MI LUCE COUNTY JOHN DOE: WM, 20-35, found near McMillan Township, MI - 24 Oct 1987

SheWhoMustNotBeNamed

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On October 24, 1987 bird hunters found human remains in a remote wooded area of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, a bit south of Lake Superior, north of Newberry in McMillan Township, Luce County. While the remains were mostly skeletal, military-style, but not military issue, clothing was found on the body, including camouflage jacket, pants, green camouflage t-shirt, green belt, green wool socks, and black combat-style boots. MSU forensic anthropologists determined the remains were that of a White/Caucasian male, 20-35 years old, about 5’8” tall with short, reddish brown/auburn hair. Years previous to his death the deceased had sustained an injury which required a metal rod to mend a broken leg. No cause or manner of death could be determined, but the case has been classified as a homicide. The man could have died four months to 2 years prior to being found.

DNA Doe Project Status: Research in Progress

Sex: Male
Race / Ethnicity: White / Caucasian
Estimated Age Group: Adult - Pre 40
Estimated Age Range (Years): 20-35
Estimated Year of Death: 1987
Estimated PMI: 1 Months
Height: 5' 8"(68 inches) , Estimated

Hair Color: Brown
Head Hair Description: The head hair would have been short, reddish brown/auburn.

Accessories: survival knife stamped U.S. Ontario--not army issue, possibly from a catalog
Clothing: military-style camouflage clothing, including: a jacket, pants, green camouflage t-shirt, green belt
Footwear: green wool socks, black combat-style boots

Distinguishing Marks/Features: Possible scar or lump or discoloration on his left cheek. Possibly due to an accident, the left side of his face was fractured and depressed. The left femur displayed a healed fracture which had been treated with a metal rod implant. The injury probably occurred when the individual was an adult. He had moderate scoliosis (spinal curvature) and may have walked with a limp.

The decedent was located on October 24, 1987, 0.2 miles south of Lake Superior and 1.2 miles WSW of Little Lake Harbor, near the Blue hiking trail.



*CLICK THE REPORT BUTTON IF YOU'D LIKE THIS CASE MOVED TO THE GENERAL DISCUSSION AREA TO BE OPENED FOR COMMENTING.
 
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Luce County John Doe was a man who was found in a forest near Lake Superior in McMillan Township, Michigan on November 28th, 1987.

The decedent may have been from Canada, as among his belongings, a knife was recovered bearing the words "U.S. Ontario". The weapon was confirmed to not be of military issue and is thought by authorities to have been purchased by the decedent from a catalog at some point before his death.

He is currently undergoing testing by the DNA Doe Project.



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14 hours ago
Elizabeth Hosang

On Oct. 24, 1987, bird hunters found human remains in a remote wooded area of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Classified as a homicide, the cause and manner of death is undetermined.

And 36 years later, the victim, “Luce County John Doe,” remains unidentified.

Michigan State Police in alliance with the DNA Doe Project (DDP) continue seeking answers, but they need help from the community.

“We have a saying that you can’t solve your homicide without first knowing who your victim is,” said Hanna Friedlander, a human remains analyst who works in the Intelligence Operations Division of Michigan State Police.

“The Luce County Doe was found in Newberry, Michigan, right in McMillan Township in a wooded area,” Friedlander said.

Friedlander cannot comment on the details of the homicide. But she said the remains were mostly skeletal, dressed in military-style clothing. The victim wore a camouflage jacket, pants, green camouflage t-shirt, green belt, green wool socks and black combat-style boots.

“The clothing is military-style clothing, (but) it doesn’t mean that it’s from the military.
Most likely we are looking at someone who is out hunting or in the woods doing some sort of survival skill lesson for themselves. It’s really hard to say,” Friedlander said.

John Doe was a Caucasian male, 20-35 years old. He was about 5’8” tall with short, reddish-brown or auburn hair. The deceased had an injury that required a metal rod to mend a broken leg years before his death.

The man died four months to two years before being found.
 

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Luce County John Doe was found 45 years ago. Help us identify him before another year goes by.

Do you recognize this man?

Genealogical researchers have discovered that he has roots in Germany and the Torun region of Poland He likely had great- grandparents who immigrated to the US or may have lived in the Refrew, Ontario or Sault Ste. Marie area. We need the public’s help to spread the word and upload DNA profiles to GEDmatch. Someone is missing this man!

When he was found, this John Doe was dressed in camouflage military-style clothing. Years before his death, he had a badly broken leg requiring a surgical rod. Family names of interest from his family tree are Sattleberg, Radke, Papke and Zabel.
 

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