Identified! FL - Flagler Beach, WhtMale 30-50, UP3055, 3597UMFL, Shot, Bound, In Intercoastal Waterway, Sep'97 - Robert Bruce McPhail

[BrownBear]

3597UMFL - Unidentified Male

Date of Discovery: September 10, 1997
Location of Discovery: Flagler Beach, Flagler County, Florida
Estimated Date of Death: Days prior
State of Remains: Decomposing/putrefaction
Cause of Death: Gun shot

Physical Description
Estimated Age: 30-50 years old
Race: White
Sex: Male
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 175 lbs.
Hair Color: Bald
Eye Color: Brown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Well healed nose fracture, nose set to the left; no tattoos; no body hair.

Identifiers
Dentals: Available; good condition, possibly visited a dentist regularly
Fingerprints: Unknown
DNA: Unknown

Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: Socks
Jewelry: None
Additional Personal Items: None

Circumstances of Discovery
The decedent was found floating at Marker 11, in the Intercoastal Waterway off Flagler Beach, 60 feet off an undeveloped shoreline. He was bound and had a bullet hole in his head.

Investigators believe he was killed, taken by boat to that location, and dumped. They also believe his body floated to the surface after an alligator tore of his left arm which then loosened the ropes that bound him.

The best leads suggest he was a local man.

Investigating Agency(s)
Agency Name: District 23 Medical Examiner's Office
Agency Contact Person: Daniel Nichols, Medicolegal Death Investigator
Agency Phone Number: 904-209-0820
Agency E-Mail: DNichols(at)sjcfl.us
Agency Case Number: 97-23-251

Agency Name: Flagler County Sheriff's Office
Agency Contact Person: Detective Andrew Cangialosi
Agency Phone Number: 386-313-4911
Agency E-Mail: TIPS(at)flaglersheriff.com
Agency Case Number: 1997-00251

NCIC Case Number: Unknown
NamUs Case Number: 3055
Former Hot Case Number: 851

Information Source(s)
NamUs
FLUIDDB

Admin Notes
Added: 2008; Last Updated: 3/28/21

 

[PayrollNerd]

I would think the prior broken nose would have been obvious to others based on the description. He couldn’t have been in the water for long since he was in a state of decomposition. The Intercoastal Waterway could have been stirred up and moving fast if there had been a recent hurricane.

 

[othram]

SOLVED: After 26 years, Flagler County John Doe (1997) is Identified

 

[PayrollNerd]

SOLVED: After 26 years, Flagler County John Doe (1997) is Identified

Wonderful news! Now to find who did this to him.

His name is Robert Bruce McPhail.

 

[othram]

Updated, now with photos: After 26 years, Flagler County John Doe (1997) is Identified

 

[HmmMysterious]

RIP Bruce. He actually resembles the clay recon quite a lot

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Updated, now with photos: After 26 years, Flagler County John Doe (1997) is Identified

Great to see! Did someone recognize his name and provide LE with photos of him?

 

[DSCrime]

According to the CBC, McPhail was an only child. His parents died in the 1970s & his distant relatives lost touch w/ him after he moved to Florida in 1990s. He had ties to Kenora, Ontario & Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Article also states that according to South Florida Sun Sentinel, in 1984 McPhail was beaten with a shovel by a robber:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/robert-mcphail-florida-winnipeg-murder-cold-case-1.6941155

 

[DSCrime]

More interesting info from CTV News Winnipeg:

Man with Manitoba connection identified as cold case murder victim in Florida 26 years later

- may have been part of a sculling team in Kenora, Ont.

also:

"Scalia said McPhail may have been involved in the construction of the MS Kenora, a cruise ship that still operates on Lake of the Woods. The boat's current owners confirmed to CTV News that McPhail did co-own the Kenora for a few years in the 1980s, but said they never met him."

 

[Vern]

Great to see! Did someone recognize his name and provide LE with photos of him?

Apparently.

At the press conference, the Sheriff’s Office released a facial approximation which was created in 1997 by Betty Pat Gatliff of Skullpture Inc.

The Sheriff’s Office announced on Friday that following publicity about the case someone sent photos of McPhail taken in the 1980s in South Florida to Cold Case Detective Sarah Scalia. The caller was also able to provide information confirming that the person in the photos was McPhail.

Flagler County Sheriff's Office releases photos of cold case murder victim

The Sheriff's Office announced on Friday that publicity about the case led to someone sending in some photos of the victim.

www.news-journalonline.com

 

[dotr]

Flagler County Sheriff's Office releases photos of cold case murder victim

The Sheriff's Office announced on Friday that publicity about the case led to someone sending in some photos of the victim.

www.news-journalonline.com

'McPhail had been bound, shot and stabbed and dumped in the Intracoastal Waterway northeast of what is now the Boston Whaler plant at 100 Sea Ray Drive in Flagler Beach.'

''Anyone with information about McPhail or his murder is asked to submit a tip through email at TIPS@flaglersheriff.com or directly to Cold Case Detective Sarah Scalia at SScalia@flaglersheriff.com or by calling 386-313-4911. If you would like to remain anonymous, tips may be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida by calling 888-277-TIPS (8477), where you could be eligible for a reward of up to $9,500.''