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#Post#: 6047--------------------------------------------------
MR. BONES: WM, 30-35, found in Bedford County, PA - 9 October 19
58
By: Akoya Date: May 30, 2020, 10:21 am
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HTML https://i.imgur.com/DQq6Ctb.jpg
The victim's partial skeletal remains were found in an wooded
area approximately 1/2 mile north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike's
Midway Service Plazas, in Bedford, and about 85 miles east of
Pittsburgh. He had died from a gunshot wound to the head, but
while authorities believe the gunshot wound was self-inflicted,
they don't know if it was an accident or suicide.
Investigators believe the man was well off because of the gold
dental work and the contact lenses, which were unusual for the
time. The contact lenses were traced to a Chicago manufacturer
and fitted by an Illinois physician, but there are no records of
the buyer. The books suggest the victim may have benefited from
higher education, or may have been a serious student of poetry
or literature.
The rifle was sold in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1939, but no
further tracing of the gun's ownership could be found. The brass
key hasn't been matched to any location. The dental work has
yielded no matches.
While the victim appeared well-equipped for camping,
investigators found no eating utensils nor food supplies.
Investigators do not believe the victim was from the Bedford
area. Anecdotal information may connect this victim to the state
of Kentucky: Prior to the victim's discovery, in September 1957,
local police in Bedford Borough encountered a loitering man in
possession of a rifle. This unidentified man said he was enroute
from Kentucky to Canada.
Anthropologic examinations conducted in 1959 and again in 2003
revealed the victim to have been an adult male of European
ancestry, likely between the ages of 30-35 with a living stature
of about 6'4" (+/- 2").
#Post#: 6048--------------------------------------------------
Re: MR. BONES: WM, 30-35, found in Bedford County, PA - 9 Octobe
r 1958
By: Akoya Date: May 30, 2020, 10:23 am
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HTML https://identifyus.org/en/cases/8011
Case Information
Status Unidentified
Case number 2-C-3-55
Date found October 09, 1958 06:30
Date created October 13, 2010 13:52
Date last modified July 22, 2013 15:15
Investigating agency
date QA reviewed October 15, 2010 05:02
Local Contact (ME/C or Other)
Agency Bedford Cnty Coroners Ofc
Phone 814-652-9384
Case Manager
Name David Clemens
Phone 814-696-6100
Exclusions
The following people have been ruled out as being this decedent:
First Name Last Name Year of Birth State LKA
Charles Conner 1920 Ohio
Othel Johnson 1915 New Mexico
Max Metcalf 1925 Wisconsin
Clarence Moore 1930 Kansas
#Post#: 6049--------------------------------------------------
Re: MR. BONES: WM, 30-35, found in Bedford County, PA - 9 Octobe
r 1958
By: Akoya Date: May 30, 2020, 10:24 am
---------------------------------------------------------
HTML https://identifyus.org/en/cases/8011
NamUs UP # 8011
[img]
HTML https://identifyus.org/en/medias/thumb/7365[/img]
ME/C Case Number: 2-C-3-55
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
30 to 35 year old White Male
Case Report - NamUs UP # 8011
Case Information
Status Unidentified
Case number 2-C-3-55
Date found October 09, 1958 06:30
Date created October 13, 2010 13:52
Date last modified July 22, 2013 15:15
Investigating agency
date QA reviewed October 15, 2010 05:02
Local Contact (ME/C or Other)
Agency Bedford Cnty Coroners Ofc
Phone 814-652-9384
Case Manager
Name David Clemens
Phone 814-696-6100
Demographics
Estimated age Adult - Pre 40
Minimum age 30 years
Maximum age 35 years
Race White
Ethnicity Other
Sex Male
Weight (pounds) , Cannot Estimate
Height (inches) 76, Estimated
Body Parts Inventory (Check all that apply)
One or more limbs not recovered
One or both hands not recovered
Body conditions
Not recognizable - Partial skeletal parts only
Probable year of death 1957 to 1958
Estimated postmortem interval 1 Years
Circumstances
Location Found
GPS coordinates 40 02 14 -78 29 37
Address 1
Address 2
City Bedford
State Pennsylvania
Zip code 15522
County Bedford
Circumstances
Partial skeletal remains discovered October 9, 1958, in a wooded
area approximately 1/2 mile North of the Pennsylvania Turnpike's
Midway Service Plazas, Bedford Township, Bedford County,
Pennsylvania. Extensive camping equipment, personal supplies,
high powered rifle and ammunition also found nearby. Most of the
camping equipment appears to be newer and shows little or no
indication of use; also, though apparently well equipped for
camping, investigators found no eating utensils (silverware) or
food supplies. One science-related and two poetry books found
with the camping equipment suggests the victim may have
benefited from higher education, or to have been a serious
student of poetry or literature. There was an associated key
that had been duplicated by Active Locksmiths, 195 Avenue A, New
York, NY. But this was a locksmiths stamp and the unidentified
person is NOT ASSOCIATED with the property at this address.
Initial investigators felt certain the victim was not native to
Bedford County, Pennsylvania.
In 1958, investigators determined the rifle to have been shipped
from the manufacturer to a store in Fort Wayne, Indiana. No
further tracing of the rifle's ownership could be effected.
Anecdotal information may connect this victim to the state of
Kentucky: Prior to the victim's discovery, in September 1957,
local police in Bedford Borough encountered a loitering man in
possession of a rifle; this unidentified man said he was enroute
from Kentucky to Canada.
Anthropologic examinations conducted in 1959 and again in 2003
revealed the victim to have been an adult male of European
ancestry, likely between the ages of 30-35 with a living stature
of about 6'4" (+/- 2").
The death cannot be classified as natural.
GPS data is approximate.
There is no ME/C case number. The Pennsylvania State Police
incident number is 2-C-3-55.
Inquiries, please contact:
Pennsylvania State Police, Attn: Criminal Investigation Unit,
171 Arthur L. Hershey Drive, Bedford, PA 15522, telephone
814-623-6133,
**OR **
Pennsylvania State Police, Troop G Headquarters, Attn: Criminal
Investigation Assessment Unit, 1510 North Juniata Street,
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648, telephone 814-693-6100.
Physical
Hair color Unknown or Completely Bald
Head hair
Scientific examiner posits: straight hair, brown to dark brown
in color.
Left eye color Unknown or Missing
Right eye color Unknown or Missing
Artificial body parts
and aids
Plastic contact lens discovered. Rx is known.
Skeletal findings
Adult male of European ancestry, liley between the ages of 30-35
with a living stature of about 6'4" (+/- 2"). Cranial vault
described as being large, round and with a narrow nasal
aperture. Available bones are described as being "robust." No
scientific estimate of weight is available.
Fingerprints
Status: Fingerprint information is currently not available
Clothing and accessories are described below
Clothing on body
From the initial 1958 report: Gray wool hunting socks with red
top; blue denim dungarees with wide black leather belt; white
tee shirt; white jockey type shorts; black leather motorcycle
type jacket with full length zipper and slant zipper pockets; no
hat found.
Clothing with body
Numerous articles of clothing found nearby.
Footwear
From the initial 1958 report: Black "engineering" boots, length
12 5/8", width of sole 4 1/2", heel 3 1/4 ", top height 10 1/2",
buckles on the outside.
Jewelry
None found.
Eyewear
Right corneal plastic contact lens. Specifications (Rx) known.
Other items found
with body
Extensive amount of camping equipment, toiletries, high powered
rifle, ammunition, wallet containing U.S. currency and a single
key. There was an associated key that had been duplicated by
Active Locksmiths, 195 Avenue A, New York, NY. But this was a
locksmiths stamp and the unidentified person is NOT ASSOCIATED
with the property at this address.
Dental
Status: Dental information / charting is available and entered
DNA
Status: Sample submitted - Tests complete
#Post#: 6050--------------------------------------------------
Re: MR. BONES: WM, 30-35, found in Bedford County, PA - 9 Octobe
r 1958
By: Akoya Date: May 30, 2020, 10:26 am
---------------------------------------------------------
HTML http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/585umpa.html
Case File: 585UMPA
The Doe Network
HTML https://i.imgur.com/579D6rL.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/ZPUAZc3.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/bOoLQBw.jpg
HTML https://i.imgur.com/F142cm2.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/F142cm2.jpg
Artistic rendering of the victim; Victim's jeans, backpack,
camping mess kit, and rifle case
Unidentified Male
Date of Discovery: October 9, 1958
Location of Discovery: Bedford Township, Bedford County,
Pennsylvania
Estimated Date of Death: 1 year prior
State of Remains: Not recognizable - Partial skeletal parts only
Cause of Death: Self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head
Physical Description
** Listed information is approximate
Estimated Age: 30-35 years old
Race: White
Gender: Male
Height: 6'2" to 6'6"
Weight: Unknown
Hair Color: Brown to dark brown, straight.
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Robust build. Wore plastic
contact lenses. Of European ancestry. Cranial vault described as
being large, round and with a narrow nasal aperture.
Dentals: Available. Gold dental work.
Fingerprints: Not available.
DNA: Available.
Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: From the initial 1958 report: Gray wool hunting socks
with red top, blue denim dungarees with a wide black leather
belt, white tee shirt, white jockey type shorts, black leather
motorcycle type jacket with full length zipper and slant zipper
pockets, and black "engineering" boots, length 12 5/8", width of
sole 4 1/2", heel 3 1/4 ", top height 10 1/2", with buckles on
the outside. Numerous articles of clothing found nearby. No hat
was found.
Jewelry: None located.
Additional Personal Items:
Right corneal plastic contact lens - specifications (Rx) known
Books - two poetry and one science-related
Extensive amount of camping equipment including a canteen and
backpack. Most appears new with little to no indication of use.
Toiletries
Black wallet containing $38
High-powered .30-06 Springfield rifle and gun case
Ammunition
Brass key with "Active 195 Avenue A" stamped on it. It had been
duplicated by Active Locksmiths, 195 Avenue A, New York, NY, but
this was a locksmith's stamp and the unidentified person is NOT
ASSOCIATED with the property at this address.
Case History
The victim's partial skeletal remains were found in an wooded
area approximately 1/2 mile north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike's
Midway Service Plazas, in Bedford, and about 85 miles east of
Pittsburgh. He had died from a gunshot wound to the head, but
while authorities believe the gunshot wound was self-inflicted,
they don't know if it was an accident or suicide.
Investigators believe the man was well off because of the gold
dental work and the contact lenses, which were unusual for the
time. The contact lenses were traced to a Chicago manufacturer
and fitted by an Illinois physician, but there are no records of
the buyer. The books suggest the victim may have benefited from
higher education, or may have been a serious student of poetry
or literature.
The rifle was sold in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1939, but no
further tracing of the gun's ownership could be found. The brass
key hasn't been matched to any location. The dental work has
yielded no matches.
While the victim appeared well-equipped for camping,
investigators found no eating utensils nor food supplies.
Investigators do not believe the victim was from the Bedford
area. Anecdotal information may connect this victim to the state
of Kentucky: Prior to the victim's discovery, in September 1957,
local police in Bedford Borough encountered a loitering man in
possession of a rifle. This unidentified man said he was enroute
from Kentucky to Canada.
Anthropologic examinations conducted in 1959 and again in 2003
revealed the victim to have been an adult male of European
ancestry, likely between the ages of 30-35 with a living stature
of about 6'4" (+/- 2").
Investigating Agency(s)
If you have any information about this case please contact;
Agency Name: Bedford County Coroner's Office
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 814-652-9384
Agency Name: Pennsylvania State Police
Agency Contact Person: Criminal Investigation Unit
Agency Phone Number: 814-623-6133
Agency Name: Pennsylvania State Police
Agency Contact Person: Troop G
Agency Phone Number: 814-693-6100
Agency Case Number: LE: 2-C-3-55
NCIC Case Number: N/A
NamUs Case Number: UP #8011
Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with
information regarding this case.
Information Source(s)
NamUs
The Post Gazette News Archive (February 7, 2004)
The Daily Courier News Archive (October 16, 1958)
#Post#: 6051--------------------------------------------------
Re: MR. BONES: WM, 30-35, found in Bedford County, PA - 9 Octobe
r 1958
By: Akoya Date: May 30, 2020, 10:29 am
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Pennsylvania Turnpike Midway Service Plaza, Bedford,
Pennsylvania
Address: 1152 Shed Rd, Bedford, PA 15522
Open 24 hours
HTML https://i.imgur.com/tToyeVX.jpg
HTML https://i.imgur.com/s8U6BQB.jpg
HTML https://i.imgur.com/RC2HdV0.jpg
#Post#: 6052--------------------------------------------------
Re: MR. BONES: WM, 30-35, found in Bedford County, PA - 9 Octobe
r 1958
By: Akoya Date: May 30, 2020, 10:30 am
---------------------------------------------------------
HTML http://pennsylvaniamissing.com/unidentified/uids1957to1989.html
Pennsylvania Missing Persons
and Unidentified Victims
Bedford - October 9, 1958
HTML https://i.imgur.com/579D6rL.jpg
Mr Bones
Victim's Vital Statistics:
White Male
Est. Age: 30-35 yrs old
Est. Height: 6' - 6'4"
Est. Weight: 200 lbs
Brown hair
Eye color: n/a, skeletal
Location: Bedford
Contact: PA State Police
Troop G
Phone # : 814-623-6133
HTML http://pennsylvaniamissing.com/images/99_mr_bones_mess_kit_barrel.jpg
On October 9, 1958, a couple of hours after sunrise, a
brush-cutting crew was clearing farmland about 1/2 mile behind
the PA Turnpike's North Midway Plaza in Bedford when they
stumbled upon the worn and weathered skeleton and possessions of
a man who has come to be known affectionately as "Mr Bones". He
had been there for at least 6 months but probably as long as two
years.
There was no apparent means of transportation. An abandoned car
on the turnpike was determined not to be related to the
unidentified bones. So how did he get there?
50 years later, the mystery of Mr Bones remains unsolved..
Theories? Ideas? Please feel free to email me at
contact@pennsylvaniamissing.com
Link to PA Midway Plazas
HTML http://www.gribblenation.com/breezewood/midway.html
#Post#: 6053--------------------------------------------------
Re: MR. BONES: WM, 30-35, found in Bedford County, PA - 9 Octobe
r 1958
By: Akoya Date: May 30, 2020, 10:31 am
---------------------------------------------------------
HTML http://pennsylvaniamissing.com/585umpamrbones.html
Pennsylvania Missing Persons
and Unidentified Victims
HTML https://i.imgur.com/DQq6Ctb.jpg
Unidentified White Male
"Mr Bones"
Found October 9, 1958 in a wooded area near Bedford, Bedford
County.
Vital Statistics
Estimated Age: 30 to 35 years old
Estimated Height: 6'4" plus or minus 2"
Estimated Weight: 200 lbs, "robust build"
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Unknown
State of Remains: Skeletal
Estimated Time of Death: 6 months to a year, possibly longer.
DNA: Available
Dentals: Available, gold dental work.
Other: One plastic contact lens
Clothing: Heavy black leather "motorcycle" jacket, black leather
engineer-type boots, blue denim pants with wide black leather
belt, white t-shirt, jockey type shorts, gray wool socks with
red top.
Items Found With Remains: A 30-06 Springfield rifle with one
bullet fired from it and two left in the chamber;
three boxes of ammunition;
sleeping bag or bed roll,
backpack;
spare underwear;
towels, mess kit and shaving kit;
wallet with $23 in it;
heavy brass key with "Active 195 Avenue A" stamped on it, brand
name "Unger";
three books - "100 Modern Poems", "Reading Poems" and "Science
and the Modern World".
Case Details
On Thursday, October 9, 1958, shortly after sunrise, a
maintenance foreman for the Sun Pipeline Company and his crew of
four men were clearing brush from a pipeline right-of-way that
runs through the Chalybeate area of Bedford, about a 1/2 mile
from the PA Turnpike's north Midway Plaza.
The foreman stumbled upon the worn and weathered skeleton of a
man who has come to be known affectionately as "Mr Bones". His
remains were scattered along a ravine, possibly due to a stream
that runs through the ravine. Many of his bones were held
together by the clothes he wore. His possessions were found
nearby.
It was estimated that he lay there for at least 6 to 8 months,
possibly longer.
There was no apparent means of transportation. A car that had
been abandoned on the turnpike around the time that Mr Bones
died was determined not to be associated with him, so how he got
to where he was found remains a mystery. His camping equipment,
including a mess kit, appeared to be new but there were no
eating utensils and no indication that he had brought food
supplies.
Cause of death was a gunshot wound that shattered his skull, but
whether it was an accident, suicide or homicide remains unknown.
Investigators learned that the rifle had been shipped to a store
in Fort Wayne, IN in 1938 but there were no records indicating
who had purchased the gun.
Investigators believed the man to be somewhat well-off because
of his gold dental work and a single plastic contact lens - a
rare item at that time. The lens was traced to a manufacturer in
Chicago and was fitted by an Illinois doctor, but no records
exist indicating who purchased the lenses. It is not believed
that he was native to the Bedford area.
Please click on the images below for an enlarged view
NamUs
The Doe Network
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
NewspaperArchive.com
Huntingdon Daily News
Bedford Gazette
#Post#: 6054--------------------------------------------------
Re: MR. BONES: WM, 30-35, found in Bedford County, PA - 9 Octobe
r 1958
By: Akoya Date: May 30, 2020, 10:33 am
---------------------------------------------------------
HTML http://gothamist.com/2012/09/17/cold_case_hobbyist_trying_to_crack.php
A Cold Case Hobbyist Is Trying To Crack A 50 Year Old Crime
BY JEN CARLSON IN ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ON SEP 17, 2012 2:00 PM
HTML https://i.imgur.com/V8nwsPJ.jpg
Could you help solve a fifty year old missing persons case? The
case of an "Unidentified White Male," aka "Case File 585UMPA,"
aka "Mr. Bones" resurfaced recently when a cold case hobbyist
contacted Levys' Unique NYabout it, asking for some help. The
website was unable to help, and they're now bringing it to the
public's attention in case anyone has any information.
What is known?
"Mr. Bones" had "a connection to the Greenwich Village bohemian
poetry scene in the 1950s."
He was over 6-feet tall, weighed around 200 lbs, and had brown
hair.
His remains were found on October 9th, 1958 about a half mile
north of the Midway plaza of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, near
Bedford, Pa.
When he was found, he had been dead for months, after being shot
in the head.
At the time of his death he was wearing a motorcycle jacket,
dungarees, and engineer boots.
He also had a few items on him: a mess kit, a key that had
"Active 195 Avenue A" stamped on it, as well as a few books of
poetry.
He had "gold dental work and contact lenses, which were uncommon
and expensive in 1958."
It's unclear if his death was a homicide or suicide, and if he
was hitchhiking at the time. For more clues, there's been an
ongoing conversation at WebSleuths, where on poster believes
"The inscription on the key is the keymaker's address," and
notes that section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike had "separate
service plazas on each side of the Turnpike, meaning that if he
were dropped off while hitchhiking, he would presumably have
been heading west if his body was found north of the turnpike."
Take your best shot at helping to crack this one...
#Post#: 6055--------------------------------------------------
Re: MR. BONES: WM, 30-35, found in Bedford County, PA - 9 Octobe
r 1958
By: Akoya Date: May 30, 2020, 10:38 am
---------------------------------------------------------
HTML http://unidentified.wikia.com/wiki/Mr_Bones
Mr. Bones
"Mr. Bones" is the nickname given to a male found in 1958 after
he committed suicide.
Mr. Bones
HTML https://i.imgur.com/DQq6Ctb.jpg
Sex Male
Race White
Location Bedford Township, Pennsylvania
Found October 9, 1958
Unidentified for 59 years
Postmortem interval 6 months - 1+ years
Body condition Skeletal
Age approximation 30 - 35
Height approximation 6'2 - 6'6
Weight approximation 200 pounds
Cause of death Gunshot (suicide)
#Post#: 6056--------------------------------------------------
Re: MR. BONES: WM, 30-35, found in Bedford County, PA - 9 Octobe
r 1958
By: Akoya Date: May 30, 2020, 10:39 am
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PA Turnpike
HTML https://i.imgur.com/bcS2MRA.jpg
The original North Midway Service Plaza, circa 1968. Photo
credit to the Library of Congress
HTML https://i.imgur.com/vZgO1AG.jpg
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