The Unsolved Murder of Joseph Parnell: A Cold Case Revisited

Discovery of the Body

On July 27, 1992, Cal-Trans workers conducting routine maintenance stumbled upon a grim scene on the east side of Interstate 15, just south of Interstate 8 in San Diego. At the bottom of a ravine lay a body, wrapped in a sheet, showing signs of having been there for several weeks. The advanced state of decomposition made immediate identification impossible, and the victim was initially recorded as a John Doe.

Initial Investigation and Profile

The San Diego Police Department launched an investigation, enlisting the expertise of a forensic anthropologist to develop a profile of the deceased. The victim was determined to be a male, aged between 40 and 55 years, of white or Hispanic descent, standing approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall with a slim build. Notable features included brown hair measuring 3 to 4 inches in length and a large tattoo of a panther on the left side of the chest. The top two front teeth bore porcelain crowns. At the time of discovery, the victim was clothed in blue Levi's jeans with a distinctive large patch on the right rear pocket stating "Levi Strauss, San Francisco," and a Cordoba leather belt with a white metal buckle. ...Read More

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