick
Missing since February 22, 1970 from San Mateo, San Mateo County, California
Classification: Endangered Missing


Vital Statistics


  • Date Of Birth: February 6, 1953
  • Age at Time of Disappearance: 17 years old
  • Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 6'0"; 175 lbs.
  • Distinguishing Characteristics: White male. Sandy hair; blue eyes. One shoulder blade is larger and/or higher than the other shoulder blade due to Idiopathic Scoliosis.
  • Dentals: Available. Chipped upper front tooth.
  • Fingerprints: Available
  • AKA: Pete
BBM and color change by me
 

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