Facial reconstructions of the decedent (3rd image is composite of man seen alive); Personal effects (Photo by Jack Friess, RCCO Deputy Coroner, Analyst)
Identified...Identified...Identified
Facial reconstructions of the decedent (3rd image is composite of man seen alive); Personal effects (Photo by Jack Friess, RCCO Deputy Coroner, Analyst)
Date of Discovery: November 26, 1995
Location of Discovery: Clinton, Rock County, Wisconsin
Estimated Date of Death: Fall or Winter 1994, or as late as spring of 1995
State of Remains: Skeletal
Cause of Death: Undetermined
Estimated Age: 17-20 years old
Race: White
Sex: Male
Height: 5'5" tp 5'7"
Weight: 140 lbs.
Hair: Brown, straight and collar length. Subject seen alive had a beard.
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Possible smoker based on lighter found with remains. Hair showed no long-term evidence of opiod abuse.
Dentals: Available.
Fingerprints: Not available.
DNA: Available.
Clothing: Urban camouflage fatigues (size small/regular), black T-shirt bearing gold in color "Venom" heavy metal rock logo consisting of a five-pointed star encompassing a ram's head, blue/maroon/white plaid flannel jacket/lined, black 1993 Nike Air Bound basketball shoes (size 9 1/2), boxers with Bart Simpson design (size medium/34).
Jewelry: Black Aquatech quartz watch. Homemade metallic (fork) "Goat's Head" pendant, originating from Janesville, Wisconsin.
Additional Personal Items: Tube of Carmex lip balm. Budweiser butane disposable lighter.
The decedent's skeletal remains were located by hunters in a heavily wooded area along Turtle Creek near Clinton.
No cause of death could be determined, but it is not believed he was murdered.
The young man is buried in Johnstown Center Cemetery. His skull was cremated.
A subsequent investigation and witness interviews revealed that a man wearing the above described clothing was observed running in the Turtle Creek on October 16, 1994, near the location where the remains were discovered. This subject was described as appearing intoxicated at the time.
The man refused assistance from witnesses and claimed to be a fugitive and had been wronged by someone named "Mary."
A more recent examination of the remains indicated the deceased individual may have died in the spring instead of at the time the living man was seen and they could have been two different people.
Isotopic analysis indicated he spend a significant amount of his life in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota and/or Michigan.
The DNA Doe Project became involved in the case in 2018. In February 2019, they announced they made a tentative identification.
Agency Name: Rock County Coroner's Office
Agency Contact Person: Barry Irmen
Agency Phone Number: 608-284-6000 or 1-608-757-5908
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 95-14453
Agency Name: Rock County Sheriff's Office
Agency Contact Person: Detective Warren Yoerger
Agency Phone Number: 1-608-757-8000 or 608-757-7927
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 95-7116
Agency Name: Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Missing & Exploited Children & Adults
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 1-800?HE-HOPE (1-800-843-4673)
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: Unknown
NCIC Case Number: U090002894
NamUs Case Number: 4757
NCMEC Case Number: 1234507
NamUs
NCMEC
Wikipedia
NBC 15 WMTV
DNA Doe Project
Rock County Coroner's Office
Wisconsin State Journal News Archive
Added: 2/12/09; Last Updated: 2/21/19
Questions or comments? Please contact appropriate member of the Area Team
** Listed information may be estimated.
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