Reconstructions of the decedent
Reconstructions of the decedent
Date of Discovery: October 10, 2013
Location of Discovery: Jackson Township, Will County, Illinois
Estimated Date of Death: At least one year prior to discovery
State of Remains: Skeletal - only the cranium was located
Cause of Death: Unknown
Estimated Age: 30-60 years old
Race: White
Sex: Male
Height: Unknown
Weight: Unknown
Hair Color: Unknown
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: An abscess on the right upper jaw suggests the possibility of an oral infection.
A forensic anthropologist’s report stated that a healing fracture of the nasal bone is suggestive of a broken nose.
Another forensic anthropologist’s report indicates the fractures were more extensive than a simple broken nose and would have been noticeable in life.
The unhealed fractures could indicate the injury occurred shortly before death or wouldn’t heal due to chronic anemia caused by “porotic hyperstosis/cribra orbitalia,”
a condition more common in historic and prehistoric populations.
Dentals: Not Available. No teeth were recovered and the lower jaw was not recovered. Most of the teeth from the upper jaw came out postmortem.
Fingerprints: Not Available.
DNA: Available.
Clothing: None
Jewelry: None
Additional Personal Items: None
A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land survey team working near the Rowell Avenue Bridge reported the discovery of a skull on the bank of Jackson Creek, 220 feet downstream from Rowell Avenue,
between Manhattan and Brown roads. The site is approximately one mile south of the Chicagoland Speedway.
The Will County Coroner's Office and the Will County Sheriff's CSI Unit responded and determined the skull to be human. They searched the area with cadaver dogs but no other skeletal remains were found.
The area where the skull was found has many coyote dens surrounding it and is known for illegal garbage dumping. Authorities speculated that the skull might have been used by a medical school.
They also checked cemeteries close to the recovery site to see if the skull could have come from an eroded grave, but that scenario appeared unlikely.
While a forensic anthropologist's report revealed the man died at least a year before his skull was found, he could have passed away much longer ago than that.
Agency Name: Will County Coroner's Office
Agency Contact Person: Gene Sullivan, Deputy Coroner/Investigator OR Joe Piper, Investigator
Agency Phone Number: 815-727-8455
Agency E-Mail: gsullivan@willcountyillinois.com
Agency Case Number: 13-0422
Agency Name: Will County Sheriff's Office
Agency Contact Person: Unknown
Agency Phone Number: 815-727-8575
Agency E-Mail: Unknown
Agency Case Number: 13-0137070
NCIC Case Number: Unknown
NamUs Case Number: UP 11893
Former Hot Case Number: Unknown
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Added: 09/06/14; Last Updated: 05/11/21
Questions or comments? Please contact appropriate member of the Area Team.
** Listed information may be estimated.
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