Reconstruction of the decedent; healed amputation of left second finger. To view postmortem photographs taken after funeral preparation, please click here and here.
Reconstruction of the decedent; healed amputation of left second finger. To view postmortem photographs taken after funeral preparation, please click here and here.
Date of Discovery: October 25, 1992
Location of Discovery: Spokane, Spokane County, Washington
Estimated Date of Death: 1-3 days prior
State of Remains: Recognizable face
Cause of Death: Natural - acute pneumonia secondary to bronchogenic carcinoma
Estimated Age: 40-60 years old
Race: White
Sex: Male
Height: 5'7" to 5'8"
Weight: 140 lbs.
Hair Color: Black and gray. Mustache and beard. The mustache measured 1 1/4 inches in length. The beard measured up to 2 inches in length and is whitish in appearance.
Eye Color: Brown.
Distinguishing Marks/Features: A small mole was noted on the left side of his nose; there was a scar located on the lower right area of the abdomen; the left hand second finger had an old amputation at the joint. There was a 2 inch scar noted on the top of the left forearm. This man, a likely smoker, may have had a medical history of lung cancer.
Dentals: Unknown (sources differ). Dental examination was possibly done by a local odontologist. The deceased had a partial lack of upper dentition, particularly the incisors, and the lower dentition is absent.
Fingerprints: Available.
DNA: Not available.
Clothing: He was wearing a dark green pair of sweat pants, gray corduroy pants, a belt, a blue, long sleeved, zip up jacket. A maroon pull over sleeveless sweater, a T-shirt with an inscription on the front that read: "MIKE'S BURGER ROYAL". This shirt also had a yellow crown with a red design. Also worn were a pair of gray socks with orange trim, a pair of dark green socks, and a knit cap with the insignia "DAILY RECORD" on the back of the cap.
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: There was a blue, cloth billfold and a pair of black, frame, bifocal glasses present. There was a near empty "Rollrich" red and white tobacco satchel containing a minimal amount of tobacco. A folded yellow tobacco "TOP" brand packet that is empty. The wallet contained multiple paper cards. An inscription inside the wallet reads "Ellen Lak." He had food stamps in his wallet, which may have indicated that he was receiving some form of state benefit at the time.
The decedent was located October 25, 1992 at East 500 Trent, in an area that was known as a transient camp in Spokane, Washington.
He was found lying on the ground by two men passing through who were transient. One of the men tried to wake him and realized that he was not breathing and contacted a local store owner to call police.
This man was obviously living as a transient and had all of his belongings nearby.
Fingerprints were obtained but there was no match found.
Agency Name: Spokane County Medical Examiner's Office
Agency Contact Person: Elizabeth Nelson
Agency Phone Number: 509-477-2296
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 92-0001
NCIC Case Number: Unknown
NamUs Case Number: 492
Former Hot Case Number: 70
NamUs
Spokane County Medical Examiner
Added: 2/27/07; Last Updated: 8/14/18
Questions or comments? Please contact appropriate member of the Area Team
** Listed information may be estimated.
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