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This case is always taking my thoughts to the "What Ifs?, land. I'm brand new to this site, being, I am unsure if links are ok so will edit if needed. I went to this forum
https://websleuths.com/threads/mi-bobby-glen-stephens-33-kalamazoo-9-may-1986.371369/
I left a comment about a John Doe located in Luce County
https://dnadoeproject.org/case/luce-county-john-doe-1987/
https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/6754/
https://www.veterandoe.com/unidentified/unidentified-person-michigan
https://unidentified.wikia.org/wiki/Luce_County_John_Doe
http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/94ummi.html
My letter to the detective: ~edits to expand~
Wed, Jun 3 at 4:56 PM
Sgt. Leblanc,
I am writing to formally request a manual, non-automated review of missing person Bobby Glen Stephens (NamUs #MP13927) against the Luce County John Doe (NamUs #UP6754).While both individuals have DNA profiles on file in CODIS, there is a strong possibility that Bobby's reference DNA on file is a familial match from adoptive parents rather than biological, preventing an automated system match.However, the physical and circumstantial overlap is overwhelming and requires a manual comparison of medical/skeletal records
Military Background:
The Luce County John Doe was found in full military camouflage gear. Bobby Stephens was an Army veteran ~so donning these types of clothing shouldn't be no surprise even if not, "Military Issued". He knew the TYPE of clothing was warm and durable regardless of where it came from.~
Skeletal Facial Trauma:
The Luce County John Doe's skeletal remains showed significant, old, healed facial and head trauma. ~NAMUS described ***Large scar on neck from ear to ear at least 1/4\" wide**~ Bobby Stephens survived two catastrophic accidents (one in childhood, one in the military) that left him with severe facial deformities that left him with a SCAR FROM EAR quoted by his sister, Linda, in her interview. ~ Also his lower extremities, ie; leg could've been fractured and the metal rod that was used on the JD, could've been a factor in either of Bobbys accidents. ***Let me be clear, the article stated a metal rod was USED That DOES NOT MEAN PRESENT ON THE JD. A few people have deterred from this thinking a rod was visibly there, found on the JD. It was simply noted one had been evidently placed at some point during the healing stage, then removed. The pins/braces leave permanent marks on the bones. I believe this has been misinterpreted for YEARS. ***
Timeline & Geography:
Bobby vanished from Kalamazoo in May 1986. The John Doe was found October 1987, with an estimated time of death perfectly matching Bobby's disappearance window.~Also the distance was about 385 miles. 2-3 weeks straight walking. Quicker if hitchhiking. Mix of both perhaps? Absolutely do-able.
The facial reconstruction of the doe is so similar in the eyes and upper lip, and an overbite that is also, hard to ignore. ~I've superimposed the images and you cannot get a better lineup, especially the eye sockets and lip or mustache!~
No birth records are on file or seemingly available to verify his birth, making adoption a possibility. His running off is also a key factor here being he also left the ARMY without permission ~and was discharged, honorably but the instances of him fleeing or disappearing often times, are very similar and can attribute to the rest.
The Dna project quoted, "John Doe could be adopted or was raised by a father that is not his biological father."
So I submitted the match request to the (doenetwork) panel with all this information and received this. Verbatim
Your suggested match did not pass our panel, primarily because both of them have DNA available and if this suggestion was a match, the CODIS system would have matched them.
What does not match is **extensive and major: timing, distance, circumstances, medical information and hair color. (Umm?)
Whenever I have a submitter that has strong feelings about a match I encourage them to submit themselves to both the Missing Person contact and also to the contact for the UID. In this particular case, I would encourage you also to contact the DNA Doe Project. Unless there are other extenuating circumstances it will not pass the panel. (Ok?)
Having said that, sometimes the DNA is not collected from a first degree family member so if there was a submitted match that had DNA available for both, but lets say that everything else matched - timing fit, proximity was extremely close, stats matched and lets say that the UID and the MP both had a peacock tattoo on the left shoulder - we would submit that or maybe both UID and MP had a rod inserted in their left hip due to an accident, but it would have to be quite a strong identifier for us to ignore CODIS. (smh)
Someone bring him home.
yeah PN, the Luce County John Doe (found Oct. 24, 1987 in McMillan Township) has been taken on by the DNA Doe Project and the remains were recovered wearing military‑style camouflage with evidence of a healed leg injury/metal rod , worth pushing for a manual review against Bobby’s files since CODIS can miss matches if reference DNA is from adoptive relatives. 👀
Dont stop following up with Kalamazoo PD and the DNA Doe Project case‑tips email , those two avenues are your best bet to keep this moving.
Thanks for sharing this! The doenetwork link you have I think is old. They have been restructuring their site, the new link is https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/software/mp-main.html?id=3469dmmi
Also, the link to the case from this site is https://crimesolverscentral.com/case/19187 for Bobby. It's hard to reconcile the 2 images but that doesn't always mean anything since the remains were skeletal and that is just an artist representation and that is not an exact science. Please keep us updated on your findings!
Here is my rendering. Did not adjust anything but the size of the image..
https://crimesolverscentral.com/mb/view_board.php?board_id=503