Public’s Help Sought to Identify Dead Man
Police are asking the public’s help in identifying the body of a man found in February in thick foliage beneath the Hollywood-Ventura freeway junction.
The man, who anthropologists estimated to be 40 or 50 years old and 5 feet 5 inches tall, was wearing an unusual, rough-hewn gold-colored ring with two glass stones, dark dress pants and tennis shoes, according to LAPD Det. Mike Coffey of the North Hollywood Division.
The man also wore two distinctive shirts: a hand-sewn black-and-white plaid shirt that had the collar and sleeve unattached--but not torn off--and lying nearby; and a white T-shirt with navy trim and “Jerry’s Balboa Tennis Warehouse in Encino†printed on the front, Coffey said.
His entire bottom row of teeth were dentures, Coffey said, and a pack of Marlboro cigarettes and bifocal reading glasses were found in his pockets.
Caltrans workers found the body while cleaning the greenery beneath the freeways about 11 a.m. Feb. 16.
According to police, anthropologists estimated the body had been in the bushes between six months to one year and was fully decomposed, leaving detectives few physical clues as to how he may have died.
Homicide detectives suspect foul play because the man’s shirts had apparent slash marks through them, Coffey said.
Anyone with information is asked to call North Hollywood detectives at (818) 756-8831.
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