Unidentified AND MISSING

Dedicated to bringing awareness to unidentified people

Tag: 1981

  • South Euclid John Doe/”Joe” (May 1981)

    (FIRST) Reconstruction (Carl Koppelman, 27 November 2011)
    (SECOND) Reconstruction (Jane Billingham, date unknown)

    The Plain Dealer (10 May 1981)
    The Plain Dealer (10 May 1981)

    (FIRST) Blue/brown/tan/white plaid flannel shirt (Noted as “Made in Korea”; Brand “Grodins”; no size noted)
    (SECOND) Gray hooded sweatshirt (No brand or size noted)
    (THIRD) Brown vinyl jacket (Noted as “Made in Hong Kong”; Brand “L’avion”; size “Medium”)

    (FIRST & SECOND) Orange ankle-high boots/shoes (Size “8 1/2 E”), pair of brown socks, pair of green socks, tan cap/hat
    (THIRD) Tan pants (Brand “Levi’s”; no size noted)

    (FIRST) Blue denim jacket (Brand “Lee”; size “38R” (I believe is 38 Regular); tag said “220-0041 11488 / 38R 8SP 2160”)
    (SECOND) Front of the white t-shirt with “DON BOSCO TECH. PHYSICAL EDUCATION” in green writing on the front (No brand or size noted)
    (THIRD) Back of the white t-shirt (No brand or size noted)

    South Euclid John Doe/”Joe” (May 1981)

    • DATE OF DISCOVERY: May 8th, 1981
    • LOCATION OF DISCOVERY: South Euclid, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, 44121, USA
    • ESTIMATED YEAR OF DEATH: 1981
    • POSTMORTEM INTERVAL: 4 minutes
    • CONDITION OF REMAINS: Recognizable face
    • CAUSE OF DEATH: Chest injuries
    • MANNER OF DEATH: Accidental fall
    • SEX: Male
    • ESTIMATED AGE: 25 – 30 years old
    • RACE: Caucasian
    • WEIGHT (MEASURED): 146 pounds (66.2245 kg)
    • HEIGHT (MEASURED): 5’7” (67 inches; 170.18 cm)
    • EYE COLOUR: Brown
    • HAIR: Light brown
    • DISTINGUISHING MARKS/FEATURES:
      • Moustache and beard
      • “According to the witnesses, he abused alcohol and cocaine.” (DoeNetwork)

    BACKGROUND

    At approximately 5:00 p.m., on May 8th, 1981, a man was climbing a rocky cliff named “Castle Rock” in the Euclid Creek Reservation in South Euclid, Ohio, when he lost his balance and fell 75 feet to the bottom of the cliff. “A fire rescue squad, called by rangers, found his body at the bottom of the cliff beneath the Monticello Blvd. bridge, near a small stream.” (The Plain Dealer, 10 May 1981)

    According to authorities, this Doe climbed this cliff (Castle Rock) where “…he met up with some guys he didn’t know too well and they had a few drinks.” According to a Cleveland 19 article (published 10 October 2020), Anjanette Fischer of the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office stated “They picked up another guy in between and they were four guys, drinking in the Metro Parks. And three of them climbed back down in the car to go get more liquor when he fell off the rock.” After the accident, the three men then called police and Metropark rangers.

    According to the three men he was last with, this Doe had told them that his first name was Joe. “Joe” stated that he was visiting Cleveland from out of town at the time of his accident (May 1981) and that he had spent time in New York, New Jersey, and Los Angeles. He also stated that he was robbed around East 30th Street in Cleveland, which resulted in him not having enough money to return to Los Angeles. The DoeNetwork also states that the Doe said that he an appointment in Los Angeles on May 3rd, 1981, and that he was waiting for friends to bring him the funds or a ticket for fare back to Los Angeles.

    The Doe is described as a Caucasian male between 25 to 30 years old. He weighed 146 pounds and stood at 5’7” in height. He had light brown hair and brown eyes. He also had a moustache and beard at the time. “According to the witnesses, he abused alcohol and cocaine.” (DoeNetwork)

    He was found wearing a white t-shirt with “DON BOSCO TECH. PHYSICAL EDUCATION” in green writing on the front, a blue/brown/tan/white plaid flannel shirt, tan pants, a brown vinyl jacket, a gray hooded sweatshirt, a pair of brown socks, a pair of green socks underneath the brown pair, and orange ankle-high boots/shoes. A blue denom jacket, a tan visor, and a brown shaving kit consisting of cologne, suntain oil, lotion, toothpaste, a toothbrush, shaving razors, cleansing wipes, and a plastic vial were also found.

    His shirt has been looked into extensively as it was believed it may have been a school he attended at some point, but this has not led to anything.

    CLOTHING/ITEMS – On the body, the following was noted

    • White t-shirt with “DON BOSCO TECH. PHYSICAL EDUCATION” in green writing on the front (No brand or size noted)
    • Blue/brown/tan/white plaid flannel shirt (Noted as “Made in Korea”; Brand “Grodins”; no size noted)
    • Tan pants (Brand “Levi’s”; no size noted)
    • Brown vinyl jacket (Noted as “Made in Hong Kong”; Brand “L’avion”; size “Medium”)
    • Gray hooded sweatshirt (No brand or size noted)
    • Pair of brown socks (No brand or size noted)
    • Pair of brown socks underneath the green socks (No brand or size noted)
    • Orange ankle-high boots/shoes (No brand noted; size “8 1/2 E”)

    Near the body, the following was noted

    • Blue denim jacket (Brand “Lee”; size “38R” (I believe is 38 Regular); tag said “220-0041 11488 / 38R 8SP 2160”)
    • Tan hat/cap (No brand or size noted)
    • Brown shaving kit with miscellaneous items, including: “Cellini” cologne, suntain oil, two bottles of “Bonnie Bell” lotion, “Ultra Brite” toothpaste, a green toothbrush, two “Bic” razors, four cleansing wipes, a plastic vial

    EXCLUSIONS

    • Over 150 people have been ruled out as this Doe, so the list is super long. This Websleuths comment lists them all.

    IDENTIFIERS

    • Dentals: Available
    • Fingerprints: Available
    • DNA: Unknown

    INVESTIGATING AGENCY & OTHER CASE INFORMATION

    AGENCY ONE

    • Agency Name: Cleveland Metroparks Ranger Department
    • Agency Contact Person: Sergeant Ernie Oerge
    • Agency Phone Number: 440-331-5530
    • Agency Case Number: 81-1768

    AGENCY TWO

    • Agency Name: Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office
    • Agency Contact Person: Anjanette Fischer
    • Agency Phone Number: 216-698-4267
    • Agency Case Number: 181032

    OTHER INFORMATION/CASE NUMBERS

    • NCIC Case Number: U118876974
    • NamUs Case Number: #UP7980
    • DoeNetwork Case Number: 484UMOH

    REFERENCES