Unkown Murder Victim: John Doe #3043

Died in Cuyahoga County, Cleveland Ohio

Died/Found: 8-24-1986

Last Update: 7-17-2024

On 8-24-1986 at approximately 11:00 p.m., several residents in the vicinity of 3025 Woodhill Rd., Cleveland, OH, 44104, heard several shots fired. They also observed a black male lying on the ground in the rear yard of the apartment complex at 3025 Woodhill Rd. CPD and EMS responded and saw upon arrival that male sustained an apparent gunshot wound. The decedent didn't respond to CPR efforts and was pronounced deceased at 11:51 p.m. The victim was approximately 20-25 years old. He was wearing a navy-blue fishnet, short sleeve, crew neckline shirt, a white knit with leather trim jacket, gray flannel pants, two pair of red nylon undershorts, one pair boxer style and one pair brief style (both red nylon), a two-tone gray, reversible belt, blue and green argyle pattern socks, and black loafer style shoes. This man had a mustache and chin beard. He had a linear scar on the left forearm; scar on left wrist; large somewhat irregular flat scar on the left lower leg measuring 9"x3”. He was blood type "O".

Warning: Graphic Imagery (Postmortem)

Victims Face. This is what the restoration is based on.	Face with flash.	Shoes and socks worn by decedent.

Personal Theory on Death

I believe the victim was shot in a mugging, and had his identity stolen (most likely a drivers license inside a wallet) by the perpetrator. No one seems to have seen a shooter or the actual murder. He may have been in an area of the city that he did not live in, hence why no one recognized him. Sparse details exist of the decadents murder. Its possible that racial prejudice caused a sloppy or incomplete investigation, as officers may have viewed the victim as just another dead black man. This is not confirmed though, but it is plausible.

I have also noted some blood spatter on his face, but it's unclear if it is his own or the perpetrators. He has a bump on the upper-left side of his forehead, possibly suggesting a struggle that occurred before the shooting.

What is my connection? (Or, why do I care)

I originally saw this mans case on a TikTok account that is dedicated to posting John Doe/Missing Persons cases. I'm not sure what led me to follow this mans story, but it peaked my interest regardless. I am not related to him, nor do I know anyone related to him (if I did, this wouldn't be a mystery). The reason why I am doing this is simple: I want this man to live on. He may be long dead, but I am now preserving his memory. They say that you die twice. The second death is when someone says your name for the last time. However, in the 21st Century, you can now die a third time; when people see your image for the last time. Now that I've made this website, I have extended his third life. It may not bring him back, but at least someone cares about him. I also hope to document his case more, and make the information more accessible. If more details of his case exist (and it is available to the public) then I want to preserve it.

Updates from the Webmaster

4-19-23 5pm

There are many details of this case that are frustratingly missing. What caliber was he shot with? How close was the gun fired to Doe's body? What angle was it shot from? As well as pictures of the crime scene and photos of his clothes. These all could have been documented in the 80's. And perhaps there were details like these found in the investigation. As of now, I've emailed the relevant PD and hope to be given more details of the case (or, more worryingly, be told that no more details exist!).

5-5-23 8pm

No updates yet. Automated email reply said "Hello, Thank you for contacting the Ohio Attorney General's Office Unsolved Homicides Initiative. Your email will be forwarded to the next available representative." Starting to doubt that anyone got it. I recieved this on April 19th, same day I emailed them.

6-1-23 8pm

I received an email back from the Attorney Generals Office on 5/31, however it simply told me to call the Cuyahoga County Coroner's Office. I've sent an email to them a few weeks ago as well, and i will wait for the response and update here.

7-26-24 7pm

Nothing so far. I will look for more information now that it is late 2024.

Sources

Websleuths

Namus

Doe Network

Ohio Attorney General