DISCOVERY:
On April 3, 1978, a man working in a field underneath FM 2113 in Hewitt, McLennan County, Texas discovered the decomposing remains of an unidentified male in a concrete drainage culvert.
The vacant field was located near the intersection of Spring Valley Road and South Haven Drive, east of Hewitt Drive.
AUTOPSY:
An autopsy was performed on the remains, during which it was discovered John Doe had been deceased in the culvert for a few days before he was discovered.
The cause of death was determined to be a homicide, as he had suffered a single gunshot. It’s theorized he was killed elsewhere and then dumped where he was found.
DETAILS:
The deceased is described as a White male between the ages of 20 and 30. He stood at 5’8″ and weighed approximately 128 pounds. He had shoulder-length light brown hair, a moustache and a goatee, and brown eyes.
When found, he was wearing a white long-sleeved, button-front shirt with dark blue floral pattern, size M; blue Levi’s jeans, size 32; white tube socks with red and blue stripes; brown Wellington boots, size 10 D; and a necklace made of white puka shells and large black beads. Nearby, a silver-coloured “Snoopy” medallion was also located.
Due to his clothing, he was nicknamed “Disco Dan” by investigators.
John Doe had three crude tattoos: an off-center cross within a linear heart on his upper left arm; “RB” on his upper right arm; and the word “PEACE” at the top of his left forearm. He also reportedly had a 2cm linear “tattoo” to the right of the umbilicus, but this could have been a scar.
RULE OUTS:
1) Gary Lynn Mullinax, who went missing from Benton, Arkansas on May 9, 1976.
2) Richard Allen Rhyne, who went missing from Angleton, Texas on March 22, 1977.
3) Roger Jonathan Stenholt, who went missing from Phoenix, Arizona in 1978.
CASE CONTACT INFORMATION:
John Doe’s dentals and fingerprints are available for comparison.
Those with information regarding the identity of John Doe are asked to contact the Hewitt Police Department at 254-666-6272 or the Texas Department of Public Safety at 1-800-346-3243. Tips can also be called into the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences at 713-796-6827 or 832-927-5000.
Image Credit: Texas Department of Public Safety/The Doe Network
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