Identified! NV - Virginia City, WhtMale body in septic tank, Aug'13 - George Webster

CarlK90245

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This is very close to where a vehicle belonging to James Ezra Robinson and Nancy Lorraine Robinson was found abandoned.

robinson_james_ezra.jpg
robinson_nancy.jpg


http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/r/robinson_james_ezra.html
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/r/robinson_nancy.html

It isn't clear where on Hwy 50 the vehicle was found, but depending on the location, it could be as close as 7 miles from Virginia City.
 
This article seems to contradict the one Carl found.

http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/Human-Remains-Found-in-Septic-Tank.html

Carl's link states that the current residents have lived in the home for decades but are not suspects. This one says the residents are not suspects because the body predates their residence in the home.

Carl's link also states that the bones are estimated as "up to" 25 years old, but this one says the bones are 25 or more years old.

Hmm, which is it?

Also curious to me: Bone fragments and hair were found in the same septic tank in 1996, but were believed at the time to have belonged to an animal. However, according to this news piece, those 1996 fragments are consistent with the body. What does that mean? Was DNA compared, or is the hair just the same color? If it's a DNA comparison, why weren't the '96 remains tested back then?
 
Since the age of the remains is unclear, I took a moment to review Nevada MPs on Doe Network. I made a list of MPs who went missing relatively close to the Storey County area, and went missing before 1996, when remains were first found in the tank. Carl suggested the Robinsons earlier today so I won't make a redundant suggestion.
News articles are also reporting that the remains are likely those of an adult due to size, so I removed children from the list as well, although 2 of these MPs (Butler and Dixon) are very short, so they seem unlikely, but I included them for good measure.

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/951dfnv.html (Sandra Kaye Butler)

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/2836dfnv.html (Nan Cecile Dixon)

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/243dmnv.html (Leo Mispagel)

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1249dmnv.html (Glenn Carroll)

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/3055dfnv.html (Jill Beaty)

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/943dfnv.html (Shantelle Hudson)

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1591dfnv.html (Stefanie Kelly Stroh)

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1393dfnv.html (Mary Elizabeth Carter)

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1363dfnv.html (Victoria Ann Shoupe)
 
Virginia City was a gold rush boomtown in the late 1800's so it is possible that the bones date back to that era.
 
Virginia City was a gold rush boomtown in the late 1800's so it is possible that the bones date back to that era.

That's true, Virginia City is a very old town. But if this UID was found in a septic tank, how old could he/she be? I don't know anything about septic systems; do they last a long time? When were they invented?
 
That's true, Virginia City is a very old town. But if this UID was found in a septic tank, how old could he/she be? I don't know anything about septic systems; do they last a long time? When were they invented?

Septic tanks are just deep holes in the ground. They were what all homes had before sewer lines were installed in cities.
 
Some septic tanks are actual tanks that are buried deep in the ground. My boss had to dig his up and replace it because of problems. I wonder how old the house is. Hat would give some indication how long the septic tank was there.
 
This article seems to contradict the one Carl found.

http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/Human-Remains-Found-in-Septic-Tank.html

Carl's link states that the current residents have lived in the home for decades but are not suspects. This one says the residents are not suspects because the body predates their residence in the home.

Carl's link also states that the bones are estimated as "up to" 25 years old, but this one says the bones are 25 or more years old.

Hmm, which is it?

Also curious to me: Bone fragments and hair were found in the same septic tank in 1996, but were believed at the time to have belonged to an animal. However, according to this news piece, those 1996 fragments are consistent with the body. What does that mean? Was DNA compared, or is the hair just the same color? If it's a DNA comparison, why weren't the '96 remains tested back then?

Probably because in 1996, DNA profiling was still quite expensive and often didn't work with degraded samples such as those found in old bones. They probably had the bones examined by a forensic pathologist or anthropologist to decide they weren't human.

For that matter, DNA testing still doesn't always work in old bones, despite much improved techniques.
 
This one is right up my alley! VC is one of my fave places in the world and I have read a lot of history books about it. BTW, it was actually a booming silver mining town, not gold. :)

I can't think of any missing miner stories. But that doesn't mean there weren't any. It was a rough town in it's hey day. And VC has been active since it began. Did y'all know Mark Twain lived there for a time?
 
Septic tanks are just deep holes in the ground. They were what all homes had before sewer lines were installed in cities.

Here's a pretty good article about septic systems: Septic tank - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It includes both horizontal and vertical tanks. Note that the opening on top, intended to provide access for pumping and cleaning, is generally large enough to stuff a person through.
 
None of the links give the address? If any did, I missed it. I have a map around here somewhere that maps many of the old residences.
 
None of the links give the address? If any did, I missed it. I have a map around here somewhere that maps many of the old residences.

It sounds like they're keeping it under wraps to protect the people's privacy.

Reading between the lines, I thought it sounded kind of like they might have an idea who it might be. Like maybe an old unsolved crime that fit the timeframe or something.
 
According to this article:

http://virginiacitynews.com/human-r...c-in-virginia-city-highlands-home-p5480-1.htm

Back in 1996, when the homeowners found remains the first time, the notified the Storey County Sheriff, who took them to a local doctor. It was the doctor who misidentified them as animal remains.

The current Storey Cty sheriff has sent the remains to Washoe Cty ME for forensic testing and a possible reconstruction. Sex and race are still unknown.

Looks like they are investigating thoroughly, so they are probably stumped at the moment.

I just checked Namus, the case is not listed there, but the folks at Washoe County seem to use it very proactively, hopefully they will list it or suggest the site to the investigator.
 
FWIW...in our area, the septic tank information is on file with our county. Information includes where on the property it is located and sometimes the type, size, etc. and now you have to have it inspected and pumped (within a certain time frame) before you can sell your home. Mine is not buried all that deep at all, I used a short rod to locate it when it was scheduled for inspection and pumping. So, maybe if the address is available, the county records in that area may have information like installation date, etc.
not much help, I know :/
 
This person is now in NamUs --
https://identifyus.org/en/cases/11732

He is believed to be a white male about 5'7" tall between the ages of 30 and 60 with reddish brown hair. The segment on NamUs about his clothing and accessories is interesting -- he was wearing --

Red/green cloth-like fabric, Grey denim jeans, underwear, size 42, Dark colored laced work boots, Dark colored belt

Jewelry --
Medallion "American Mountain Men", belt buckle "I will give up my gun when they pry my cold dead fingers from around it!", brown cloth necklace

Also, a screwdriver and small cylinder shaped object were found with the body.
 
The screwdriver makes me wonder if someone was working on it and just fell in without anyone being aware of it. Horrible way to die, but loads better than an undetected murder victim being hidden away for so long.
 
Here is the American Mountain Men site...looks like they have an exhibit in loan...wonder if it has old photos or a record of the old membership lists from Nevada if there would be any such thing. I found another chapter page in rural NY that was started in 1968 I think...not sure how much further back the group dates, but he may have been among its early/founding members if the remains are that old.

http://user.xmission.com/~drudy/amm/
 
A Google image search for "I will give up my gun buckle" reveals several different designs and slightly different wording for the gun-rights slogan.

The only one I could find with the exact phrase, "I wiil give up my gun when they pry my cold dead fingers from around it!" including the exclamation point was this one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Belt-Buckle-Vintage-1977-I-give-up-MY-GUN-you-pry-from-9-/131033980942

The seller of the item also posted a photo of the copyright and manufacturer's name on the reverse side of the buckle, showing that it was made by Indiana Metal Craft in 1977. So if this is the same buckle, perhaps 1977 is the earliest this UID could have been killed?

The company is still in business: http://www.indianametalcraft.com/
 

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