Police search for identity of dead man, found in marsh

Officials say they don’t know how the man died in the Beggar’s Tick Natural Area, and are still searching for clues as to who he was …

Members of the Portland Police Bureau and Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team confer with a Portland Fire & Rescue Battalion Chief, outside the bog where an unidentified body was found.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

The mystery of the remains of a deceased man, found in the Beggar’s Tick Natural Area along SE 111th Avenue between SE Foster Road and Harold Street, began at 10:00 a.m. on June 27.

“At that time, a Portland Parks & Recreation employee found a body in the marsh,” said Portland Police Bureau Public Information Officer Sgt. Pete Simpson. “Based on the initial observations, the body has been in the water for quite some time.”

Portland Fire & Rescue Battalion Chief walks into the area where the deceased was located.

Portland Fire & Rescue, and Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team responded to the site, along with a representative of the Oregon State Medical Examiner to collect the remains of the deceased.

The following day, Simpson revealed, “The person has not yet been identified; the Bureau’s Missing Persons Unit is continuing to work to identify the deceased, who is believed to have been in the water for at least two months. The Oregon State Medical Examiner did not find any signs of trauma during the autopsy.”

Officials hope that these personal items, found with the deceased, will help identify the individual.

The person is described as a white male, 50 to 60 years old, 5’5″ tall, medium build, light facial hair or stubble, missing some teeth, wearing Nike velcro-strap shoes, hospital-type ankle socks with grip on the bottom, and dark-colored denim pants.

In his possession was a key fob to a Ford vehicle, other keys stamped “Curly’s” (which investigators believe to be Curly’s Locksmith in Vancouver), wearing some jewelry, including a ring with a Harley Davidson logo.

Anyone with information about this person is asked to contact Detective Lori Fonken at 503-823-1081, missing@portlandoregon.gov.

Comments are closed.