The Doe Network:
Case File 536UMNJ

Case closed.

1
Victim's Tattoo

Unidentified Black Male

  • The victim was discovered on April 5, 1983 in West Milford, Passaic county, New Jersey
  • Estimated Date of Death: 48 hours prior to discovery
  • Homicide Victim

Vital Statistics

  • Estimated age: Young
  • Approximate Height and Weight: 5'8"; 135 lbs.
  • Distinguishing Characteristics: Black "afro" hair-style, about one and a quarter inches tall. Slim build.
  • Dentals: Available. Metallic bridge with open face crowns. This type of dental treatment is not commonly rendered in the United States.
  • Clothing: Blue jeans and terry-cloth socks but no shirt.
  • Jewelry: A small yellow signet ring with the initials J.C., worn on the left ring finger, and a black digital Casio watch on left wrist.
  • Tattoos: He had a homemade tattoo --"My love"--written above a heart punctured with Cupid's arrow. (blue or black)
  • Fingerprints: Available.
  • Other: He is thought to be left handed because of the way the tattoo was done. From the length of his nails and circumstances of his death, he may have been homosexual. The autopsy pointed to a possible tie to the West Indies that could be related to hair texture.

Case History
The victim had been tied up and covered in a brown blanket. Besides evidence of strangulation, there were no other wounds.
The victim tested negative for use of alcohol or drugs with no traces evident in his body.
Nearby Jefferson was home to a bar patronized by homosexuals. Jefferson is accessible by Route 23, which is where the body was discovered. Police are uncertain whether John Doe was killed in West Milford or simply deposited there because of proximity to the highway and a degree of isolation.
He had no military or criminal history as his fingerprints were not in the system.
He might be from the Greater Paterson area.

Investigators
If you have any information about this case please contact:
West Milford Police Department
Detective Joseph Walker
973-728-2802
You may remain anonymous when submitting information.

NCIC Number:
Not Entered
Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.

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Questions or comments? Please contact appropriate member of the Area Team

Last Updated: 8/10/2012 - By: BR / Web Assist