To the Websleuthing community:
I wish to say thank you all for reading on this case. I hope that most people have been informed in general on this case; however I have both discouraging and ENCOURAGING news to share:
First the discouraging: It was brought to my attention that when we first began the initial investigation, a retired deputy sheriff had come forward with some "new" information, that included the slicing of tattoos and the dismemberment of genitals. I have discovered that this is false, as another investigator has come forward and has confirmed that the body was in a clean, but messy condition, with the only marks coming from dismemberment and the drag marks. As the former deputy has told the truth on where he was and being one of the first guys on the scene; his story on the condition of the body can not be feasible. Unfortunately, the 20-25 posts or so we made on this story alone was just a waste of time.
HOWEVER, I do have some great news that may move things forward in the right direction. An investigator who worked on the 1978 John Doe in Lake City (See Websleuth Thread
FL FL - Lake City - WhtMale (NamUs UP 6246) - 35-50, Buried Between Pine Trees - Nov'78) ) and did some research on this case has come forward. He wishes to also remain anonymous. He was one of the investigators with the Sheriffs Office at the time the torso was discovered. He recalls that the torso was lying on its side, as if it would have almost been face down. There were no tattoos, nor any abrasions on the body other than the dismemberment marks and some lacerations near the genitals; as if the perp DID want to cut them off. The body still had fresh blood so that they could take some samples for DNA extraction and toxicology testing. As mentioned before, the only thing found in the blood system was over the counter cold medicine.
On most face sheet information of the John Doe, it has been listed as sandy blond; however, it has been noted by this investigator that there was still a good bit of hair attached at the neck to run some test on it. Apparently, the John Doe was a natural brown haired male, who frequently dyed his hair sandy blond or blondish; another bit of information the Sheriffs Office refused to release.
AND HERE COMES THE BIG NEWS: Investigators found some skid marks on the pavement that afternoon, while combing through the area for clues. Apparently fresh, the treads were measured for a possible vehicle match. The only other vehicles at the scene that day before the discovery was Ms. Hunt's and a few other sedan styled vehicles. When the results came in, the tire treads matched that of a
Chevy Camaro or a Pontiac Trans Am Firebird model. This immediately knocks out the van theory from earlier in this thread. We now can confirm that the dismemberment DID occur in either a hotel or a home in Lake City or within a 5-6 hour proximity from Lake City.
Finally, we also were updated with the location of the body, as well as the location of the bones from the 1978 John Doe (which I will post on the 1978 Doe Thread). The body was never given a burial at an unmarked grave; instead it is in a cold storage at the Duval County Medical Examiners Office in Jacksonville, FL, pending identification. As for the bones, they are boxed up in the Columbia County Sheriffs Office Evidence Locker.
So...how do we go from here? I can use everyone's help RIGHT NOW! Thank you!
Jason
