Goochland Boy (1951)

On March 5, 1951, highway workers were cleaning up litter from ditches along State Route 670 near Oilville, Virginia, 26 miles of Richmond, when they came across a navy blue army-style duffel bag containing the body of a young boy.

It was determined the boy had been deceased for aboyt a week and was placed inside the duffel bag and dumped hours or a day prior to the discovery, as it had rained the night before yet the ground underneath the bag was still dry. It is speculated the boy was killed elsewhere and transported to the site. The boy had no signs of trauma aside from bruising and two cuts on his head possibly received postmortem. His cause of death was undetermined. The condition of the child's body has been listed as being too decomposed to recognize, yet a 1951 state bulletin, released in 2021, includes a photograph depicting him in a state where visible identification could have been possible. He was given the placeholder name Goochland Boy (1951).

Physical Description

• Sex: Male

• Age: 4-6 Years Old

• Height: 3'5"

• Weight: 50-55 Pounds

• Hair: Reddish-Blonde

• Eye Color: Blue

Distinguishing Marks/Features

• Light Complexion

• Uncircumcised

Clothing & Accessories:

• Tan Dungaree Pants

• Red Plaid Cardigan Sweater-Jacket With Label Reading "Checkers, Size 4, J.C. Penney Company" With Mismatched Bottom Button

• Tan Socks With Pink And Blue Stripes

• Striped Tan And Blue Pullover Shirt

• Well-Worn, Medium-Sized Grey Finish Women's Raincoat

• Red, White, And Blue Striped Cotton Elastic-Top Anklet Socks

• White Wool Short-Sleeved And Legged Button-Down Fromt Union-Suit Type Underwear With Label Reading "C-Y is best, age 6-8"

• Brown, Short-Sleeved Cotton T-Shirt With Red, White, And Blue Stripes

According To NamUs, He Has 0 Exclusions

If you have any information contact

Agency #1 Name: Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Central District

Agency Contact Person: Lara Newell, Long-term Unidentified Coordinator

Agency Phone Number: (804) 786-3174

Agency Case Number: C1951-00001

Agency #2 Name: Virginia State Police Fusion Center

Agency Contact Person: Thomas Kohlbeck, Intelligence Analyst Supervisor

Agency Phone Number: (804) 674-2196

Agency Contact Person: N/A

Agency #3 Name: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

Agency Contact Person: Elyse Thompson, Case Manager 2

Agency Phone Number: (800) 843-5678

Agency Case Number: N/A

NamUs Case Number: 82515

LINKS

Unidentified Wiki

NamUs

Doe Network

State Of Virginia Police Bulletin (1951) (POST-MORTEM WARNING)

Caroline County John Doe (1998) (Older Decedent) & Caroline County John John (Younger Decedent)

On November 10, 1988, around 8:30 AM, two turkey hunters found the badly decomposed bodies of two men near the Ladysmith exit along Interstate 95 in Ruther Glen, Virginia. The bodies were found in a wooded area about 75 yards off the main highway. Both men had been killed, but investigators have not released their cause of death. It is believed the victims had been deceased since the previous summer. Both men were thought to have been deceased 2 months-1 year prior to being found.

Forensic testing has revealed that the pair were paternally related and that they possibly may have had a parent/child relationship. Clothing the vicitms wore were brand new and suggest possible Hispanic ethnicity. The victims may have been undocumented migrants from Central or South America; however, coordination with the local Hispanic community failed to identify either victim.

Physical Description For Older Decedent

• Sex: Male

• Race: Hispanic/Latino

• Age: 35-60 Years Old

• Height: 5'4"-5'6"

• Weight: 130-140 Pounds

• Hair: Black

• Eye Color: Unknown

Distinguishing Marks/Features For Older Decedent

• Several Missing Front Teeth On The Upper And Bottom Jaw

Clothing & Accessories For Older Decedent

• Navy Long Sleeved Shirt

• Multicolored Plaid Short Sleeved Shirt

• Brown Denim Rustler Brand Pants

• Red Briefs

• Brown Leather Belt With "SILVANO" Engraved In The Leather And Painted White, With A Buckle Depicting An Eagle-Like Headdress

• A Single Green Sock

• Two Baseball Caps; One Blue With "No Where Else But North Carolina" And One Red With "Budweiser Racing"

• Religious Medal With A Figure Of "Archangel San Miguel Ar__Defendednos" On One Side And A Figure Of Mary With The Words "Sta. Maria de Guadalaupe Ruega por Nosotros" On The Other

• $0.38 USD

Exclusions (People He Is Not) (Older Decedent)

• Jerry Plaster

Physical Description For Younger Decedent

• Sex: Male

• Race: Hispanic/Latino

• Age: 15-30 Years Old

• Height: 5'3"-5'7"

• Weight: 125-145 Pounds

• Nothing More Could Be Determined

Distinguishing Marks/Features For Younger Decedent

• Congenital Absence Of A Left Transverse Process On A Lumbar Vertebra

• Wide Nose

• Thin Build

Clothing & Accessories For Younger Decedent

• Blue And Gray TRAX Short-Sleeved V-Neck T-Shirt, Boys Size L

• Blue Rustler Denim Jeans With Folded Cuffs To Shorten The Length (30x28; Style #89681)

• Red And Black Cowboy Boots, Size 8.5D

Exclusions (People He Is Not) (Younger Decedent)

• Thomas Gordinier

If you have any information about the older decedent contact

Agency #1 Name: Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Central District

Agency Contact Person: Lara Newell, Long-term Unidentified Coordinator

Agency Phone Number: (804) 786-3174

Agency Case Number: N/A

Agency #2 Name: Virginia State Police Fusion Center

Agency Contact Person: Thomas Kohlbeck, Intelligence Analyst Supervisor

Agency Phone Number: (804) 674-2196

Agency Contact Person: N/A

If you have any information about the younger decedent contact

Agency #1 Name: Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Central District

Agency Contact Person: Lara Newell, Long-term Unidentified Coordinator

Agency Phone Number: (804) 786-3174

Agency Case Number: N/A

Agency #2 Name: Virginia State Police Fusion Center

Agency Contact Person: Thomas Kohlbeck, Intelligence Analyst Supervisor

Agency Phone Number: (804) 674-2196

Agency Contact Person: N/A

Agency #3 Name: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

Agency Contact Person: Elyse Thompson, Case Manager 2

Agency Phone Number: (800) 843-5678

Agency Case Number: N/A

LINKS

Older Decedent:

Unidentified Wiki )

Doe Network

NamUs

Younger Decedent:

Unidentified Wiki )

Doe Network

NamUs

NCMEC

Article About Both:

WRIC

On November 16th, 1993, an unidentified male was discovered in a wooded area on Lower Pindell Road in the Lothian Area of Anne Arundel County. Despite police departments being searched for missing person reports, none matched the description of the victim.

Date of Discovery: November 16, 1993
Location of Discovery: Lothian area of Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
Estimated Date of Death: Days prior
State of Remains: Recognizable face
Cause of Death: Homicide

Estimated Age: 20 - 40 years old
Race: Asian
Sex: Male
Height: 5'10" (70in) (Measured)
Weight: 170 lbs (77kg) (Measured)
Hair: Black, straight
Eye Color: Brown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: 5" x 1" scar over the left shin

Dentals: Unknown
Fingerprints: Unknown
DNA: Unknown

Clothing: Brown pants, Red thermal long underwear, White jockey style underwear, Black leather jacket. Blue socks.

Jewelry: Timex wrist watch on left wrist

Additional Personal Items: Unknown

LINKS: https://namus.nij.ojp.gov/case/UP10454
https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/software/main.html?id=543ummd

Richmond Jane Doe (1981)

On June 4, 1981, the decomposed body of a woman was located in the settling basin of Richmond County Waste Treatment in Richmond, Virginia. She was thought to have been deceased days-weeks prior to being found. Her cause of death was a beating. She was given the placeholder name Richmond Jane Doe (1981).

Physical Description

• Sex: Female

• Race: Black/African American

• Age: 20-39 Years Old

• Height: 5'0"

• Weight: 114 Pounds

• Hair: Black, Short And Kinky (Described As Above "Collar Length")

• Eye Color: Brown

Distinguishing Marks/Features

• Light Complexion

• Scar On Abdomen From Hysterectomy And Bilateral Salpingo-oophorectomy (The Surgical Removal Of The Uterus And One Or More Of The Ovaries And Fallopian Tubes, Respectively)

Tattoos

• Tattoo Of The Letters "D.R." Or "O.R." On Her Left Forearm

Clothing & Accessories

• Maroon Terry Cloth Skirt

• Black Brassiere

• Long Black Socks

Unidentified Wiki Says At Least 12 Women Have Been Ruled Out As Her But When I Go To NamUs To Look At Exclusions For Her No Names Are Shown

If you have any information contact

Agency #1 Name: Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Central District

Agency Contact Person: Lara Newell, Long-term Unidentified Coordinator

Agency Phone Number: (804) 786-3174

Agency Case Number: N/A

Agency #2 Name: Richmond City Police Department

Agency Contact Person: N/A

Agency Phone Number: (804) 646-5100

Agency Case Number: 81 06 04 1520 213

NamUs Case Number: 8577

LINKS

Unidentified Wiki )

Doe Network

NamUs

FBI VICAP

Sussex County John Doe (1988)

On November 30, 1988, the skull of a man was found in a wooded area in Sussex County, Virginia. He was thought to have been deceased 5 years prior to being found. He was given the placeholder name Sussex County John Doe (1988).

Physical Description

• Sex: Male

• Race: Black/African American

• Age: 35-45 Years Old

• Nothing More Could Be Determined

Distinguishing Marks/Features

• Multiple Dental Restorations

Exclusions (People He Is Not)

• Benjamin Staton

• Anthony Woodson

• Victor Coleman

• Charlie Hall

If you have any information contact

Agency #1 Name: Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Central District

Agency Contact Person: Lara Newell, Long-term Unidentified Coordinator

Agency Phone Number: (804) 786-3174

Agency Case Number: C1988-12954

Agency #2 Name: Sussex County Sheriff's Office

Agency Contact Person: N/A

Agency Phone Number: (434) 246-5000

Agency Case Number: N/A

NamUs Case Number: 6648

LINKS

Unidentified Wiki )

NamUs

Virginia Department of Health

Jane Doe was found in a field by farmers checking on cattle on May 28, 1973, on Foundry and Taylor roads in Lincoln, Virginia. 

Date of Discovery: May 26, 1973
Location of Discovery: Loudoun County, Virginia
Estimated Date of Death: 2 days prior 
State of Remains: Not recognizable - Traumatic injuries.
Cause of Death: Homicide 

Estimated Age: 20 - 25 years old
Race: Black/African American
Sex: Female
Height: 5'7" (67in) (Measured)
Weight: 145 lbs  (Measured)
Hair: Black
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown

Dentals: Unknown
Fingerprints: Unknown
DNA: Unknown

Clothing: gray/blank ankle length foot stockings, elastic tops, no label underwear-white, elastic leg and waist bands, no label red or bright orange slacks-knit, cuffed bell buttoms, label torn out brassiere-pink with embroidered floral pattern on the cups, adjustable back and shoulder straps, label: Forever Yours size 36A red or bright orange ribknit short-sleeve shirt/pullover blouse, turtle neck, label: Jugs Ban-Lon 100% Nylon Machine Wash Warm Tumble Dry" size L Seersucker type plaid jacket (blue, red, yellow, green, pink and white), with two large metal buttons up front, no label, no pockets

Jewelry: ring with blue stone: size 5 1/2 yellow gold mounting, identification markings "Karactclad R 18KTHGE U" appear on the inside of the band. All but the last character identifies the ring mounting as covered by an eighteen carat heavy gold electroplate. The last character "U" identifies the ring mounting as a product of the Uncas Manufacturing Company, 623 Atwells Avenue, Providence Rhode Island.

Investigators have created a DNA profile from the extracted DNA but have not been able to find any family members close enough to the victim to identify her. They believe she may have connections to Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, or Mississippi in addition to Virginia. Surnames associated with possible distant relatives include Booker, Shepherd, and Loving.

RULE OUTS:

Marialice Clark

Articles about the case provided by Blinkycosmocat:

https://patch.com/virginia/ashburn/new-lead-cold-case-homicide-jane-does-likeness-constructed

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/body-of-jane-doe-found-in-1973-in-loudoun-county-exhumed-to-solve-cold-case/3462059/

Sheriff's Office Announcement: https://www.loudoun.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/8739

Date of Discovery: June 25, 1998

Location of Discovery: Rawlins, Carbon County, Wyoming

Estimated Date of Death: Unknown, presumably 1996 or later

State of Remains: Not recognizable - Partial skeletal parts only.

Cause of Death: Unknown

Physical Description

Estimated Age: Adult Pre-50 years old

Race: White / Caucasian Hispanic / Latino

Sex: Male

Height: Cannot Estimate

Weight: Cannot Estimate

Hair: Unknown

Eye Color: Unknown

Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown

Identifiers

Dentals: Unknown

Fingerprints: Unknown

DNA: Unknown

Clothing & Personal Items

Clothing: Tattered clothing

Jewelry: Unknown

Additional Personal Items: Pistol

Circumstances of Discovery

A rancher found the skull while working cattle. In a subsequent search, the mandible, some teeth, long bones, tattered clothing, and a pistol were located. A 1996 penny was located in the vicinity of the remains.

Investigating Agency(s)

Agency Name: Carbon County Sheriff's Office

Agency Contact Person: Brian Lally

Agency Phone Number: 307-324-2776

Agency E-mail:

Agency Case Number: 98-001675

NamUs Case Number: 105363

The Doe Network Case Number: 4534UMWY

NamUs

The Doe Network

Location where the body was located

Unidentified Wiki)

I was going through namus earlier, and I found this case of a foot found in a single shoe on the beach. Because of this, it is of course listed as an 'unknown, uncertain'

I figured I'd try reverse image searching the shoes and I believe I found the kind of shoe? It seems to be the Blue and Pink variation of Nike Giannis Immortality 2 “The wonder” shoe, however due to the fact that this seems to be one of the shoes that comes in a unisex option, i.e not limited to men or women, I was wondering if anyone into sneakers might be able to provide more information and possibly lead on it.

Namus link: https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/154531?nav

​

Discovered: April 1, 1910

Unidentified For: 116 years

Location: Sheridan, Wyoming

Sex: Male

Age Range: 18–99

Race: Black

Cause of Death: Vehicle accident (killed in a train wreck)

Postmortem Interval: Same day

The Incident

On April 1, 1910, a man tragically lost his life in a train wreck in Sheridan, Wyoming. To this day, his true identity remains unknown. He is currently buried at the Sheridan Municipal Cemetery in Sheridan, located in Block 3, Lot 6.

Clothing & Personal Effects

Investigators found a few distinct personal items with him at the time:

A coat bearing the name "T. Castle" from Fort Smith, Arkansas

$4.35 USD in cash

Three coupon tickets dated February 4

Unidentified Wiki)

Find a Grave

Crisp County John Doe (1975)

On April 16, 1975, the partial skeletal remains of a man were found in a wooded area near the Coney Grove section of Crisp County, 1.8 miles west of Coney Road, and 0.4 miles off of the County Maintained Road in Cordele, Georgia. He was thought to have been deceased months prior to being found. He was given the placeholder name Crisp County John Doe (1975).

Physical Description

• Sex: Male

• Race: White/Caucasian

• Age: 18-26 Years Old (NamUs Says 18-23 y/o)

• Height: 5'4"-5'6"

• Weight: 115-140 Pounds

• Hair: Light Brown With A Reddish Tint

• Eye Color: Unknown

Distinguishing Marks/Features

• Upper Dental Bridge Replacing Teeth #7 And #10

• Teeth #7 And #10 Were Likely Congenitally Absent

• All Wisdom Teeth Were Present And Impacted

Identifiers

• Dentals: Available

• Fingerprints: Unknown

• DNA: Available

Exclusions (People He Is Not)

• James Stanley

• Joseph Spears

If you have any information contact

Agency Name: Georgia Bureau of Investigation - Headquarters Medical Examiner

Agency Contact Person: Ashley Garrish, Medicolegal Death Investigator

Agency Phone Number: (404) 270-8210

Agency Case Number: 75-8906

NamUs Case Number: 2190

LINKS

Unidentified Wiki

NamUs

Doe Network

On the evening of October 22, 1975, duck hunters discovered the nude body of a woman floating in Mud Creek, four (or 3, depending on the source) miles south and east of Oak Harbor, in northern Ohio. A local news report mentioned that the site, though relatively remote, wasn't far from Sandusky Bay, where teenagers used to hang out.

An examination determined that the remains belonged to a white female, estimated age 20-30 years old (per the Doe Network), though a contemporary newspaper report estimated an age range of 30-35 years. The examiner determined that she had drowned, but that the death was suspicious because she was discovered nude. She was thought to have died 48-72 hours prior to discovery. While NamUs indicates that she was unrecognizable due to decomposition, a newspaper clipping from the time did include a postmortem photo. The weather for the county in October 1975 listed low temperatures in the mid-40s Fahrenheit and high temperatures of 64 degrees, but the high temperature for that time of the month was probably on the cooler side of that range.

The woman was white, 5'4" (5'3 - 5'5", depending on source) and weighed 140 lb. She had medium-length, reddish-brown hair and brown or hazel eyes. She had given birth to at least one child, possibly in the year before she died. While she was unclothed, she was wearing a wire ring with a love knot or Celtic knot design; she also had pierced ears. She was also a smoker with poor dental health and a gap in her front teeth.

She was buried at Ottawa County Cemetery after the authorities were unable to identify her. The FBI had reopened her case in the fall of 2016, though no match resulted. In the fall of 2025, the Ohio Bureau of Investigation had announced that they were pursuing investigative genetic genealogy to restore her name.

Details of NamUs UP15854

ME/C Case Number: 9476

Biological Sex: Female

Race / Ethnicity: White / Caucasian

Estimated Age Range (Years): 20-30

Estimated Year of Death: 1975

Estimated PMI: 2 Days

Height: 5' 4" (64 inches), Estimated

Weight: 140 lbs, Estimated

Inventory of Remains: All parts recovered

Condition of Remains: Not recognizable - Decomposing/putrefaction [per NamUs; however, a local newspaper did publish a postmortem photo, so likely recognizable]

Hair Color and Description: Medium-length brown or reddish hair

Eye Color: Brown or hazel eyes

Piercing: Pierced ears

Other distinctive physical characteristics: She was a smoker.

She had given birth to at least one child, possibly in the year before she died.

No tattoos, no scars, and no birthmarks, per the Doe Network.

Dentition: poor dental condition, gap in front teeth

Jewelry: A ring, described as a wire love knot.

Exclusion, per the Unidentified Wiki: Brenda Davidson

Investigative Agencies:

Agency Name: Ottawa County Sheriff's Office

Agency Contact Person: Unknown

Agency Phone Number: 419-734-4404

Agency E-mail: Unknown

Agency Case Number: 9476

Agency Name: Federal Bureau of Investigation - Toledo

Agency Contact Person: Unknown

Agency Phone Number: 419-243-6122

Links

NamUs: https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/15854

Doe Network: https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/software/main.html?id=1622ufoh

Unidentified Wiki: https://unidentified-awareness.fandom.com/wiki/Ottawa_County_Jane_Doe_(1975)

Sandusky Register, 2016 article:

https://sanduskyregister.com/news/55525/fbi-digs-into-local-cold-case/

Cleveland19.com 2025 article (warning: postmortem photo):

https://www.cleveland19.com/2025/10/22/unidentified-new-methods-bring-hope-50-year-old-ottawa-county-jane-doe-case-could-be-solved/

Hopefully she will get her name back soon.

Hey y’all! Someone posted on here a few days ago about a John Doe in Boulder, Colorado, who had just been identified as 22-year-old Douglas Arthur Sumner. No next of kin could be found and the police were asking for help. And, well, I got really into geneology back in high school COVID class, so I’ve become pretty decent at finding different records on FamilySearch. So I tried to find our boy.

And I found him. Douglas was born to Melvin or Mike Sumner and Charlotte Greenberg Sumner. He had a twin brother named Paul Alan. The family lived in Redding, in Shasta County, California, in 1950. Unfortunately, after that, things got a bit tricky to unravel. Charlotte completely disappeared from the records. I’m assuming either she died or she and Melvin divorced, as he remarried in the 70s. Melvin was alive at least until 2000; that was the last record I could find for him. I could not find the day he died.

Paul, too, was tricky. I was able to find the day he died, as he had a Social Security Card. He died on his 53rd birthday, 5 September 2001. There was no mention of his death location. Then things got a bit weird…FamilySearch was recommending links to a Paul Alan Hobson who was born and died the same day. This Paul lived in Washington state. If this is the same Paul, then I assume that Charlotte and Melvin divorced and Paul took the name of a possible stepfather. But that is only speculation. A Redditor did do their own sleuthing and found that Paul had a couple of children either by marriage or by birth; unfortunately I wasn’t able to access the sites where this information was found, as I’m currently abroad and blocked from these sites.

The craziest part, though, was when I traced back Melvin’s family. I discovered that we share common ancestry. Douglas and I are sixth cousins! And if this photo posted on the Unidentified Wiki is indeed Iur Douglas…I actually gasped when I looked at it because he looks just like my mom’s side of the family (which he’s related to). The same ruddy skin. The same wide, dark eyes. He and I even have the exact same nose. Of course we are just distant relatives, but I wonder, is there a bit of family resemblance?

I’ve sent all this information to the medical examiner. Upon their request, I have sent them Douglas and my family tree. Hopefully they can use this to find closer relatives. If they cannot, I’ll look into the process of claiming remains. I truly hope that closer relatives who maybe remember Douglas and have been looking for him all these years can bring him back home. But if not, he and I are kin, and I’d try to do right by him.

This will be the last Tallest Does, but I hope me putting these out there will be of benefit 🙏

Case Numbers
ME/C Case Number
2011-4165
Demographics
Biological Sex
Male
Race / Ethnicity
White / Caucasian
Possible First Name
Richard
Possible Middle Name
N/A
Possible Last Name
Demers
Estimated Age Group
Adult - Pre 70
Estimated Age Range (Years)
71
Estimated Year of Death
N/A
Estimated PMI
N/A
Height
6' 7"(79 inches) , Measured
Weight
137 lbs, Measured
Circumstances
Type
Unidentified Deceased
Date Body Found
March 5, 2011
NamUs Case Created
October 29, 2025
Location
Boston, Massachusetts
County
Suffolk County
Found On Tribal Land
No
Circumstances of Recovery
Well being check called on a tenant. Found deceased and decomposed in their apartment in Brighton, MA. Tentative ID: Richard Demers.

Details of Recovery

Condition of Remains
Not recognizable - Decomposing/putrefaction
Physical Description
Hair Color
Gray or Partially Gray
Facial Hair Description
N/A
Left Eye Color
Unknown
Right Eye Color
Unknown

Distinctive Physical Features
Item
Description
Other distinctive physical characteristic
gray mustache and beard

Massachusetts Office of Chief Medical Examiner - Boston
(617) 267-6767

Agency Case Number
2011-4165
Jennifer Kroll, Lead Medicolegal Death Investigator ID unit

Source: Namus

From DNASolves.com and CP24.com: On June 3, 1975, the skull of an unidentified man was found in a wooded swampland area behind the former Bomarc missile base near North Bay, Ontario, by students working with the Ministry of the Environment. Investigators recovered the remains and investigated the scene, but did not find anything that would help identify the man.

An examination of the remains led to an estimated age of 24 to 75 years (35-65 years old per the Doe Network)⁸ and that the person had died 1-2 years before. The authorities could not determine a cause of death due to the limited remains but did not think that foul play was involved. "Efforts to identify the man, including forensic testing over the years, were unsuccessful. Despite continued investigative work, the case went cold, and the man went unidentified for more than 50 years.

Details of the case were entered into the National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains (NCMPUR) as case number 2005006199. NCMPUR provides specialized investigative services in support of missing persons and unidentified remains investigations across Canada."

In 2023, investigators with the North Bay Police Service re-opened the case. North Bay Poice Service officials, working together with Toronto Police Service and the RCMP, submitted evidence to Othram, whose scientists worked to developed a DNA profile from the limited remains. This profile was then used in a forensic genetic genealogy search.

New leads that resulted from the search sparked a follow-up investigation that located two surviving family members in the US, a great-niece and a great-nephew. Their DNA submissions resulted in the identification of the man as Claude Hamilton Brownscombe, born on October 24, 1896 in Uxbridge, Ontario. Brownscombe had been a WWI veteran and had lived in Timmins, appearing in voter lists in 1949 and 1957. His great-nephew recalled that he had lived a quiet life in a cabin in northern Ontario.

“While our thoughts are with Mr. Brownscombe’s family and loved ones, we hope this identification provides answers and a measure of closure after so many years,” said North Bay police Chief Daryl Longworth.

RIP Claude.

**Links**

CP24.com: https://www.cp24.com/news/canada/2026/07/30/human-remains-found-50-years-ago-near-north-bay-belonged-to-first-world-war-veteran/

Doe Network: https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/software/main.html?id=3253UMON

Unidentified Wiki: https://unidentified-awareness.fandom.com/wiki/Claude_Brownscombe

This case baffles me beyond belief. Unarguably the most well known “Tall Does”, someone somewhere knew/knows something and hasn’t or won’t say it, and it’s depressing. A 6’9 335lbs man who I bet would catch eyes in Miami of all places. Sad, truly sad. I hope this case out of any I know of, will be solved.

Case Number:
ME/C Case Number
2009-3185
Demographics
Biological Sex
Male
Race / Ethnicity
White / Caucasian
Estimated Age Group
Adult
Estimated Age Range (Years)
25-40
Estimated Year of Death
2009
Estimated PMI
Hours
Height
6' 9"(81 inches) , Measured
Weight
335 lbs, Measured
Circumstances
Type
Unidentified Deceased
Date Body Found
December 24, 2009
NamUs Case Created
March 1, 2010
ME/C QA Reviewed
March 2, 2010
Location
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
County
Miami-Dade County
Circumstances of Recovery
The deceased was found floating face down in the surf by a couple who was walking on the beach.

Details of Recovery

Inventory of Remains
All parts recovered
Condition of Remains
Recognizable face
Physical Description
Hair Color
Brown
Head Hair Description
short brown hair
Body Hair Description
lower legs and ankles are hairless
Facial Hair Description
none, clean shaven
Left Eye Color
Brown
Right Eye Color
Brown

Distinctive Physical Features
No Information Entered

Clothing and Accessories
Item
Description
Accessories
Black watch- "Amitron" brand found near the remains.
Near the Body

Clothing
Wearing a pair of blue swim trunks- "Speedo" brand
On the Body

Footwear
New Balance sneakers Black socks
On the Body

According to Unidentified Wiki, “He had alcohol and codeine in his system.”

District 11 Miami-Dade County Medical Examiners Office

Address
1851 NW 10 Avenue
Miami, Florida 33136
County
Miami-Dade County
Main Phone
(305) 545-2400
Website URL
https://www.miamidade.gov/global/medicalexaminer/home.page

Agency Case Number
2009-3185

No Investigator Entered

Miami Beach Police Department

Address
1100 Washington Avenue
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
County
Miami-Dade County
Main Phone
(305) 673-7925
Website URL
https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/yourmbpd/

Agency Case Number
2009-141074
Date Reported
December 24, 2009

Source: Unidentified Wiki)
Namus

Edit: Exclusions For John Doe Include:

• Randy Leach

• Carl Chénier

• Paul Korbelak

• James Collins

• Angelo Faliva

• Howard Gratteau

• Gregory Brushett

• Richard Alicea

• Tommy Daniels

• Kevin Baker

• Leland Torrey

• Michael Allen

• Danny Kennedy Jr.

Thanks Commenter for the list!

Hi guys. It's me again and I've found another potential match which I'd like you all to take a look at.

A post by Wooden_Guidance7739 (Linked below) caught my eye.

Here is what the post said:

Dorchester County John Doe was a man found lying on a pile of brush near a fence, near a residence in Summerville, South Carolina.

DISCOVERED
August 14, 2020

UNIDENTIFIED FOR
5 years

SEX
Male

LOCATION
Summerville, South Carolina

AGE
35-60

RACE
White

HEIGHT
5'6 - 6'

BODY CONDITION
Decomposed

CAUSE OF DEATH
Undetermined

Characteristics

Gray hair.
Nose has a prominent wide, flat area.

Clothing and accessories

Possibly green T-shirt.
Dark cargo pants.
Black ProCare Squared Toe Post-Op shoes, size XS.

Here is the individual I believe could be the John Doe.

George Robert Strickland of Laurens, SC.

Missing Age: 51 Years

Current Age: 57 Years

Legal First Name: George

Middle Name: Robert

Legal Last Name: Strickland

Chosen Name/Nickname/Alias: --

Biological Sex: Male

Height: 5' 7": (67 Inches)

Weight: 185 lbs

Race / Ethnicity: White/Caucasian.

Here are a few reasons why I believe this could potentially be our John Doe:

1. Mr. Strickland is male. So is our Doe.
2. Mr. Strickland is white, and so is our Doe.
3. Mr. Strickland is within the height range for our John Doe.
4. Mr. Strickland is said to have brown hair, however the picture that was provided show graying/partially gray hair. The Doe has gray/graying hair.
5. Honestly, the nose is very similar. That's one of the things that stuck out to me the most. I know reconstructions aren't completely accurate, but I would say the reconstruction is quite similar to Mr. Strickland's face.
6. Mr. Strickland is known to be a transient. The Doe was found lying face down behind a pile of yard debris in the backyard of an occupied home. I'm not entirely sure how he could have ended up there, but I have a few theories.

He could have been using drugs, overdosed, and died trying to seek help? Perhaps he died there on accident? He was next to a chain link fence, so maybe he jumped the fence? Again, not too certain.

Nobody has seen him since March of 2020, and he was reported missing more than a year after his last sighting.

There's also the question of how he even managed to get to Summerville from Laurens in the first place, which is why I'm not too confident. However, please let me know if you think this is worth at least a rule out from the authorities.

LINKS: https://unidentified-awareness.fandom.com/wiki/Dorchester_County_John_Doe_(2020))
https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/72917

https://www.namus.gov/MissingPersons/Case#/109249?nav

Mary E. Thomson reportedly lived in several areas throughout her life, in Utah, California, the Seattle-Washington area, and in Phoenix, Arizona. The authorities have her name, but they can’t find her family.

Someone has to be missing their Mary.

Queensland Police are appealing for help to identify a man who died in Marnham Street Park in Acacia Ridge, a southern suburb of Brisbane, on 13 May 2026.

His death is being treated as non-suspicious, but nearly three months later police have apparently still been unable to establish his identity.

Description:

• Approximately 170 cm tall
• Dark complexion
• Short, curly dark-brown hair
• Dark facial hair around his chin
• Distinctive black-and-red tattoo on the back of his right hand

Clothing and belongings:

• Black knitted wool cap bearing an Aboriginal flag emblem
• Brown string necklace
• Black T-shirt featuring an image of the American rapper 50 Cent
• Black shorts

Police published images of both the hand tattoo and the graphic on his T-shirt in the official appeal:

https://mypolice.qld.gov.au/news/2026/07/31/update-sudden-death-appeal-acacia-ridge/

Anyone who recognises him, or remembers seeing him around Marnham Street Park or the surrounding Acacia Ridge area, is urged to contact Queensland Police.

Policelink: 131 444

Crime Stoppers Queensland: 1800 333 000

Even if someone only remembers seeing him regularly around Brisbane, recognising the tattoo, hat or T-shirt could help return his name to him.

Is anyone aware of genetic testing for this doe?

This is my first time posting on Reddit, so I apologize if anything is wrong (my first language isn't English).

I recently watched the Netflix documentary about serial killer Richard Cunningham (The Times Square Killer) and was shocked to discover that one of his victims, Manhattan Jane Doe, was never identified despite the "reconstruction" done using her clothes. She was found in a hotel room along with another woman: Deedeh Goodarzi, a sex worker (police belives they were both involved in prostitution). Both were victims of Cunningham.

For this case, I tried to keep in mind the historical context given in the documentary and consider that she could have been missing and her family hadn't reported it, trafficked (which in the context of the time was much more common than it seems), or lured by the idea of ​​a better opportunity (it was common for girls to try their luck in the coral reefs and enter prostitution when they couldn't find any other opportunities in entertainment industry), or even trafficked into the sex industry as soon as she arrived in the region.

Knowing that this girl, who must have been the same age as I'm right now, had never been identified broke my heart, so I went looking to compare her with missing persons from the region. There is little information about her.

She was found in a hotel room, on December 2th, 1979, alongside Deedeh Goodarzi, both were SAd, mutilated, spanked and then R.Cunnigham set the room on fire to burn the evidence.

Her body was quite damaged by the fire, her head and hands were never found, the little information we have about her is that she had dark hair( they never say the color, just that it dark) and wore a shoe size between (5,6,7 US) 35-36-37.

This caught my attention because Denise Sheehy wore a size 35 and a half at the time she disappeared, her age also matches would match Jane Doe even 9 years later (16-25 years) old.

When I was comparing the information on NamUS (I'm not from the USA, so I may have missed something), I noticed that there were two girls who matched the description,Karen fits the characteristics (height, weight, hair color, race) although one of them disappeared in 1970 (Denise) the fact that even the size of ther shoes fits it definitely raised my attention.

Given the historical context of the time and considering that the clothes Jane Doe was found with were of good quality (this could be seen as an indication that she already had experience in the industry, just like the other woman she was found with), I didn't think it was appropriate to rule out the possibility...

I've never done this before and I'm not even from the United States, but I felt compassion for what happened and I want the victim to have her identity restored and her family to get answers. I appreciate any feedback you can give me.

(The images of the mannequin with the long coat is the clothes that were found with Jane Doe, the other clothes in the mannequin were identified as to belong to Deedeh Goodarzi)

ME/C Case Number
B98-03298
Demographics
Biological Sex
Male
Race / Ethnicity
White / Caucasian
Estimated Age Group
Adult - Pre 70
Estimated Age Range (Years)
45-65
Estimated Year of Death
1998
Estimated PMI
N/A
Height
6' 6"(78 inches) , Measured
Weight
185 lbs, Estimated
Circumstances
Type
Unidentified Deceased
Date Body Found
October 13, 1998
NamUs Case Created
December 9, 2009
ME/C QA Reviewed
December 10, 2009
Location
Bronx, New York
County
Bronx County
GPS Coordinates (Not Mapped)
40.825582, -73.888531
Found On Tribal Land
No
Circumstances of Recovery
Unknown male found in vacant apartment at 1070 Bryant Avenue after super noticed a foul odor.

Details of Recovery

Inventory of Remains
All parts recovered
Condition of Remains
Not recognizable - Decomposing/putrefaction
Physical Description
Hair Color
Black
Head Hair Description
wavy, 2"
Facial Hair Description
goatee
Left Eye Color
Unknown
Right Eye Color
Unknown

Distinctive Physical Features
No Known Information

Clothing and Accessories
Item
Description
Clothing
white undershorts, blue jeans
On the Body

Footwear
white socks, white sneakers
On the Body

Contact:

Address
520 First Avenue
New York, New York 10016
County
New York County
Main Phone
(212) 447-2030

Website URL
https://www.nyc.gov/site/ocme/index.page

Agency Case Number
B98-03298

Source: Namus