San Mateo County John Doe was a young man whose torso and legs were discovered on the Linda Del Mar State Beach in 1974.
His NamUs profile was removed in or before December 2022 and has not been re-established, indicating he was identified.
Case[]
The victim was discovered in a bundle by two women walking a dog on the beach. Both of the victim's arms were tied by wire at the sides of his torso and his knees were bound to his chest. The lower abdomen was cut from the man's hip bones and the victim’s head, hands, and feet were never recovered.
In 1974, Anthony Harris informed the police about the Death Angels, a black Muslim nationalist gang that committed random attacks against white people in San Francisco that killed fifteen people and wounded eight to ten more between 1973-1974. Harris told them specifically about the unidentified victim, now dubbed "John Doe #169", who he claimed was a homeless man the group abducted in Ghirardelli Square. They then brought him to the Black Self-Help Moving’s warehouse where they gagged, tied up, and took turns in torturing the man by hacking at his limbs while he was still conscious.
The information Harris gave led to the arrest and convictions of four individuals: Manuel Moore, Larry Green, Jessie Cooks and J.C.X. Simon. The murders were later dubbed, "the Zebra Murders". Four others could not be charged due to a lack of evidence against them.
A year after his discovery, John Doe #169 was buried in the Potter’s Field of Woodlawn Cemetery.
Characteristics[]
- No tattoos or scars evident on the body parts found.
Clothing[]
- Blue Levi's Strauss jeans.
- White brief-type underwear, unknown brand or size.
Sources[]
- San Mateo County John Doe at the Doe Network
- San Mateo County Coroner's Office
- "Zebra" by Clark Howard
- Zebra Murders on Wikipedia