KS KS - Garnett, WhtMale 17-20, UP2344, Buffalo Nickel Belt Buckle, Blue Jeans W/Stop Sign Patch on Pocket, VOMPER Hiking Boots, Clothes, Jewelry, Apr'73

[zinc]

NamUs UP # 2344
https://identifyus.org/cases/2344

The Doe Network: Case File 1088UMKS
http://doenetwork.org/cases/1088umks.html

Reconstruction of victim by Harvey Pratt
(please visit Doe Network page for several more reconstruction images)

Unidentified White Male
The victim was discovered on April 18, 1973 in Anderson County, Kansas

Vital Statistics
Estimated age: 17-20 years old
Approximate Height and Weight: 5'8-5'10"; 145-150 lbs.
Distinguishing Characteristics: Brown wavy, below the ear length hair.
Clothing: Clothing that was indicative of a hippie, flowered pants.
Jewelry: Necklace with large cross and a ring
Other: Left hand missing post mortem
Fingerprints: Available
Dentals: Available, baby teeth on the bottom.
DNA: Available in CODIS.

Case History
The victim was located in a wooded area three miles southeast of Garnett, Kansas in rural Anderson County, April 18, 1973.
The landowner found the skeleton in a small waterway. No ID was found.
Authorities believe the victim may have been a hitchhiker.

Victim's personal effects

[snip]

Agency Case Number: 09-22941
NCIC Number: U-183072533
Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.

 

[zinc]

Lawrence Journal-World: Youth’s body found on farm (April 19, 1973)
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/1973/apr/19/youths-body-found-farm/

[Solander] said there was some indication of a skull fracture on the body but not to an extent that it could be definitely described as the cause of death.

Solander said no gunshot wound was observed on the body.

The investigation there is now concentrating on determining the identity of the youth, Solander said.

He is described as white, about 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall and 150 pounds, with brown wavy hair about five inches long.

He was wearing a waist-length, brown corduroy coat and a green long-sleeved shirt with blue jeans with an octagonal “stop sign” patch sewed on the left rear pocket. He had on waffle-stomper boots and a navy blue stocking cap.

He was wearing three rings, one with the numeral 78 on it, and two with crosses on them. He also wore a silver chain with cross around his neck.

The man also wore a black belt with a two-inch silver buckle resembling a buffalo nickel, authorities said.

The description issued by investigators also reports the man’s two lower front teeth are baby teeth.

Lawrence Journal-World: Forty years, three murders and no answers in Franklin County cold case (April 1, 2013)
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2013/apr/01/forty-years-three-murders-and-no-answers-franklin-/

Other body: An odd coincidence?

Just three weeks after the murders of Gary Longfellow and Steve and Hazel Avery, police found the unidentified body of a young man in a wooded area in Anderson County, which is several miles south of the site of the Avery/Longfellow murder.

More on the Franklin County triple homicide and nearby unidentified Anderson County male:
KS KS - Ottawa, Franklin County/U.S. 59 triple homicide, Avery/Longfellow, 28 March 1973 - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community

 

[zinc]

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: Joseph Spears
http://www.missingkids.com/poster/NCMC/1219196/1

Joseph Spears: NamUs MP # 20957
https://www.findthemissing.org/cases/20957

The Charley Project: Joseph Norman Spears
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/s/spears_joseph.html

Missing Since: July 30, 1973 from Gulfport, Mississippi
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date of Birth: May 5, 1956
Age: 17 years old
Height and Weight: 5'7 - 5'8, 150 - 180 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian male. Brown hair, blue eyes. Joseph's nickname is Joey. His hair was shoulder-length and he had a thin mustache at the time of his disappearance.

Details of Disappearance
Joseph was last seen in Gulfport, Mississippi on July 30, 1973. He has never been heard from again. Few details are available in his case.

Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Harrison County Sheriff's Office
228-865-7060

 

[AstroKitty]

Zinc, you should call this in.

 

[zinc]

Additionally found posted on another website that I won't link as it contains a relative's name:

He was last seen in Mississippi about 1973. Please contact us. Your family loves you and we miss you more each yr.. Anyone nowing Joseph see that he gets this message. He maybe living in Miss, La., or Tex.

It's possible Mr. Spears may not have been officially reported missing until recently. The available information on him is all from 2013. At very least, I get the sense that his date of last contact is uncertain, which is why I'm suggesting him.

Edited to add: Sorry, I didn't get my slush of consecutive posts in fast enough. To be clear, I am aware that there is an apparent timing issue with Mr. Spears' official date of last contact being July 30-31 and the UID's having been found on April 18. I wonder if this seems compelling enough to submit in spite of that. With cases this old, I usually lean in the direction of bending the time frame, but would appreciate all opinions.

 

[Donjeta]

The timing seems wrong.
The body was found in April 1973. Joseph's date of disappearance is July 1973.

 

[Babyslims]

I think its worth looking into further! If its been awhile since they reported him missing then they could always be off a year or have the month wrong.

 

[jenstar]

Just adding in my two cents. Hopefully it's welcomed. The UID was found in '73 yet the ring clearly has a '78 on it. Could be a class ring? If the UID was going to be 17-18 in '78, that would roughly put his age at 14-15 years old? MOO
The more i think about it the dates could be ALL wrong..did someone mistake a 3 for and 8 somewhere??
If the UID were in fact older, There are similarities here. Stephen has Wavy hair, long and the pronounced overbite like the UID.
https://www.findthemissing.org/en/cases/5938/3/

I like to keep everything open for possibility.

 

[vermontaigne]

Given the religious tokens found with this UID, I'd say it might be a reference to Psalm 78: http://www.catholic.org/bible/book.php?id=23&bible_chapter=78

UPDATE: The folks at the Mustard Seed, a Christian fellowship that seems to have had something like a commune at this time, in Lawrence, 50 miles to the north, have a nostalgic website and might recall this young man: http://flickrhivemind.net/Tags/themustardseed/Interesting

 

[jenstar]

Given the religious tokens found with this UID, I'd say it might be a reference to Psalm 78: http://www.catholic.org/bible/book.php?id=23&bible_chapter=78

UPDATE: The folks at the Mustard Seed, a Christian fellowship that seems to have had something like a commune at this time, in Lawrence, 50 miles to the north, have a nostalgic website and might recall this young man: http://flickrhivemind.net/Tags/themustardseed/Interesting

VERY strong likeness. However when I clicked on the picture it didn't say anything about him missing only that the caption wasn't related to the picture. Are there any other reports?

 

[jenstar]

On another set of photos it says "happily ever after" looks like it might not be our guy.
Kevin and Terri Frazell | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

On a very good note, according to Social Media this person is alive and well, and he likes to travel. lol

 

[vermontaigne]

On another set of photos it says "happily ever after" looks like it might not be our guy.
Kevin and Terri Frazell | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

On a very good note, according to Social Media this person is alive and well, and he likes to travel. lol

Oh, I didn't mean any particular picture there, just the whole collection of old photos from the Mustard Seed. It just seemed as though if we could get one of the folks there to pass the information around to his or her old buddies, it might jog a memory in someone.

 

[aThousandYearsWide]

Joseph Spears has been identified as a traffic accident victim who was struck while crossing a Texas freeway in August of 1973.

 

[carbuff]

I was involved in some Christian fellowship activities in the early seventies and knew some people who were involved with Mustard Seed. They were good people, not a cult, though I don't know what it might have become after that.

 

[Classito]

Richard Riquier missing from Montreal since April 17, 1973. He might be in a religious cult in the United States or in India.

Missing Since: April 17, 1973 from Montreal, Quebec
Age: 21
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 130 lbs.
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Brown
Race: White

http://www.nampn.org/cases/riquier_richard.html

 

[carbuff]

Wow, that certainly looks possible.

 

[Classito]

I submitted via email The Canadian address for the National Centre for Missing Persons and unidentified Remains. If I hear back I will update
https://www.services.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/missing-disparus/case-dossier.jsf?case=2013000069&id=0

Classito

 

[Classito]

Received a thank you and letting me know the information is being forwarded to the primary investigation agency. I will update if I hear anything.

Classito

 

[Classito]

Christopher Brian Wells
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/w/wells_christopher.html

Hair color is off and no jewelry mentioned (although he does appear to be wearing some type of necklace in this photo), everything else matches. The clothing is what caught my attention and why I think he may be worth a look at. (brown suede coat, blue stocking cap, boots) One article stated he was wearing boots

Missing Since: December 16, 1972 from Seattle, King County, Washington
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date Of Birth: March 22, 1956
Age: 16
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 130 lbs.
Hair Color: Light blond
Eye Color: Blue
Race: White
Gender: Male
Clothing: Brown suede coat, blue t shirt, blue jeans, blue stocking cap.


Classito

 

[carbuff]

Updated Namus link: Unidentified Person Case

It has a better reconstruction too: https://www.namus.gov/api/CaseSets/NamUs/UnidentifiedPersons/Cases/2344/Images/18521/Thumbnail

Two ruleouts: Derran Rogers and Christopher Wells.