NC NC - Cherokee County, Taller Male, pre-50, found in woods with glasses, UP98181, digital camera with photos, Feb'22

[Odeto BJ]

FWIW Lowell, where he went missing from, is about 4 hours drive west of Murphy. Davis isn't listed as missing in NamUs and there are no rule outs for the UP. It seems likely they would have contacted each other but might be worth following up with Cherokee and/or Gaston Co. authorities to be sure.

Snipped by me: For Focus

Ah, Lowell NC is about 210 miles EAST of Murphy....same distance West is getting near the Mississippi

 

[9InchNails]

Seems like a likely match. The timeline seems reasonable too. Being adopted might make any DNA identification difficult which is perhaps why it's taking so long.

FWIW Lowell, where he went missing from, is about 4 hours drive west of Murphy. Davis isn't listed as missing in NamUs and there are no rule outs for the UP. It seems likely they would have contacted each other but might be worth following up with Cherokee and/or Gaston Co. authorities to be sure.

The fact namus lists Sammie Davis as his possible name gave me the impression that they were in the process of identifying him but now I realize maybe they got the possible name from the items found with the remains and it would be better to contact the authorities as you suggested

 

[Susikatze]

Probably theyre looking for the birth family for confirmation. He was a private adoption case, probably no official adoption records anywhere. His adoptive family may know his former name and his birth family names but it may be hard to track them down for dna.

Definitely worth calling it in, regardless whether they know it may be a match or not.

 

[9InchNails]

Probably theyre looking for the birth family for confirmation. He was a private adoption case, probably no official adoption records anywhere. His adoptive family may know his former name and his birth family names but it may be hard to track them down for dna.

Definitely worth calling it in, regardless whether they know it may be a match or not.

I just saw on Namus they list only the phone numbers and no emails for the Cherokee and Lowell authorities but I am from Europe so if anyone is willing to give them a call I would appreciate it

 

[Carovb5]

Probably theyre looking for the birth family for confirmation. He was a private adoption case, probably no official adoption records anywhere. His adoptive family may know his former name and his birth family names but it may be hard to track them down for dna.

Definitely worth calling it in, regardless whether they know it may be a match or not.

Maybe they have a toothbrush, haircomb or medical files or something like that to check with…

 

[WingsOverTX]

Seems like a likely match. The timeline seems reasonable too. Being adopted might make any DNA identification difficult which is perhaps why it's taking so long.

FWIW Lowell, where he went missing from, is about 4 hours drive west of Murphy. Davis isn't listed as missing in NamUs and there are no rule outs for the UP. It seems likely they would have contacted each other but might be worth following up with Cherokee and/or Gaston Co. L to be sure.

I'm not convinced of this potential ID.

The remains were believed to be those of an artist and/or photographer. The Sammie Davis ID'd in the article does not appear to fit the quite extensive evidence found on scene IMO. That is unfortunate for the family wanting to find their dear adopted brother, of course.

I wonder what happened to the lead from the Thanksgiving photo that apparently led to thinking he was an artist from NM or elsewhere in the West after someone in the photo responded to an appeal by LE. Was that photo discredited?

Also, when did LE release a name (just recently in the NAMUS profile)? I find that puzzling since if it was found in his belongings, why hold it so long? Now the height of the UID is in question, too? By now I was hopeful for an ID not a vague NAMUS post that doesn't even include the items found, especially the camera & photos. Of course, I realize these cases are challenging.

Genetic genealogy is the key here IMO. Maybe @othram can work on this case?

I want LE to release more info - tell us what they have found that gives them this name & what progress is being made with DNA (databases checked, etc.).

Looking forward to the day this man is identified & hoping it doesn't take almost another year for that to happen.

MOO

 

[subaw0067]

Sorry if I missed this but were the photos taken in the location he was found?

 

[WingsOverTX]

Sorry if I missed this but were the photos taken in the location he was found?

DIGITAL CAMERA - I believe most, if not all, we're found on the digital camera found in the UID's belongings. There should be a link early in this thread that includes them. One is a painted landscape. Others are possible painting subjects of buildings/landscapes. Very important to identifying this man, IMO. It would be great if LE released them all to potentially bring in more leads.

LE PHOTOS - LE released photos they took showing clothing found in situ at the campsite & items in evidence. It appeared to be a place the UID had occupied for a while, IMO.

 

[Laughing]

I just saw on Namus they list only the phone numbers and no emails for the Cherokee and Lowell authorities but I am from Europe so if anyone is willing to give them a call I would appreciate it

Consider emailing the Regional Program Specialist listed under the gold Contact NamUs bar.

I've done this and always receive a polite & professional response.

Apparently I haven't solved a case yet, though!

 

[azure]

I'm not convinced of this potential ID.

The remains were believed to be those of an artist and/or photographer. The Sammie Davis ID'd in the article does not appear to fit the quite extensive evidence found on scene IMO. That is unfortunate for the family wanting to find their dear adopted brother, of course.

I wonder what happened to the lead from the Thanksgiving photo that apparently led to thinking he was an artist from NM or elsewhere in the West after someone in the photo responded to an appeal by LE. Was that photo discredited?

Also, when did LE release a name (just recently in the NAMUS profile)? I find that puzzling since if it was found in his belongings, why hold it so long? Now the height of the UID is in question, too? By now I was hopeful for an ID not a vague NAMUS post that doesn't even include the items found, especially the camera & photos. Of course, I realize these cases are challenging.

Genetic genealogy is the key here IMO. Maybe @othram can work on this case?

I want LE to release more info - tell us what they have found that gives them this name & what progress is being made with DNA (databases checked, etc.).

Looking forward to the day this man is identified & hoping it doesn't take almost another year for that to happen.

MOO

I think if the UID is Sammie Davis, the camera may not have belonged to Sammie. Maybe he found it somewhere or purchased it secondhand.

 

[Oakie]

Interestingly, the three people shown in photo #1, from the camera, all bear strong resemblances to people I used to know, one of whom once worked at the John C. Campbell Folk School!

That picture would have had to have been taken about 30 years ago, though, for the subjects of the photo to be them.

 

[RickshawFan]

I'm not convinced of this potential ID.

The remains were believed to be those of an artist and/or photographer. The Sammie Davis ID'd in the article does not appear to fit the quite extensive evidence found on scene IMO. That is unfortunate for the family wanting to find their dear adopted brother, of course.

I wonder what happened to the lead from the Thanksgiving photo that apparently led to thinking he was an artist from NM or elsewhere in the West after someone in the photo responded to an appeal by LE. Was that photo discredited?

Also, when did LE release a name (just recently in the NAMUS profile)? I find that puzzling since if it was found in his belongings, why hold it so long? Now the height of the UID is in question, too? By now I was hopeful for an ID not a vague NAMUS post that doesn't even include the items found, especially the camera & photos. Of course, I realize these cases are challenging.

Genetic genealogy is the key here IMO. Maybe @othram can work on this case?

I want LE to release more info - tell us what they have found that gives them this name & what progress is being made with DNA (databases checked, etc.).

Looking forward to the day this man is identified & hoping it doesn't take almost another year for that to happen.

MOO

I agree with you @WingsOverTX . IMO Sammie Davis and the UID don’t go together at all. They seem like they’re from completely different demographics: one a drifter, the other quite “comfortable”. I’m judging this from the camera, though.

It doesn’t sound like they could get other biochemical features from the UID? E.g. hair strands that could be tested for drugs, legal or medical.

 

[RickshawFan]

Interestingly, the three people shown in photo #1, from the camera, all bear strong resemblances to people I used to know, one of whom once worked at the John C. Campbell Folk School!

That picture would have had to have been taken about 30 years ago, though, for the subjects of the photo to be them.

Me, too. Those people look so familiar! We don’t know what the person holding the camera looked like, though

 

[RickshawFan]

A couple of those locations look familiar, like maybe it's a place where Mr. Carbuff and friends hiked. But I can't make out anything specific.

It’s AT kind of “look and feel”.

Now I’m looking at @WingsOverTX map. Yep, AT hiker.

 

[RickshawFan]

So, I wonder if they found cigarette butts? If UID was a smoker, that would be helpful. But if a person had several lighters but WASN’T a smoker, that would be helpful, too. I also wonder if there was a fire ring.

And if he was a smoker, and there were just a few butts, he wasn’t there for long.

 

[RickshawFan]

The photo of clothing on the tree branch…

The blue top looks to be fleece. The black pants to the right are actually leggings. They seem to be the kind of fleece with a smooth exterior. These are spendy critters. They are also generally worn only in very cold conditions; this might be a clue to when he died?

The pants to the left look like they belong to a big butt? Oh, wait! Those are RAINPANTS.

The tent footprint must be under leaves in the foreground left?

 

[RickshawFan]

I'm looking at @ClaireNC 's map and putting some things together. My speculation:

1. This is a long-distance hiker (note the technical clothing)
2. The location is not far from the AT
3. The hiker was headed for that campground on the map, but it was dark and rainy. Maybe the flashlight died.
3.5 Extended rain accounts for the NUMBER of tarps there.
4. He couldn't get to the campground, so he simply dived into the woods and set up temporarily. I'll bet no fire was built, or if so, not much ash.
5. It brightened up enough for him to try to dry his wet clothing.
6. This might not be an obvious location to get to and from the AT, but long-distance hikers hitch hike. No telling where you could end up.
7. It was getting dark and raining, and UID couldn't get another ride to the trail, or whoever gave him the last ride purposely dropped him off in that spot so he could get to that campground.
8. The tarp in the lower left looks newly bought. Either this site was intended to be super temporary (my thought) or the UID died before he could make use of it.
9. The UID might not have been feeling well; combined with rain and dark, diving into the woods would be an excellent solution. He might not have had time to fully set up for the night: just remove wet clothes.
10. A long-distance hiker wouldn't be missed for potentially a long time.

 

[RickshawFan]

More thoughts on items found:

1. Place no emphasis on the "silverware". That stuff is $0.10 per item at Goodwill. I have a LARGE collection, including for my house, my car camping box, floating around in my car, my bag for work, the break room for work... lol
2. The weird ring might be a burner part of a backpacker stove.
3. The handle with cutouts is a technical, light weight, folding knife.
4. That clothing looks good quality to me. It actually looks as though it's only suffered from weather, not hard wear. I don't think those are cheap rain pants (i.e. they are not FrogToggs).

More in a bit while I contemplate...

 

[RickshawFan]

Interestingly, the three people shown in photo #1, from the camera, all bear strong resemblances to people I used to know, one of whom once worked at the John C. Campbell Folk School!

That picture would have had to have been taken about 30 years ago, though, for the subjects of the photo to be them.

The UID might actually have been a long-distance hiker who was invited into their home for church and a meal or just the meal (there is not rarely a church connection, though); so he could actually have been with someone at the folk school!. In this case, he could be a completely different demographic from the hosts. However, the hosts in this photo are not looking like they have a stranger in their midst who is much different from themselves. I don't believe there's a "drifter" type behind the camera.
The folks in the photo could actually be right there in the area. It's possible this person felt ill right after the meal and made a quick but polite exit. I wonder why they don't have a date for the photo?

 

[Curious_in_NC]

The UID might actually have been a long-distance hiker who was invited into their home for church and a meal or just the meal (there is not rarely a church connection, though); so he could actually have been with someone at the folk school!. In this case, he could be a completely different demographic from the hosts. However, the hosts in this photo are not looking like they have a stranger in their midst who is much different from themselves. I don't believe there's a "drifter" type behind the camera.
The folks in the photo could actually be right there in the area. It's possible this person felt ill right after the meal and made a quick but polite exit. I wonder why they don't have a date for the photo?

@RickshawFan, you raise some great points about this possibly being an AT through hiker. But given the amount of stuff, including a laptop, camera, cell phone, plus 2 backpacks, it clearly wasn't any ultra-light backpacking enthusiast. If one started hiking in Georgia on the AT, that might be about the point on the trail where you would take a break and go looking for a post office to mail everything you don't need back home. It's also quite close to US64.

This local article suggested there were about 100 photos recovered and LE had already been contacted by one of the individuals in the photos from N Georgia. There were multiple photos of artwork. But their lead on an artist from the Southwest seems to have fizzled.

Body found in outdoors | Cherokee Scout, Murphy, North Carolina

Within hours of those pictures appearing online, authorities were contacted by a north Georgia resident featured in one of the images. That tip pointed Wood out West.

www.cherokeescout.com