Police Seek Help Identifying 'John Doe'
The Detroit Police Department and the Michigan State Police are working together to identify the remains of a homicide victim found in a shallow grave on Detroit's west side in March 2008.
On March 14, 2008, investigators were called to the alley behind 7401 Mansfield St., where a set of unidentified human remains were found buried. An anthropologist later determined that these were the remains of a black male around 30 to 45 years old.
A clay facial reconstruction (seen at left), made by a Michigan State Police forensic artist Sarah Krebs, represents the man who was shot four times - once in the head and three times in the torso.
Krebs said the man whom police are trying to identify had several healed broken ribs, a healed broken nose, poor dental hygiene and possibly had indications of lung problems during life. She used witness tips about the case to create a scruffy beard and salt-and-pepper hair.
He was 5-feet-6-inches to 6-feet tall and was wearing a black button-up, short-sleeved shirt with a dramatic Chinese-style dragon on the front and back. A black leather sandal was also found, suggesting that he had died during a warmer month.
Police say his death may be drug-related.
Police are asking anyone with information to call 1-800-SPEAK-UP.
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