Reconstructions of the decedent, created in 1987 and 2000.
Reconstructions of the decedent, created in 1987 and 2000.
Date of Discovery: September 20, 1987
Location of Discovery: Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington
Estimated Date of Death: January to September 1987
State of Remains: Not recognizable - Charred/burned
Cause of Death: Unknown
Estimated Age: 20 - 40 years old
Race: White
Sex: Male
Height: 5'8" to 5'9"
Weight: 130 to 155 lbs.
Hair Color: Unknown
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: He had small feet, probably wearing a size 8 shoe.
Dentals: Available. Dental work included silver and gold fillings and possibly a root canal. It was not indigent dental work but was good quality care for the time frame.
Fingerprints: Not available.
DNA: Not available. The chimney heat destroyed DNA.
Clothing: Charred remnants of denim pants and a denim jacket, a lightweight shirt, and rubber-soled shoes. The coat was found under the body, apparently to shield him from the heat. The shirt was draped or wrapped around one ankle, possibly to bind an injury.
Jewelry: Unknown.
Additional Personal Items: Burnt remnant of a Continental Airlines ticket or baggage claim, but could not make out the numbers to trace the ticket.
A Georgia-Pacific West Inc. worker found the decedent's crumpled skeletal remains atop parallel pipes near the bottom inside chimney No. 9. The pipes, which carried water heated by boiler exhaust, were 240 degrees. The air was 95 degrees, unless the boiler was running, when temperatures reached 370.
Officials estimated the victim had been in the chimney a few days to a few weeks. Records showed the boiler operated for 34 hours during September 17 and September 18, two days before the body was found, plus more hours the previous month.
The chimney was difficult to reach. The person had to climb a number of stairs inside the plant, and then make his way to the roof of the building. Although a metal door was present at the base of the stack, it took police two hours to pry it open, making it an unfeasible way for the decedent to have gotten in.
A medical examination yielded the presence of broken bones, indicating the body probably fell into the stack. The unusual location of the body fueled speculation that the discovery was that of a murder or suicide victim. Nothing was located to indicate he was a worker, and no workers were reported missing nor any abandoned vehicles located.
Agency Name: Bellingham Police Department
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: (360) 778-8800
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 87B-24528
Agency Name: Whatcom County Medical Examiner's Office
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: (360) 738-4557
Agency E-Mail: MedicalExaminer(at)co.whatcom.wa.us
Agency Case Number: A-34-1987
NCIC Case Number: U270367134
NamUs Case Number: UP77459
NamUs
Bellingham Police Department
L&C Missings Ribbons Organization
The Bellingham Herald Archive
KIRO TV 7 News Archive
KLIP Sun News Archive
Added: 10/30/2006; Last Updated: 03/26/2024
Questions or comments? Please contact appropriate member of the Area Team
** Listed information may be estimated.
Return Home