NV LAS VEGAS JOHN DOE: WM, 45-60, found hanged from billboard in Las Vegas, NV - 19 Jan 1997 - maybe from Europe

513UMNV - Unidentified Male​

Reconstruction by David R. Wood; decedent's belongings. To view a postmortem photograph, please click here.

Date of Discovery: January 19, 1997
Location of Discovery: Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada
Estimated Date of Death: Recent
State of Remains: Recognizable face
Cause of Death: Suicide by hanging

Physical Description​

Estimated Age: 45-60 years old
Race: White
Sex: Male
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 177 lbs.
Hair: Brown, 4" long
Eye Color: Brown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Surgical absence of appendix.

Identifiers​

Dentals: Available.
Fingerprints: Available.
DNA: Available.

Clothing & Personal Items​

Clothing: Beige trench coat, black suit, brown belt, blue sweater, black shoes and a white shirt.
Jewelry: Yellow metal wristwatch.
Additional Personal Items: Eyeglasses found in coat pocket. Knife with a wooden handle and wooden sleeve, one large black plastic comb, one small black plastic comb, one black pen, one blue pen.

Circumstances of Discovery​

On January 19, 1997, the victim was found hanging on a frame of a billboard near the intersection of Spring Mountain and Industrial Road.

It appeared that the decedent committed suicide and he did not want to be identified.

He possibly was from Europe.

Investigating Agency(s)​

Agency Name: Clark County Coroner
Agency Contact Person: Ashley Grygor
Agency Phone Number: 702-455-3210
Agency E-Mail: CoronerUnidentified(at)co.clark.nv.us
Agency Case Number: 97-0314

NCIC Case Number: Unknown
NamUs Case Number: 9009

Information Source(s)​

NamUs
Clark County Coroner

513UMNV

#JohnDoe committed suicide and was discovered on Jan. 19, 1997 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He found hanging on a frame of a billboard near the intersection of Spring Mountain and Industrial Road.

www.crimewatchers.net

*CLICK THE REPORT BUTTON IF YOU'D LIKE THIS CASE MOVED TO THE GENERAL DISCUSSION AREA TO BE OPENED FOR COMMENTING.

 

[Akoya]

POST-MORTEM PHOTO BELOW SPOILER
GRAPHIC WARNING

Spoiler

Edited by staff to cover graphic content

 

[Akoya]

On January 19, 1997, the victim was found hanging on a frame of a billboard near the intersection of Spring Mountain and Industrial Road.

Pacific Asian Plaza - Shopping Centers - 5115 Spring Mountain Rd, Chinatown, Las Vegas, NV

 

[Romulus]

Elvin Everett Crist

4475DMKS - Elvin Everett Crist

 

[Grungster]

"Billboard Guy" had a suicide note. This note was found among his personal belongings. In the note, BG mentions several anecdotes regarding his life and background, all while making it clear he did not want to be identified.

CLUES

• Born and educated in Europe
• Worked in many different cities in three different continents over a span of 3 decades
• Both parents deceased
• Had not spoken to his family in over 10 years
• Had destroyed/disposed of all identifying items

BG never mentioned what countries or cities he had resided in during his life. He was elegantly dressed with a trench coat, suit, and tie, so we can infer that he likely came from a prominent background.

Although BG obviously wanted to keep his identity a secret, there may be family members out there who would like to know what became of him, so it is important that they receive that sense of closure to a long-standing mystery.

 

[Guess Who]

"Billboard Guy" had a suicide note. This note was found among his personal belongings. In the note, BG mentions several anecdotes regarding his life and background, all while making it clear he did not want to be identified.

CLUES

• Born and educated in Europe
• Worked in many different cities in three different continents over a span of 3 decades
• Both parents deceased
• Had not spoken to his family in over 10 years
• Had destroyed/disposed of all identifying items

BG never mentioned what countries or cities he had resided in during his life. He was elegantly dressed with a trench coat, suit, and tie, so we can infer that he likely came from a prominent background.

Although BG obviously wanted to keep his identity a secret, there may be family members out there who would like to know what became of him, so it is important that they receive that sense of closure to a long-standing mystery.

Or could the note have even been a red herring? The clothing possibly also? If you really didn't want to be identified, a false story would help.

 

[Grungster]

Or could the note have even been a red herring? The clothing possibly also? If you really didn't want to be identified, a false story would help.

That's possible. Fabricating your appearance and clothing would be out of desperation/content to hide your true identity.

 

[Guess Who]

That's possible. Fabricating your appearance and clothing would be out of desperation/content to hide your true identity.

I just know that if I really didn't want to be identified, I wouldn't be giving clues as to who I am. I would be doing the opposite.