General Information
Date of Discovery - 03/28/1999
Location of Discovery - Selma, Dallas County, Alabama
Estimated Date of Death - 1997 - 1998
State of Remains - Not recognizable - Near complete or complete skeleton
Cause of Death - Possible Homicide
Physical Description
Estimated Age - Older than 40
Race - White / Caucasian
Gender - Male
Height - 5'7 - 5'8, Estimated
Weight - 150 - 175 Pounds, Estimated
Hair Color - Gray or Partially Gray
Eye Color - Unknown or Missing
Distinguishing Marks / Features - Extensive past dental work, including crowns, bridges and root canals.
Clothing and Personal Items
Clothing - Largely deteriorated dark t-shirt (possibly dark green), a red and blue plaid long sleeve shirt, (brand name "Timberline," size XL; this is a quilted shirt with white synthetic fiber filler, with both sleeves rolled above the elbows), a black zipper outer jacket make of synthetic material with epaulet straps on each of the shoulders, underpants (brand name Fruit of the Loom), trousers made of black synthetic material with no legible label, white woven pair of socks, two deteriorated brown dress sport shoes of the lace type (brand name Rockport/Fibram with no detectible size) - authorities have stated that some of these clothes may have come from a thrift shop or a dumpster.
Jewelry - N/A
Additional Personal Items - A wooden-handled leather saddlebag-type travel bag (brown in colour with no external markings), an empty wallet, six pieces of apparent wallet insert (one piece of plastic which bears an image transfer; the image is digitally captured and enhanced revealing two images of white male and printing which appears to be that of a driver's license), twenty-seven unfired 25 caliber cartridges (in the right pocket), deteriorated pack of cigarettes consisting of seven filters and remaining clear plastic wrapper (in the right front pocket), one 25 caliber auto R&B Industries model Fraser semi-auto pistol serial number 001740, with magazine inserted containing three unfired Remington brand cartridges (reported stolen from California).
Circumstances of Discovery
A local man hunting for dogwood trees at dusk found the scattered remains of the man in a ditch ten yards off the westbound side of Highway 80 East near the bank of the Alabama River. He initially believed that they were animal bones, but returned to the site a day later and contacted authorities after finding clothing and other personal effects.
Authorities believed that the man may have been a transient or a hitchhiker, as the remains were located near a travel bag containing clothing. More specifically, authorities believe that he may have been from Ohio; an empty wallet located near the remains had an imprint on the plastic sleeve with the letters 'O V I C H' which a forensic scientist determined may have originated from an Ohio driver's license bearing the name of former state governor George Voinovich. It was also speculated that the man (due to his extensive dental work) may have previously been a veteran who had dental work done during his service, or that he had previously attained considerable wealth before losing it. Prior to his death, his dental condition had begun to deteriorate, as major cavities were present in some of his teeth.
The cause of death was determined to be more than one gunshot to the chest; the gun was located near the body amongst other personal effects. After tracing the gun with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, authorities found that the gun had previously been stolen from California. Two fired cartridge casings were also found near the decedent.
At the time of the discovery, no residents of Selma or Dallas County had been reported missing, quickly leading to the dismissal of the belief that the man was local to the area. Subsequent extensive inquiries and comparison with over 300 missing persons throughout the United States have also failed to establish the identity of the man.
The Montgomery Advertiser from Montgomery, Alabama on December 24, 1999 · 19
The Selma Times-Journal from Selma, Alabama on November 14, 1999 · 6
Date of Discovery - 03/28/1999
Location of Discovery - Selma, Dallas County, Alabama
Estimated Date of Death - 1997 - 1998
State of Remains - Not recognizable - Near complete or complete skeleton
Cause of Death - Possible Homicide
Physical Description
Estimated Age - Older than 40
Race - White / Caucasian
Gender - Male
Height - 5'7 - 5'8, Estimated
Weight - 150 - 175 Pounds, Estimated
Hair Color - Gray or Partially Gray
Eye Color - Unknown or Missing
Distinguishing Marks / Features - Extensive past dental work, including crowns, bridges and root canals.
Clothing and Personal Items
Clothing - Largely deteriorated dark t-shirt (possibly dark green), a red and blue plaid long sleeve shirt, (brand name "Timberline," size XL; this is a quilted shirt with white synthetic fiber filler, with both sleeves rolled above the elbows), a black zipper outer jacket make of synthetic material with epaulet straps on each of the shoulders, underpants (brand name Fruit of the Loom), trousers made of black synthetic material with no legible label, white woven pair of socks, two deteriorated brown dress sport shoes of the lace type (brand name Rockport/Fibram with no detectible size) - authorities have stated that some of these clothes may have come from a thrift shop or a dumpster.
Jewelry - N/A
Additional Personal Items - A wooden-handled leather saddlebag-type travel bag (brown in colour with no external markings), an empty wallet, six pieces of apparent wallet insert (one piece of plastic which bears an image transfer; the image is digitally captured and enhanced revealing two images of white male and printing which appears to be that of a driver's license), twenty-seven unfired 25 caliber cartridges (in the right pocket), deteriorated pack of cigarettes consisting of seven filters and remaining clear plastic wrapper (in the right front pocket), one 25 caliber auto R&B Industries model Fraser semi-auto pistol serial number 001740, with magazine inserted containing three unfired Remington brand cartridges (reported stolen from California).
Circumstances of Discovery
A local man hunting for dogwood trees at dusk found the scattered remains of the man in a ditch ten yards off the westbound side of Highway 80 East near the bank of the Alabama River. He initially believed that they were animal bones, but returned to the site a day later and contacted authorities after finding clothing and other personal effects.
Authorities believed that the man may have been a transient or a hitchhiker, as the remains were located near a travel bag containing clothing. More specifically, authorities believe that he may have been from Ohio; an empty wallet located near the remains had an imprint on the plastic sleeve with the letters 'O V I C H' which a forensic scientist determined may have originated from an Ohio driver's license bearing the name of former state governor George Voinovich. It was also speculated that the man (due to his extensive dental work) may have previously been a veteran who had dental work done during his service, or that he had previously attained considerable wealth before losing it. Prior to his death, his dental condition had begun to deteriorate, as major cavities were present in some of his teeth.
The cause of death was determined to be more than one gunshot to the chest; the gun was located near the body amongst other personal effects. After tracing the gun with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, authorities found that the gun had previously been stolen from California. Two fired cartridge casings were also found near the decedent.
At the time of the discovery, no residents of Selma or Dallas County had been reported missing, quickly leading to the dismissal of the belief that the man was local to the area. Subsequent extensive inquiries and comparison with over 300 missing persons throughout the United States have also failed to establish the identity of the man.
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.
www.namus.gov
The Montgomery Advertiser from Montgomery, Alabama on December 24, 1999 · 19
The Selma Times-Journal from Selma, Alabama on November 14, 1999 · 6
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