OR WILLIAMS DOE: F, 14-18, found in wooded area of Holcomb Peak in Williams, OR - 9 May 1978 (updated 2024 as JOHN doe) *MARK SMITH*

Case File: 1257UFOR Artistic renderings of the victim Unidentified Female Date of Discovery: May 9, 1978 Location of Discovery: Williams, Josephine County, Oregon Estimated Date of Death: Years prior State of Remains: Not recognizable - Partial skeletal parts only Cause of Death: Unknown Physical Description ** Listed information is approximate Estimated Age: 14-18 years old Race: Unknown Gender: Female Height: Unknown Weight: Unknown Hair Color: Unknown Eye Color: Unknown Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown Dentals: Available. Fingerprints: Not available. DNA: Available. Clothing & Personal Items Clothing: Brown sweater. Jewelry: Unknown Additional Personal Items: Unknown Case History Loggers discovered the victim's partial skeletal remains in a wooded area of Holkum Peak. Investigating Agency(s) If you have any information about this case please contact; Agency Name: Josephine County Sheriff's Office Agency Contact Person: Dr. Veronica Vance Agency Phone Number: 541-474-5128 E-Mail Agency Case Number: 78-1241 NCIC Case Number: N/A NamUs Case Number: UP #11638 Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case. Information Source(s) NamUs 1257UFOR Loggers found the remains of #JohnDoe near Williams, Oregon in 1978. It is believed he was just a teenager! #Unidentified Date of Discovery: May 9, 1978 Location of Discovery: Williams, Josephine County, Oregon Estimated Date of Death: Years prior State of Remains: Not recognizable - Partial skeletal parts only UPDATE: Remains have been relisted as male, not female www.crimewatchers.net

 

[Guess Who]

I don’t think they would’ve figured out from the artist rendering who that was. The lips were too pronounced in that reconstruction.

Very thankful that the siblings now know what happened to him. I have to wonder if he was camping? Or what happened. He was awful young to just die in the wilderness.

They possibly made them fuller when they assumed it was a female. Other than that, it seems pretty accurate.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

They possibly made them fuller when they assumed it was a female. Other than that, it seems pretty accurate.

Yes, I agree. If the reconstruction were done to appear more masculine, I think it's pretty good.

He was reported missing. Yes, it was across several states in the 70s, but I do wonder if he had originally been classified as male, if they would have linked him sooner. Maybe not right away, but family looking for him over the years...
Good news is, they know now. Took 50 years, but he's going home now.

 

[Kimster]

Yes, I agree. If the reconstruction were done to appear more masculine, I think it's pretty good.

He was reported missing. Yes, it was across several states in the 70s, but I do wonder if he had originally been classified as male, if they would have linked him sooner. Maybe not right away, but family looking for him over the years...
Good news is, they know now. Took 50 years, but he's going home now.

Yes, it is very good news. It wasn’t that long ago when I thought most of these cases would never be solved. Glad I was wrong!

 

[Kimster]

The last known photograph of Mark Smith was taken at his sister’s wedding in September 1973. He left his home in Billings, Montana, to travel in 1974, and was not heard from again. On February 26, 2026, the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office Human Identification Program confirmed that unidentified human remains found in Josephine County in 1978 were a match to Mark who had been missing since he was 19 years old. His sister shared with the medical examiner’s office that the family thought of him every day during the more than 50 years since his disappearance.


On May 9, 1978, a logging crew discovered the partial remains of a skeletonized young male near Williams, Oregon, in the area of Holcomb Peak. Only a skull and a scapula fragment were recovered. A piece of a shirt and remnants of a brown sweater were found near the remains and collected. The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office responded to the recovery site; however, no further remains were located. Despite investigative efforts, the individual could not be identified.

DNA links 1978 southern Oregon remains to 19-year-old traveler missing more than 50 years

A missing man has been identified after more than 50 years, Oregon State Police reported.The last known photograph of Mark Smith was taken at his sister’s weddi

kval.com

More at link, including family photos.