Sketches and 3D reconstructions of the victim.
Sketches and 3D reconstructions of the victim.
Date of Discovery: October 25, 2003
Location of Discovery: Orangeburg, Rockland County, New York
Estimated Date of Death: 2002-2003
State of Remains: Skeletal
Cause of Death: Possible strangulation
Estimated Age: 29-39 years old
Race: Black
Sex: Male
Height: 5'6"
Weight: Unknown, but had small frame.
Hair Color: Unknown
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Possibly had a light complexion.
Dentals: Available. Gap between front teeth. Several of the victim's teeth remained intact, indicating dental work had been done.
Fingerprints: Not available.
DNA: Available.
Clothing: DTEK blue jeans (size 34 waist 32 length); a black belt (size 34); Air Jordan sneakers (white with red trim and a red flap); shirt with red trim (size 9); extra-large white Fruit of the Loom t-shirt; boxer shorts and hite sport socks with green stripe across toe.
Jewelry: A small gold hoop earring.
Additional Personal Items: Unknown
The victim was located in a wooded area in a ravine on Clausland Mountain in Orangeburg, New York on October 25, 2003. Five hikers found the remains in a ravine at about 16.40. The hikers were attracted by the red and white sneakers as they walked atop a stone wall abutting Clausland Mountain Road, between Tackamack Park and Greenbush Road, about a 1/4 mile west of Valenza Court.
Police believe the man was killed elsewhere and his body dumped in the woods. Authorities are working on the premise that the man was already dead and people were driving around, stopped in the area and tossed the body down the ravine. They dont believe he accidentally fell. The clothing found at the scene indicated that the body was placed there during warmer weather.
There is no indication, based on the clothes, that the body was bothered by animals. The clothing had no blood stains or bullet and knife wounds, and there was no evidence of head injuries.
Police don't believe the man lived in Rockland, since there are no active missing person reports that fit the general description of the victim. A nationwide missing persons alert has not turned up any names that fit the man's profile. Police are focusing on Westchester County and Bergen County, NJ.
DTEK jeans may indicate the victim had ties to northern New Jersey, New York City, Westchester or Rockland. The inexpensive jeans are manufactured in Oakland, NJ., and sold at warehouse outlets, like Costco in Spring Valley and similar businesses in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Westchester County.
Given the isolated area where the body was discovered, police believe the people who dumped the victim knew the area. There was no evidence of suicide or that the man died of natural causes at the site. The bones were missing from the back of the vertebrae of the throat area. That could mean the victim was strangled.
Agency Name: Rockland County Medical Examiner
Agency Contact Person: Lori Bruski
Agency Phone Number: 845-364-2826 or 817-718-7904
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 03-624
Agency Name: Orangetown Police Department
Agency Contact Person: Det. Lt. John McAndrew
Agency Phone Number: 845-359-3700 or 845-359-2121
Agency E-Mail: nysvicap(at)troopers.ny.gov
Agency Case Number: 03-624
NCIC Case Number: U420004679
NamUs Case Number: 13894
NamUs
New York State Police
The Journal News
Added: Prior to 2011; Last Updated: 2/2/18
Questions or comments? Please contact appropriate member of the Area Team
** Listed information may be estimated.
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