MI MI - John Davis Harris, 30, Ypsilanti, Sept 12, 1973

[Murkywaters]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

John Davis Harris escaped from a mental health facility. He is considered dangerous.

 

[Murkywaters]

Demographics
Missing Age: 30 Years
Current Age: 77 Years
First Name: John
Middle Name: Davis
Last Name: Harris
Nickname/Alias: Chester Russell, Jack Griffin
Sex: Male
Height: 6' 3" (75 Inches)
Weight: 184 lbs
Race / Ethnicity: Black / African American

Circumstances
Date of Last Contact: September 12, 1973
NamUs Case Created: September 19, 2013
Last Known Location Map
Location: Ypsilanti, Michigan
County: Washtenaw County
Circumstances of Disappearance: John Davis Harris escaped from a mental health facility. He is considered dangerous.

Circumstance Notes
Brighton Post case now-Prior MSP Ypsilanti Case

Physical Description
Hair Color: Black
Left Eye Color: Brown
Right Eye Color: Brown

Distinctive Physical Features
Amputation: Per CCH-Missing right fingers Fingerprint Classification shows three missing fingers (Thumb, index and middle)

Clothing and Accessories
No Information Entered

 

[Savemecastiel]

Bumping

 

[Boredathome]

I wonder if these might be John's missing fingers? The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[Murkywaters]

I wonder if these might be John's missing fingers? The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Wow, that's a really interesting discovery, I think you should forward this to law enforcement.

 

[Aurora90]

It says he's missing three fingers on RIGHT hand. They found fingers from a LEFT hand.

I wonder if they match the black male found over a month later who was missing his three fingers on his LEFT hand? Link is below.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[Aurora90]

John Doe was found in 2004. Black male, 40-60 years old. Missing the correct fingers on the right and some additional fingers on the left hand. (Maybe to throw law enforcement off) Height also matches.

Interesting thing of note: he refused to give his name when he was hospitalized until his death 2 months later.

I have submitted this tip.

 

[Aurora90]

I have had no luck finding any sort of record on this missing dangerous man. Has anyone else had any luck?

 

[Aurora90]

Bump.

Has anyone been able to find any newsclippings or articles regarding this reportedly dangerous man?

 

[Aurora90]

Bumping

 

[Aurora90]

bump

 

[Richard]

Odd that there is so little information and no photographs of this supposedly dangerous man. But it should be remembered that by the early 1970's the laws changed in Michigan and many of the "criminally insane" persons who had committed serious crimes and were committed to Mental Hospitals were simply released.

This was true in the separate cases of two men who had murdered women during the "Michigan Co-Ed Murders" of the late 1960's. The murders that each had committed were initially considered to be connected to the Co-Ed series, but soon were solved and each killer arrested. One had stabbed his wife to death and the other, Ernest Bishop (a recently released convict) had murdered a University of Michigan graduate student.

Rather than convict them of murder and sentence them to life in prison, each was sent to a Mental Hospital for what traditionally meant an indefinite stay. When the law changed, they were immediately released and out free. Neither was ever tried for the murders they had committed.

In light of all the releases of criminally insane persons, it is possible that when John Davis Harris escaped, the authorities may have looked for him but not with much zeal.

 

[cheemsg]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Possibly this skeleton jD found in a ditch in 1982.

 

[HopeRains]

I have had no luck finding any sort of record on this missing dangerous man. Has anyone else had any luck?

nope

 

[victoriarobinson642]

No luck on my end either. There are a few John Harrises in local yearbooks and the 1950 census but I'm not sure it's the same person.

 

[Nate_Bro]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov