Overview of 1998 Middlesex County, John Doe
The unidentified deceased male was seen floating about 400 yards off the shore of Saybrook Point, where Harbor One Marina is located. A fisherman spotted the body after seeing part of a sneaker attached to a foot floating above the water's surface. When the fisherman came ashore, he notified an employee of the marina, who then notified police.
An anthropologist and a dental forensics expert examined the body and determined that the man was white, possibly Latino, about 30 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed 200 pounds. The autopsy found two holes in the back of the man's head, but there were conflicting reports as to what caused them.
Police believe he floated down the river to Old Saybrook and that the condition of the body indicates he was in a marshy area before high water moved the remains to the river.
Police said there were few people around the area when the body was found. Harbor One Marina had not yet opened for the season.
Identifiers Dentals: Available. His front teeth protruded and his upper left front tooth slightly overlapped the upper right front tooth. Postmortem avulsion and accounted for #7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28. Fingerprints: Not available DNA: Not Available Clothing & Personal Items Clothing: Black Fila sneakers size 9.5; black socks (degenerated); a tan Lavon, lightweight jacket or windbreaker with a purple zipper, size XL and waist-length; remnants of black Levi's pants, style: 550s, waist: 36, length: 32. Jewelry: Unknown Additional Personal Items: A silver butane lighter bearing an eagle standing on a globe and the number "2688" was found in a pocket. The lighter was found to be of Chinese make.