This is thread #5, 99% sure one of us found the boots online years ago. If I remember correctly, it could be thread 4. We had a lot of research, it then got closed
At some point, when I have the time, I'll comb through all the old threads. I'm sure there is good info, but really the info about the boots should pop up on a google search. Most Websleuths open forums do pop up on searches.
However, I truly doubt that anyone has looked into the exact Timberland this man wore. I've been following this case, off and on, for about 11 years. I've even contacted Youman once. I read the Coldcaseman/Lane Youman comments here a few times. And I've performed a lot of basic searches on this case. All that most sources report, including Youman's, is that Lyle had been wearing black Timberlands, size 10. (Those boots really don't look black to me. But that could be the quality of the picture.)
For whatever reason, no one thought to look at this aspect of this man. It really appears that Lyle's attire was kind of dismissed in total, as not being that important. I've never even read that he had a uniball pen, which actually does seem significant to me.
Most people seem stuck on his "accent", which we don't even know that he had. And his heritage.
Sometimes I think with a case that has been in circuit for this long, almost two decades, it might be important to start over, and give this a fresh approach. And also take into account what ideas HAVE NOT produced any solid leads.
Clearly no one is looking for this guy. He is probably in the status of a Grateful Doe. Either he was rejected, or those who might have wanted to look for him were not able to for some reason.
If no one is looking for him, then that could be telling as to the life he led, and might also indicate that he was younger than imagined. For someone older not to leave more of an imprint, would be unusual.
The only things we really have to go on are things he chose to tell about himself. He liked a good quality pen, so much so that he had to have brought that with him. Even though he didn't bring much else.
He dressed grunge/casual--no socks. He wore his clothes baggy (that was a style). His appearance mattered to him. And he either didn't like food much, or he wanted that thin emaciated look (which was also a style at the time-heroin-chic.) His hair was cut in a stylish manner as well.
He wore boots that he'd either had forever, or had bought second hand. But they must have been comfortable, because he wore them when he died.
He came to Grays Harbor with a little over 250 dollars--all in twenties, it would seem. Although he bought a few things, so had change. Just enough money to stay for those few days.
He may have bought the toothpaste and toothbrush in Grays Harbor, or on the way---which might indicate that prior to this someone took everything he had, or he was kicked out of a place, and someone kept his things, or he shed all his belongings on the way. There is no sign of a backpack, which leads me to believe he came from somewhere close by, and had been to this area before. He knew he could get a room without ID.
I think he came from Seattle. Had some kind of ties to Seattle. His clothes. His familiarity with the spot. The amount of money and change he had, might fit with the bus fare required. And he had the address of a cheap motel in Meridian, Idaho, memorized. That right there, tells a story. You don't have an address like that memorized just to fool someone. He could just as easily have made an address up. So why did he have that address memorized? Did he stay there long enough to get mail? Was it an address he gave out, so that certain people could meet him there, when he stayed there? Was this motel a place where he knew someone. Perhaps someone who worked there helped him out from time to time....why THAT motel? Why did he know that address so well?
These are the facts I've never really seen discussed on this case, and I don't get why.
