281UMFL - Unidentified Male

Reconstructions of the decedent; clothing and personal items.

Date of Discovery: December 30, 1997
Location of Discovery: Ocala, Marion County, Florida
Estimated Date of Death: 1997
State of Remains: Skeletal
Cause of Death: Suicide by hanging

Physical Description

Estimated Age: 36-45 years old
Race: White
Sex: Male
Height: 5'6" to 5'7"
Weight: 144 lbs.
Hair Color: Unknown
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Healed gunshot injury to lower left leg.

Identifiers

Dentals: Available.
Fingerprints: Not available.
DNA: Available.

Clothing & Personal Items

Clothing: Green Nike cap, an Eddie Bauer jacket; blue Rustler jeans, size 33; a brown belt, brown hiking boots and thermal underwear. The golf logo on the man's shirt was traced to a country club in California.
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: White handkerchief, blankets, a pocket knife and a Swiss army knife attached to a chain around his neck. Luxottica eyeglasses. Three laminated four-leaf clovers. An Australian dollar coin was also found, leading investigators to believe he could be foreign to the country.

Circumstances of Discovery

The decedent was found December 30, 1997, lying face down at the base of a tree in the Ocala National Forest. A nylon strap with a plastic buckle dangled from a tree branch about 10 feet above him, leading deputy sheriffs to conclude he hanged himself.

Investigating Agency(s)

Agency Name: District 5 Medical Examiner's Office
Agency Contact Person: Lindsey Bayer
Agency Phone Number: 352-326-5961
Agency E-Mail: Lindsey.Bayer(at)marioncountyfl.org
Agency Case Number: 1997-01784

Agency Name: Marion County Sheriff Office
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 352-732-8181
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 97-1784

NCIC Case Number: Unknown
NamUs Case Number: 2911

Information Source(s)

NamUs
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Orlando Sentinel

Admin Notes

Added: Prior the 2005; Last Updated: 5/29/19