NV NV - Wellington, WhtMale 574UMNV, 35-50, off Sand Canyon Road, Mar'92 - #1

[Dylgem22]

Wow!! I am just getting caught up from last night .. GREAT JOB!!! I am really excited we have figured out the graphic and artist from that t-shirt .. I am sure EVERYONE involved is happy to not have "bird brain" any more

Now on to the next step!!!!

 

[Skully]

I am wondering if there is some flea market connection to the shirt and the hat and the artist and the UID.

Lake Tahoe does have a flea market.

A lot of artist start selling their products this way ,and often venders will trade their items from another venders items.

Some venders used to travel from flea market to flea market during different times of the year and an old supply of a screen printers overstock is exactly the kind of stuff to end up in a flea market.

Had to food shop, Lord you guys are on a roll. Do you think this man was a local, because the hat, and the shirt may have come from the area? If he was homeless do you think he had these items or maybe got them from a flea market, or art show and sell? I think you all will have this solved soon, if he isn't already on the list of missing you have.

 

[MrsTigglesworth]

I have been to the heavenly village shopping area. It is huge now. I wonder how long there have been shops there? Perhaps one can be tracked down that was there in our time frame and might have carried the shirts? I have taxes to do today as well, but can look into this later this evening if you guys haven't already solved the whole case by then

 

[carbuff]

Had to food shop, Lord you guys are on a roll. Do you think this man was a local, because the hat, and the shirt may have come from the area? If he was homeless do you think he had these items or maybe got them from a flea market, or art show and sell? I think you all will have this solved soon, if he isn't already on the list of missing you have.

I think he's an artsy outdoorsy type from the Bay Area who went to Tahoe for recreation and ran into trouble there.

 

[Dylgem22]

Forgive me if this was stated or explained, there is just so much to go back over ... regarding the dog and the photo the lady took of him/her ... do we know when the lady kept seeing the dog and when the photo was taken? If the dog was in some way belonging to our UID, how long would the dog actually "stick around" it's dead master? Would we be able to be closer to an estimated death time (month, etc)??

 

[GGE]

Bbm -

in an effort to clarify some of the facts and timeline of this case...

On march 12, 1992 a male caller reports that he found a skeleton in sand canyon and provides detailed directions to the location. The caller refuses to identify himself. Law enforcement locates the remains the next day.

The body was nearly completely skeletonized. The victim was aged between 35 and 50 and stood between 6’0” and 6’3”. He had reddish/brown hair.

The victim had dental work done, to include a root canal. The victim was missing several teeth prior to his death. The victim had been stabbed. The body was missing both hands and feet.

The body was clad only in what remains of a t-shirt. The shirt has a partial design of what appears to be a bird with outstretched wings with an orange circle (likely a stylized sun) in the background.

A pair of levi strauss 517 pants in relatively good condition was found inside of a moving blanket that was covered in white paint. The moving blanket and pants were found nearby. The pants are 32w by 36l. Men’s brief-type underwear were found nearby as well as a black heavenly lake tahoe hat. The clothing was scattered over a broad area.

A pair of black stadia shoes was located about a half mile away from the remains. There is evidence the shoes were too small for whoever wore them. There is also evidence the shoes had been repaired in somewhat of a unique manner. It is unknown at this time if the shoes actually have anything to do with this case.

At the time the body was located, a deputy sheriff on scene recalled handling an abandoned vehicle in october of 1991 (7 months prior to body discovery). An anonymous caller called this particular abandoned vehicle into the mono county sheriff’s office. The vehicle, a 1979 pontiac grand prix, with oklahoma plates, was found along highway 338, about two miles from where the remains were found. The vehicle was found in a manner that suggested whoever put it there was trying to conceal it. The registered owner was ultimately located and interviewed, but nothing conclusive came out of the interview. The vehicle may or may not have anything to do with this case.

In 1999 this investigation was reactivated and a press release was put out. As a result, a woman who lives nearby reported she started seeing a dog come around her property about 9 months prior to the discovery of the body. The dog would leave in the direction where the body would later be found. The woman took a picture of the dog.

there was a dog collar located in the area of the remains however it is unknown how close the collar was located to the body. This photo was taken to area veterinarians, but no identifications were made. This dog may or may not have belonged to the victim. Nothing definitive to prove it either way was ever found.

In 2014, the case is reassigned again. Utilizing modern technology, a dna profile of the victim was developed and entered into codis.

The clothing evidence will be re-processed utilizing modern technology in the near future. At that time, hopefully there will be conclusive proof as to whether or not any of the clothing and shoes belonged to the victim. Additionally, an isotope analysis of the victim’s hair will be done in the near future which could reveal clues regarding where the victim had been prior to his death.

A consultation was done with texas state university regarding the condition of the remains in hopes of narrowing the time of death. Based on this report, we believe the victim probably died sometime between 4 and 14 months prior to discovery.

previous investigators had the subject’s skull sent to a facial reconstruction artist. Those pictures are one artist’s rendition of what they believed our subject might have looked like. Detectives are sending the skull out to be reconstructed again for another perspective on what our subject may have looked like.

Other investigative leads have been developed as a result of the fresh look at this case, however these will not be publicly discussed at this time.

Further photos will be posted at a later time.

Please contact via private message lcsodetectives or mmarty with any leads on this case. Please keep in mind that while we can't always comment on certain aspects of the investigation, we do read these posts and we appreciate any and all ideas!

 

[Tricia]

What do you guys think of this hawk? I know it is on a backpack but it looks very close, or pretty much identical IMO. I googled "70's hawk shirt" and this popped up. Here is the link; http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://img.loveitsomuch.com/uploads/201212/06/70/70s%252520rare%252520mark%252520pack%252520works%252520red%252520tail%252520hawk%252520cordura%252520daypack%252520backpack-f57852.jpg&imgrefurl=http://dafortun.loveitsomuch.com/stores/70s-rare-mark-pack-works-red-tail-hawk,436889.html&h=407&w=570&tbnid=EKJMEZ80gsZAQM:&zoom=1&docid=kzZ1pXwIAC6btM&ei=3oQsVerSOO3fsASzsoH4Aw&tbm=isch&ved=0CAoQMygCMAI4ZA

View attachment 73069

ETA: At this link there are other images of the backpack with enlargements and in one of the images there is an artist's name at the bottom and next to the name is says 1975. I am unable to make out the name, perhaps Jim and a last name starting with the letter K? But that is just a guess. https://www.etsy.com/listing/110211620/70s-rare-mark-pack-works-red-tail-hawk

Congratulations Equestrianista for providing the Websleuths POST OF THE DAY

 

[Equestrianista]

So glad we now know who the artist is! Great work!!

 

[carbuff]

I don't see David Preston on the list. http://doenetwork.org/cases/734dmca.html
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/p/preston_david.html
http://dojapp.doj.ca.gov/missing/detail.asp?FCN=1179110330124

Missing either May 1988 (Doenet and CA DOJ) or December 1988 (Charley Project) from Alameda County, CA, which is not far from where the backpack company was located. He was 30 at the time. 6'3" and 180 lbs. He's described as blond but his photo looks reddish. Says dentals are available. He had an eagle tattoo on his arm.

 

[wenwe4]

These submissions are from California reported missing in 1993

153) Beckstead, Donald S 5’10 brown/red age 42 no dental/dna
no namus
http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/4487dmca.html
*note reported missing after date

154) Laine, Monte (aka Skalsky, Monte Laine) 6’2 brown age 28 dental avail
no namus
http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/910dmca.html
*note missing after date

155) Rudziankou, Siarhei 6’2 blonde age 33 unk dental/dna
no namus
http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/4155dmca.html
*note went missing after date

156) Nex, Blake R (aka Martin, Blake L) 6’2 brown age 38 dental avail (unk dna)
no namus
http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/4395dmca.html
*note went missing after date

157) Absher, Harlan D 6’1 brown age 34 dental avail (unk dna)
no namus
http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/4608dmca.html
*note missing after date

158) Miller, Charles H 6’1 blonde age 39 no dentals
no namus
http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/698dmca.html
*note missing after date

 

[Steleheart]

congratulations equestrianista for providing the websleuths post of the day

yay!!! Equestrianista !

:yourock::takeabow:

 

[PoirotryInMotion]

I have a dilemma. It's 3:19am here. My youngest's first day at a new job is tomorrow. Well, I mean today. I want to wish her luck when she leaves at 7:00am. If I go to sleep now, I might not wake up.

Ugh...I hear you! I just woke up at noon. After our late-nite-crew session, I finally got to sleep about an hour later and Had The Most Bizarre dreams (I'll spare you the details). Hope your youngest has a good first day on the job. Now I'm off to read the rest that happened since this post. (I did see someone saying we'd gotten the name of the artist--hooray!)

 

[wenwe4]

I don't see David Preston on the list. http://doenetwork.org/cases/734dmca.html
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/p/preston_david.html
http://dojapp.doj.ca.gov/missing/detail.asp?FCN=1179110330124

Missing either May 1988 (Doenet and CA DOJ) or December 1988 (Charley Project) from Alameda County, CA, which is not far from where the backpack company was located. He was 30 at the time. 6'3" and 180 lbs. He's described as blond but his photo looks reddish. Says dentals are available. He had an eagle tattoo on his arm.

He is now #159 on the list

 

[wenwe4]

There are a couple of things posters can do if they are willing. Anyone up for a search on WS for corresponding threads to the list of missing people that we have submitted?

I can put together another list with the alpha list corresponding to links here on WS for their cases. Sometimes we have family or friends that stop by and post on the WS thread - which might offer more info to LEO once they have ruled out many and need somewhere to look further. Just a thought and it was something I had planned on doing once I got through all the doenetwork (I'm nearly done).

 

[klily444]

I have been watching this thread and want to say that you all are doing an amazing job! I am local to Reno, NV, so please PM me if you need anything!

 

[SeriouslySearching]

Yes, it is the identical one. But someone had asked for a side by side and never got one so I was obliging. Glad we're all on the same page.

I do think we needed one anyway! Thank you so much! It is good to have them side by side so we can really give it the significance the discovery deserves (thanks again to Equestrianista)!

 

[SeriouslySearching]

There is a James Kitson, known as Strange de Jim, his obituary here states:


Here:http://www.island-life.net/back_issues/ISLANDLIFE2009b.htm

Excellent job! Yes, it is the artist! Yay!

RIP Jim Kitson. Your work is still important.

 

[PoirotryInMotion]

Please delete the number. The detectives don't want anyone else calling them.

It was posted previously. I asked the mods to delete it. Don't know if they did yet.

There is a number on the NaMus page - is that the number you're referring to?

I think I've been having that nightmare, LOL

But I hear Miss M is making breakfast after 7:00 AM.

"Curds and waves" :floorlaugh:

I have some if she runs out. (Despite the awful name, cottage cheese is pretty good stuff mixed with a bit of sugar and fruit.)

If it comes down to it, they could contact Colleen Fitzpatrick. She currently is a forensic genealogy consultant with Yeiser & Associates and Identifinders in Huntington Beach, California. They use DNA to narrow it down to surnames and areas.

http://www.identifinders.com/law-enforcement.html

I honestly don't know much about their track record on cases, but I don't see what it could hurt if it gives up any useful information on a John/Jane Does.

"Forensic genealogy consultant"...okay, maybe that's my next career. A combo of two decidedly weird-sounding loves (so I don't talk about it much).

It dose a lot more than that. Dr. Kruse would be proud of you for using f.lux. But I won't mix my other obsession with this thread any more... go look for Jack Kruse dot com though and join the forums if you wanna never ever have any time to yourself anymore, LOL.

Okay. Because hey, I really need another reason to be on the computer all day.

:floorlaugh:

Here is another example of Jim Kitson's work: https://www.etsy.com/listing/189843858/upcycled-vintage-tshirt-totebag
It looks like this is the same artist doesn't it!

It absolutely does--you nailed it!! Well-done! (Would you believe I tried Kipson and Kibson, but not Kitson. Unfortuantely Kitson did not make the list of most common American surnames beginning with "K.")

The hats are still available on Ebay

Yep. Bringing up the photo for any that missed it back thread:

If you have a full ancestry.com membership then here you go. (that's to anyone reading this).

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/1770750/person/-1877379395/facts

Yes, I do...another hobby far more consuming to me than crime, I have to admit. Your link is so thorough--excellent work! (I'm assuming yours is the tree entitled, "Hazardville & Beyond"?? :floorlaugh: I also use my account for these crimes story searches, and also disguise the tree names. ;D)

It was interesting to learn these products are expensive.

I'd also like to point out that the artwork being dated 1975 does not mean the backpack was necessarily manufactured and sold in the 70s. The artist's work might not have been replicated by Mark Pack Works until a decade later.

True, though the artist's work (like writers'--speaking from my own experience) is automatically considered 'copyright' upon completion of it, and they usually try to sell the work promptly (especially if just starting out, as our artist Kitson seems to have been). If the design was executed in 1975, I'd be surprised if it took a decade to get it marketed.

The Etsy backpack that Equestrianista found (at least the company & signature) was described as 'rare' and high quality. The t-shirt was described as better quality by the detectives. While it's hard to imagine him hiking without a tent, etc., it's possible his other 'higher quality' items (backpack?) were taken after he was killed. If relatively broke and homeless (per the missing teeth) at the time of death, it's possible he came from a family that had had some means, and was wearing old 'ski' resort clothes bought in better times.

 

[PoirotryInMotion]

This tidbit about his hawk drawings from the zoom.info link someone posted upthread (preceded by an account I just couldn't resist including):

When it came time to return to the US, the border agents stopped the long-haired, tie-died, bearded, jive-talking, young Kitson to grill him and go over the truck, as they planned to do, with a fine-toothed comb.
The Agent demanded to know what was in the bag, so Jim told him the truth.
The Agent refused to believe him, so he opened the bag -- which had been enjoying the hot Mexican sun for several days now -- and stuck his head fully inside.
Jim was ordered away from that place with speed. The Agent also evacuated, but in a different manner.

All fun aside, a man must make a living, and so Jim invented, single-handed, the eco-tee-shirt business, with hand-drawn images of endangered species, often featuring his totem -- the hawk. The business flourished so well it ended as creative-centered businesses often do, by someone stealing his ideas via the Xerox machine and underselling the product. When a Singapore-based conglomerate stole his idea "I Got Crabs at Fisherman's Wharf", he closed up shop.

http://www.zoominfo.com/p/James-Kitson/1172284637

 

[Tulessa]

Gosh, you guys are awesome! You pulled an all nighter! I'm still down with this headache! I'll read every post once it's gone.