Identified! NC - Remains, Gastonia, Found in Creek, Apr 4, 2023 - Michael Hirdler

[lynchmob67]

Police release description of tattoos of man found dead in creek in hopes of identifying him

Gastonia police are releasing details of the tattoos of a man found dead in a creek in hopes of identifying him.

wxii12.com

The decedent is described as a middle-aged white male with the following tattoos written on his arms:

• "Emilie" written in block lettering
• "Winter" written in blue with icicles on the top of the letters *
• "Misty" written in individual letters in colored stars
• Tattoo of a butterfly on his left ankle and tattoos of a colored frog, a monkey, and a spider on his left leg.

 

[dotr]

ETA, Cross-posting on the chance there is a connection between these two cases, fwiw..

NC - NC - Gastonia, UnkSex&Race UP90728, UnkAge, remains in public park, women's clothing, Feb'22

Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP90728 Unsure, Uncertain Date Body Found February 20, 2022 Location Found Gastonia, North Carolina Estimated Age Range -- Clothing and Accessories Item Description Clothing Black rain jacket Pink jacket with "Amor" embroidered patch White t shirt "Brush-up Sarasota"...

www.websleuths.com

Apr 18, 2023
''Officers responded to calls regarding human remains at Duhart Creek around 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 4, near 400 Cox Road.''

 

[iulia]

Now on NamUs as UP102922. WARNING - graphic photos of tattoos @ link

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

#UP102922
ME/C Case Number B23-1692

Sex Male
Race/Ethnicity White/Caucasian
Estimated Age Group Adult - Pre 60
Estimated Age Range (Years) 19-59
Estimated Year of Death 2023
Height 6' 0"(72 inches), Measured
Weight 189 lbs, Measured

Location Gastonia, North Carolina 28054
County Gaston County
Found On Tribal Land No

Circumstances of Recovery Decedent was discovered nude in a shallow creek behind the Target in Gastonia, NC in an advanced state of decomposition.

Condition of Remains Not recognizable - Decomposing/putrefaction

Hair Color Bald
Left Eye Color Unknown
Right Eye Color Unknown

Tattoo Decedent has multiple tattoos on extremities. See photographs.

 

[ArianeEmory]

That’s quite a collection of ink, seems like it will be helpful. And much of it is nature themed. Hiker?

This is probably a long shot, but the last tattoo photo looks like a small animal carrying a scythe, like the grim reaper. In Terry Pratchett’s fantasy “Discworld” novels, there’s a character who is the personification of the death of rats. Literally a rat dressed like the grim reaper. (Or, the Grim Squeaker.)

 

[HmmMysterious]

Now on NamUs as UP102922. WARNING - graphic photos of tattoos @ link

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

#UP102922
ME/C Case Number B23-1692

Sex Male
Race/Ethnicity White/Caucasian
Estimated Age Group Adult - Pre 60
Estimated Age Range (Years) 19-59
Estimated Year of Death 2023
Height 6' 0"(72 inches), Measured
Weight 189 lbs, Measured

Location Gastonia, North Carolina 28054
County Gaston County
Found On Tribal Land No

Circumstances of Recovery Decedent was discovered nude in a shallow creek behind the Target in Gastonia, NC in an advanced state of decomposition.

Condition of Remains Not recognizable - Decomposing/putrefaction

Hair Color Bald
Left Eye Color Unknown
Right Eye Color Unknown

Tattoo Decedent has multiple tattoos on extremities. See photographs.

Anthony Coley Jr. seems like a possible match. He went missing 3 hours away in Louisburg, North Carolina. And his stats are spot on: 5'11"-6'0" and a weight of 180-200 pounds.

 

[Curious_in_NC]

Now on NamUs as UP102922. WARNING - graphic photos of tattoos @ link

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

#UP102922
ME/C Case Number B23-1692

Sex Male
Race/Ethnicity White/Caucasian
Estimated Age Group Adult - Pre 60
Estimated Age Range (Years) 19-59
Estimated Year of Death 2023
Height 6' 0"(72 inches), Measured
Weight 189 lbs, Measured

Location Gastonia, North Carolina 28054
County Gaston County
Found On Tribal Land No

Circumstances of Recovery Decedent was discovered nude in a shallow creek behind the Target in Gastonia, NC in an advanced state of decomposition.

Condition of Remains Not recognizable - Decomposing/putrefaction

Hair Color Bald
Left Eye Color Unknown
Right Eye Color Unknown

Tattoo Decedent has multiple tattoos on extremities. See photographs.

From another case a while back I think someone brought up that there's a Facebook group for helping identify people from their tattoos. I think it had a lot of tattoo professionals in it. Does anyone know more details? It seems like this UID should be well known to one or more area tattoo artists.

 

[ArianeEmory]

Anthony Coley Jr. seems like a possible match. He went missing 3 hours away in Louisburg, North Carolina. And his stats are spot on: 5'11"-6'0" and a weight of 180-200 pounds.

To my eyes, Coley’s tattoos don’t match in design/theme or style, although I don’t have a good eye and we only get to see one arm, really.

 

[HmmMysterious]

To my eyes, Coley’s tattoos don’t match in design/theme or style, although I don’t have a good eye and we only get to see one arm, really.

Yeah his tattoos didn't seem like a match to me, but his physical description is spot on. We also don't know if he had them on his leg.

 

[Morbid Adieu]

Police release description of tattoos of man found dead in creek in hopes of identifying him

Gastonia police are releasing details of the tattoos of a man found dead in a creek in hopes of identifying him.

wxii12.com

The decedent is described as a middle-aged white male with the following tattoos written on his arms:

• "Emilie" written in block lettering
• "Winter" written in blue with icicles on the top of the letters *
• "Misty" written in individual letters in colored stars
• Tattoo of a butterfly on his left ankle and tattoos of a colored frog, a monkey, and a spider on his left leg.

Missing and Unidentified - FB group members solved this one yesterday. The man is Mike Hirdler, a train hopper, hobo, traveler, from Faribault, MN. ME has been notified.

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Missing and Unidentified - FB group members solved this one yesterday. The man is Mike Hirdler, a train hopper, hobo, traveler, from Faribault, MN. ME has been notified.

I don't know if I can link his Facebook, but MH's tattoos are pretty clearly the same as the UID's.

 

[Morbid Adieu]

I don't know if I can link his Facebook, but MH's tattoos are pretty clearly the same as the UID's.

It's pretty much public by now. I thought this post was so incredibly sad. The comments by family are heartbreaking.

 

[iulia]

His NamUs page has been removed.

 

[iulia]

Body found in Gastonia creek identified, police say

The man was originally from Minnesota.

www.wbtv.com

Gastonia police have identified the man found dead in Duharts Creek in April.

The man was identified as 46-year-old Michael Hirdler. He was originally from Minnesota.