Jake479
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DE DE - John 'Jay' Ashley, 18, Wilmington, 14 Dec 1971
- Thread starter Jake479
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madamx
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http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1866dmde.html
John Ashley, Jr.
Missing since December 14, 1971 from Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware
Classification: Missing
Vital Statistics
Date Of Birth: July 7, 1953
Age at Time of Disappearance: 18 years old
Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 5'4"; 130 lbs.
Distinguishing Characteristics: Black male. Black, short cropped hair; black eyes.
Marks, Scars: Right hip congenital defect. Previous transverse (1-17-67) fracture of second metatarsal involving proximal portion.
DNA: Available
AKA: Jay
John Ashley, Jr.
Missing since December 14, 1971 from Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware
Classification: Missing
Vital Statistics
Date Of Birth: July 7, 1953
Age at Time of Disappearance: 18 years old
Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 5'4"; 130 lbs.
Distinguishing Characteristics: Black male. Black, short cropped hair; black eyes.
Marks, Scars: Right hip congenital defect. Previous transverse (1-17-67) fracture of second metatarsal involving proximal portion.
DNA: Available
AKA: Jay
Some possible unidentified people, could be a possibility in my opinion but please correct me if I overlooked something!
https://www.identifyus.org/en/cases/11924
https://www.identifyus.org/en/cases/4840
https://www.identifyus.org/en/cases/11924
https://www.identifyus.org/en/cases/4840
Gardener1850
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More pics of John Ashley, Jr:
John J. Ashley, Jr. was last seen walking home after attending school and basketball practice. Another 17 year old Wilmington boy disappeared the same night and was later found drowned, Feb 1972 in Wilmington. NOTE: Mitrochondrial DNA testing of three siblings and the mother of John Ashley has excluded him from from any biological connection to OCME skeletal remains case 78-N-253 (dated 4-4-1978) which is NAMUS unidentified case #2185; these skeletal remains were strongly suspected of being the remains John Ashley.
1995 Wilmington Delaware NewsJournal article regarding UP 2185 -- suspected to be John Ashley. DNA from UP 2185 did not match multiple DNA Family Reference samples for John Ashley. (see documents).
https://www.findthemissing.org/en/cases/3853/
John J. Ashley, Jr. was last seen walking home after attending school and basketball practice. Another 17 year old Wilmington boy disappeared the same night and was later found drowned, Feb 1972 in Wilmington. NOTE: Mitrochondrial DNA testing of three siblings and the mother of John Ashley has excluded him from from any biological connection to OCME skeletal remains case 78-N-253 (dated 4-4-1978) which is NAMUS unidentified case #2185; these skeletal remains were strongly suspected of being the remains John Ashley.
1995 Wilmington Delaware NewsJournal article regarding UP 2185 -- suspected to be John Ashley. DNA from UP 2185 did not match multiple DNA Family Reference samples for John Ashley. (see documents).
https://www.findthemissing.org/en/cases/3853/
Alright, this one is so obvious (IMO) that I would be very surprised if he weren't ruled out or otherwise excluded.
1140UMDE
1140UMDE - Unidentified Male
Reconstructions of the decedent
Date of Discovery: April 7, 1978
Location of Discovery: Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware
Estimated Date of Death: 1971-1978
State of Remains: Skeletal
Cause of Death: Natural
Physical Description
Estimated Age: 17-25 years old
Race: Black
Sex: Male
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 140 lbs.
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Severe pelvic deformity. Evidence of several healed fractures on the right side of the body. Individual would have walked with a pronounced limp on the right side.
Identifiers
Dentals: Available. All teeth present with no restorations or fillings. No evidence of tobacco use.
Fingerprints: Not available.
DNA: Available.
Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: leached blue, long-sleeved shirt which was rolled up around the elbow region. A tag at the back of the neck area says, "Kent- Collection By Arrow". A pair of blue, bleached pants, size 32, show "Made in Hong Kong". Printed, jersey undershorts also recovered.
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown
Circumstances of Discovery
The decedent was located on a black rubber car mat and pink throw rug at a dump site in the 600 Block of Terminal Avenue in Wilmington, DE. His skull, chest and hips were found there, with leg bones and size 32 blue pants about 11 feet away. A coroner concluded he died of natural causes.
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Post-mortem interval matches, estimated age matches, height matches, race matches. Found in same city where Jay disappeared.
Also, look at the noses. They look a bit similar, I think.
EDIT: NEVER MIND; I can't read. This person was the one that Jay's casefile was talking about being ruled out already, and there is zero chance that it's a match considering the rule-out was via DNA. Funny, since it seems like such a strong match (down to the pelvic deformity).
1140UMDE
1140UMDE - Unidentified Male
Reconstructions of the decedent
Date of Discovery: April 7, 1978
Location of Discovery: Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware
Estimated Date of Death: 1971-1978
State of Remains: Skeletal
Cause of Death: Natural
Physical Description
Estimated Age: 17-25 years old
Race: Black
Sex: Male
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 140 lbs.
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Severe pelvic deformity. Evidence of several healed fractures on the right side of the body. Individual would have walked with a pronounced limp on the right side.
Identifiers
Dentals: Available. All teeth present with no restorations or fillings. No evidence of tobacco use.
Fingerprints: Not available.
DNA: Available.
Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: leached blue, long-sleeved shirt which was rolled up around the elbow region. A tag at the back of the neck area says, "Kent- Collection By Arrow". A pair of blue, bleached pants, size 32, show "Made in Hong Kong". Printed, jersey undershorts also recovered.
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown
Circumstances of Discovery
The decedent was located on a black rubber car mat and pink throw rug at a dump site in the 600 Block of Terminal Avenue in Wilmington, DE. His skull, chest and hips were found there, with leg bones and size 32 blue pants about 11 feet away. A coroner concluded he died of natural causes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post-mortem interval matches, estimated age matches, height matches, race matches. Found in same city where Jay disappeared.
Also, look at the noses. They look a bit similar, I think.
EDIT: NEVER MIND; I can't read. This person was the one that Jay's casefile was talking about being ruled out already, and there is zero chance that it's a match considering the rule-out was via DNA. Funny, since it seems like such a strong match (down to the pelvic deformity).
Last edited:
CastlesBurning
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Bumping for Jay as we approach the 49th anniversary of his disappearance
Diane Redfern
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John Ashley
This case is very eerie. 17 yo Leroy Morgan disappeared from Wilmington that very night. Someone who claimed to be Leroy's friend said to police he saw both, Jay and Leroy, on January 3rd, 1972, but they run away when he called Leroy. Apparently, the investigation about their disappearances finished there, because detectives thought they were runaways and would show up sooner or later.
On February, 1972, Leroy body was located. The cause of death was ruled as drowning, however, they didn't specify if it was accidental or not.
So... who was the "friend" whose testimony stopped the investigation? I also read that Calvin Berry, Jay's friend, said he witnessed how Jay was forced to go into a vehicle, but he recanted... Did the boys witnessed something they weren't supposed to see and they were killed? Did the other boys receive threats to keep silent?
This case is very eerie. 17 yo Leroy Morgan disappeared from Wilmington that very night. Someone who claimed to be Leroy's friend said to police he saw both, Jay and Leroy, on January 3rd, 1972, but they run away when he called Leroy. Apparently, the investigation about their disappearances finished there, because detectives thought they were runaways and would show up sooner or later.
On February, 1972, Leroy body was located. The cause of death was ruled as drowning, however, they didn't specify if it was accidental or not.
So... who was the "friend" whose testimony stopped the investigation? I also read that Calvin Berry, Jay's friend, said he witnessed how Jay was forced to go into a vehicle, but he recanted... Did the boys witnessed something they weren't supposed to see and they were killed? Did the other boys receive threats to keep silent?
sluethermac
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I wish the report specified when Ricky's mother received a phone call or when Jay's friend seen him being forced inside a vehicle.
Were both boys alive when Ricky phoned his mother?
Why did they remain in the area for nearly 2 weeks if they believed their lives were endangered?
Why was Jay seen walking the streets after his friend allegedly seen him kidnapped?
Were any serial killers operating in the area at that time?
They were apart of a clique.
Was any rival gang member killed after both boys vanished as retaliation?
Was the area both boys last seen in rival territory?
Was there a fight between them and another gang that night?
My guess is they either crossed paths with a serial killer or deranged individual who saw a crime of opportunity or succumbed to petty gang violence.
Were both boys alive when Ricky phoned his mother?
Why did they remain in the area for nearly 2 weeks if they believed their lives were endangered?
Why was Jay seen walking the streets after his friend allegedly seen him kidnapped?
Were any serial killers operating in the area at that time?
They were apart of a clique.
Was any rival gang member killed after both boys vanished as retaliation?
Was the area both boys last seen in rival territory?
Was there a fight between them and another gang that night?
My guess is they either crossed paths with a serial killer or deranged individual who saw a crime of opportunity or succumbed to petty gang violence.
HopeRains
My name is Lisa Coburn Kesler.
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CharleyProject - John Jay Ashley, Jr.
The News Journal, 28 Dec 71, pg 30. How sad that his father passed only 4 days after young Jay disappeared
The News Journal, 28 Dec 71, pg 30. How sad that his father passed only 4 days after young Jay disappeared
Diane Redfern
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Pennysmom2
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John J. Ashley, Jr. - Delaware Missing Person Directory
Details and Pictures of John J. Ashley, Jr., Missing since December 1971
www.missingin.org
Identifiers
Dentals: Not AvailableFingerprints: Not Available
DNA: Available