OR KEENE CREEK BOY: WM, 1-2, found at Keene Creek Reservoir near Ashland, OR - 11 July 1963 *STEVIE CRAWFORD*

On July 11, 1963, the body of an unidentified child was recovered from the Keene Creek Reservoir along Highway 66 approximately 12 miles east of Ashland, Oregon. Based on the condition of the remains, it is believed the child died some time after October 1962. The child was wrapped in an aqua blanket and a handmade patchwork quilt with red gingham squares. Two iron assayer’s molds were also found wrapped in the quilt. The child may have suffered from Downs Syndrome or another congenital illness. The child was found wearing a red long-sleeved shirt with horizontal thin white stripes, gray corduroy pants with an elastic waist and a buckle for size adjustment, ankle socks and size 3 white shoes known as "Jumping Jacks". The clothing was likely purchased at “JC Penney”. It is believed the shoes were purchased at Norris Shoe Store in downtown Medford, Oregon. He was also wearing a cloth diaper with blue diaper pins that was covered with elastic pants. The reconstruction featured above is an artist’s rendering of what the John Doe may have looked like. Anyone with information should contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, reference case number 63-23011 or the Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office, reference case number 08-14146.

NCMEC -

Have you seen this child? JOHN DOE1963

Missing From: ASHLAND, OR. Missing Date: 07/11/1963. On July 11, 1963, the body of an unidentified child was recovered from the Keene Creek Reservoir along Highway 66 approximately 12 miles east of Ashland, Oregon. Based on the condition of the remains, it is believed the child died some time...

api.missingkids.org

#Identified. In 1963, baby #JohnDoe was recovered from the Keene Creek Reservoir along Highway 66 approximately 12 miles east of Ashland #OREGON

Based on the condition of the remains, it is believed the child died some time after October 1962. The child was wrapped in an aqua blanket and a handmade patchwork quilt with red gingham squares.

www.crimewatchers.net

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Demographics
Sex: Male
Race / Ethnicity: White / Caucasian
Estimated Age Group: PreAdolescent
Estimated Age Range (Years): 1-2
Estimated Year of Death: 1963
Height: 2' 8"(32 inches) , Estimated
Weight: 25 lbs, Estimated

Circumstances
Type: Unidentified Deceased
Date Body Found: July 23, 1963
Location: Ashland, Oregon
County: Jackson County
Circumstances of Recovery: THIS IS A JACKSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE CASE ASSISTED BY THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING & EXPLOITED CHILDREN (NCMEC). TIPS/LEADS CAN BE SUBMITTED TO NCMEC OR THE JACKSON COUNTY SO AT 541-774-8333. The remains of this unidentified child were recovered from the Keene County Reservoir, which is along Highway 66 in the mountains of Ashland, Oregon. The child was believed to be 1 year and 11 months of age at the time of his death. His body was wrapped in an aqua blanket and a handmade patchwork quilt with red gingham squares. Two iron assayer's molds were wrapped in the quilt, apparently to weigh the body down.

Details of Recovery
Inventory of Remains: All parts recovered
Condition of Remains: Not recognizable - Decomposing/putrefaction


Physical Description
Hair Color: Brown

Distinctive Physical Features

The child had characteristics of Down Syndrome.

Clothing and Accessories

The child was wearing a red long-sleeve shirt with thin white stripes, gray corduroy pants with an elastic waist and a buckle for size adjustment, and a cloth diaper with blue diaper pins and covered with elastic pants. The clothing was likely purchased at JC Penney. The child also wore anklet socks and white walker shoes known as "Jumping Jacks" that possibly had been purchased at Norris Shoe Store in downtown Medford, Oregon.

NamUs -

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Estimated Age: 1-2 years old
Race: White
Sex: Male
Height: 2'8" to 3'2"
Weight: 19 to 30 lbs.
Hair Color: Sandy blond to light brown, long.
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: May have suffered from a developmental disability or genetic abnormality. Characteristics of Down Syndrome.

Dentals: Available. Eight upper and eight lower teeth. One of his lower front teeth is bifurcated, having two roots and a surface split by an odd groove.
Fingerprints: Not available. Footprints available.
DNA: Available.

Clothing: Red, long-sleeved pullover shirt with thin white stripes, gray corduroy trousers with an elastic waist and a buckle for size adjustments, a cloth diaper fastened with blue diaper pins and covered with plastic pants, anklet socks, and white walker or learner shoes known as Jumping Jacks that had possibly been bought at Noble's Shoes in downtown Medford. The clothing likely was from J.C. Penney, possibly also originating from the Medford area.
Jewelry: Unknown.
Additional Personal Items: The body was wrapped in an aqua blanket and a handmade patchwork quilt that included lots of red, including red gingham squares. Two iron assayer's molds were wrapped in the quilt, apparently to weigh the body down. Thin brass wire and several loops of copper wire with a lead sheath and rubber insulation secured the bundle. Reports indicated that both the molds, designed for refining and casting metal, and the telephone wire were once common, but already old and seldom used by the time the boy was found.

Circumstances of Discovery
A man fishing in the Kenne Creek Reservoir along Highway 66 in the mountains east of Ashland hooked what he thought was a blanket roll. But the bundle, a blanket and quilt wrapped with wire, contained a boy's body.

An autopsy performed the next day estimated that his death likely happened after October 1962. Winter's freezing temperatures could have helped preserve the body, but the medical examiner couldn't be sure.

The condition of the body prevented him from determining a cause of death, but it was classified as a homicide.

The child's footprints were taken with the help of the FBI, and deputies spent days with magnifying glasses comparing them with imprints taken of newborns at local hospitals around the time they estimated he had been born.

During this period of time, dental records were rarely utilized by the medical examiners for identification purposes. This case inspired taking comprehensive dental information for future cases, as he would have been "easily identified" by his unique dentition.

The boy was buried in Medford. His grave marker reads "John Doe name only known to God."

The victim is known as "Keene Creek Boy" by investigators. Some agencies list July 23 as the date of discovery.

1144UMOR

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Yesterday, the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office, along with NCMEC and Parabon, unveiled an fresh forensic approximation of the Ashland Baby Doe! Hopefully this will help in his identification! - Ashland John Doe

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

‘Boy in a bundle’ cold case from 1963 solved

In 2009, KOIN 6 News traveled to southern Oregon to meet with Jackson County Detective Colin ***an, who was determined to solve this cold case and give the body a name.

www.koin.com

‘Boy in a bundle’ cold case from 1963 solved​

A private company contracted to check familial DNA with companies like 23AndMe confirmed a match. The little boy has been identified as Stevie Crawford.

Stevie had family members in New Mexico who told detectives the boy had Downs Syndrome. His mother returned from a tirp and told family members they wouldn’t have to worry about Stevie anymore.

The mother has since died.

Stevie’s headstone with the inscription, “Baby Doe, known only to God” always haunted Detective ***an, who is now retired.

***an told KOIN 6 News that Stevie’s family members plan on returning his remains from Medford back to New Mexico to be buried in a family plot 58 years after his body was found in a bundle in Keene Creek.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Almost 60 years. I have to admit I thought this one would never be solved. So glad that this company took on his case and was able to get him back to his family.

 

[Kimster]

Holy cow! I never thought they would identify this little boy. Good on them!

 

[Breddrnc01]

‘Boy in a bundle’ cold case from 1963 solved

In 2009, KOIN 6 News traveled to southern Oregon to meet with Jackson County Detective Colin ***an, who was determined to solve this cold case and give the body a name.

www.koin.com

‘Boy in a bundle’ cold case from 1963 solved​

A private company contracted to check familial DNA with companies like 23AndMe confirmed a match. The little boy has been identified as Stevie Crawford.

Stevie had family members in New Mexico who told detectives the boy had Downs Syndrome. His mother returned from a tirp and told family members they wouldn’t have to worry about Stevie anymore.

The mother has since died.

Stevie’s headstone with the inscription, “Baby Doe, known only to God” always haunted Detective ***an, who is now retired.

***an told KOIN 6 News that Stevie’s family members plan on returning his remains from Medford back to New Mexico to be buried in a family plot 58 years after his body was found in a bundle in Keene Creek.

Not real accurate at best. He has been identified as Steven Alexander Copeland. Same mother but he had her maiden name not her separated husband at the time. He was born in New Mexico to a separated mother and another man unknown. Return to family plot in Louisiana has been planned. The persons in the household at the time were mostly children who have not related the quote from his mom to any of us. Myself and a lady I won’t identify now made contact when our DNA and stevies came up as a close match early 2021. Worked together gathering info for a short time and made the connection. Alerted Stevies brothers and connected them with authorities. Rest is history. Just goes to show how pulling a few loose strings can lead to answers from long long ago

 

[Kimster]

Not real accurate at best. He has been identified as Steven Alexander Copeland. Same mother but he had her maiden name not her separated husband at the time. He was born in New Mexico to a separated mother and another man unknown. Return to family plot in Louisiana has been planned. The persons in the household at the time were mostly children who have not related the quote from his mom to any of us. Myself and a lady I won’t identify now made contact when our DNA and stevies came up as a close match early 2021. Worked together gathering info for a short time and made the connection. Alerted Stevies brothers and connected them with authorities. Rest is history. Just goes to show how pulling a few loose strings can lead to answers from long long ago

Thank you for coming here and telling us your journey! And even more so, correcting the record. Have you heard anything about Steven before he was identified? From family history?