JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It was January 20, 1990. A couple from Fernandina Beach was on a hike in Little Talbot Island State Park when the stumbled across a body in the brush.
The elements and time had reduced the body to just skeletal remains.
"Later on, during the investigation, it is revealed he had been deceased approximately six months," Det. Travis Oliver with the Cold Case Unit at the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said.
The man had been shot and left in the brush about a quarter mile off the trail. He had no ID on him and there was no way to do fingerprints, but a sketch was created of what he may have looked like and investigators searched through missing persons reports.
Oliver says JSO checked missing persons reports and teletypes were sent out to surrounding agencies, but nothing matched the description of the victim.
Here is how the man is described by investigators:
- White male
- Believed to be at least 50-years-old
- Between 6'2" and 6'4" in height
- Wore a size 13 shoe and had a 40 inch waistline
- Extensive dental work and appeared to be in work clothes.
A pipe for a tobacco product was found nearby, and a black pen believed to be "government" issued was found on him. Oliver says this was standard issue for military and government in the 1990's and a pipe for a tobacco product was found nearby.
JSO also released a photo of blue work pants and blue shoes. He was also wearing a gray shirt and a belt, possibly with a pattern.
A car key was also found near him.
"We had a key to a General Motors Product, some type of car made by the General Motors Company, but we never found a car in the vicinity or anything that key would have gone to," Oliver said.
He says the man's DNA has been added to crime databases, but there have been no results so far. They are hoping that by releasing these photos and details, someone might recognize who this man could be and then a deeper investigation into his murder can begin.
If you know anything, contact the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office non-emergency number at 904-630-0500 or CrimeStoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS(8477).
***WARNING: THE PHOTOS BELOW INCLUDE GRAPHIC IMAGES OF SKELETAL REMAINS.***
