Australia AUS - VIC, WhtMale 20s-30s, 4008UMVIC, found hanging in Dandenong Ranges National Park w/purple scarf, Mar'06

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Ferny Creek John Doe (2006)
a.k.a Purple Scarf Doe
4008UMVIC (DN)

Reconstruction (left), pants brand (middle), sock cap brand (right).​

Circumstances
He was found by Anthony Nimbs, a ranger at Parks Victoria. He was surveying the area for space for a fuel-reduction burn, near the intersection of Mount Erin Road and Janesdall Avenue, Ferny Creek. Nimbs found a rope hanging from a tree, where he then discovered a human skull on the floor. The decedent was found hanging from a noose on a tree. (per DN).

According to the coroner's report for the John Doe, the death is estimated to have occurred between February 1999 and the year 2000. Additionally, a pair of handcuffs and a bottle of "packaged water" were found within the vicinity of the skull, and the noose had duct tape wrapped around it. Investigators theorized the Doe wore handcuffs to prevent himself from stopping the probable suicide attempt. Investigators were unable to obtain fingerprints from the handcuffs. When reading the report myself, I was unable to ascertain if the remaining body was still hanging from the noose somehow, or if the body had fallen to the ground below the rope. Interestingly, the recreation displays a sock cap or beanie, and there is a photo of the cap's brand on Doe Network, but it is not mentioned directly.

The coroner stated that while there is evidence highly suggesting suicide, they are unable to definitively say for sure due to the lack of a full post-mortem examination (as he was skeletonized).

The report states that the Victoria Missing Persons Unit was unable to match the decedent to any missing persons cases.

Spoiler: INFORMATION

Case Numbers:

• Doe Network: 4008UMVIC
• NamUs: N/A
• ME/C:

Overview:

• Location: Ferny Creek, Victoria, Australia.
  • Dandenong Ranges National Park
• Date Body Found: March 18, 2006.
• Doe Network Created: April 10, 2024.
• Tribal Land: NO
• PMI: 7 years (Nov 1999 - 2000) est.
• State of Remains: SKELETONIZED
• Cause of Death: SUICIDE (debated)

Physical:

• Sex: Male
• Race/Ethnicity: White/Caucasian
• Age: Adult, 20s-30s
• Height: 167 to 180 cm (5'6' - 5'11")
• Weight: UNKNOWN
• Hair: UNKNOWN
• Eye: UNKNOWN

Identifiers:

• Dentals: UNKNOWN
• DNA: Available
• Prints: N/A
• Marks / Features: N/A

Personal Affects:

• Clothing:
  • faded purple scarf
  • "Country Road" branded pants
  • Shoes (sandals)
  • Sock cap
  • found with socks on
• Jewelry: NONE
• Add'l Items:
  • handcuffs
  • bottle of "packaged water"

Links
Doe Network: 4008UMVIC (Archive)
Daily Mail Article 2022 (Archive)
AFP Profile (gives different est. death date)
Victoria Corner's Court Report
The Age Article (2018)