UP10125

Portland's Old Town John Doe (July 2000)

Last generated March 25, 2026

An unidentified man was found dead on the morning of July 18, 2000, at the corner of NW 4th and Glisan Streets in Portland, Oregon, discovered by two workers from the Portland Clean and Safe program. He had been dead for approximately two days and carried no identification. The case remains open under Oregon State Police Medical Examiner case number 00-2034.[1]

Discovery

The man was found wrapped in a wool blanket at the corner of NW 4th and Glisan Streets in Portland's Old Town/Chinatown neighborhood.[1] The discovery was made by two workers employed by Portland Clean and Safe, a city-affiliated organization responsible for maintenance and outreach in the downtown core. The estimated postmortem interval was two days, placing the approximate date of death around July 16, 2000.[3]

The recovery location sits directly adjacent to the Blanchet House of Hospitality, a long-established provider of meals and services to people experiencing homelessness in Portland.[3] Personal effects found with the body, including a sleeping bag, a backpack with food items, and a keyring with multiple bike lock keys, are consistent with someone living outdoors in the area.[1]

Description

The decedent was a male estimated to be between 35 and 55 years old, with a measured height of 6 feet 1 inch and a measured weight of 200 pounds. His ethnicity was recorded as uncertain; investigators noted he was possibly Native American. His hair was black with some graying and was curly or wavy in texture; he had black and gray stubble on his face and black body hair with some graying. Both eyes were brown.[1]

A distinguishing physical feature was a dark brown mole, approximately three-quarters of an inch in size, located in the left inguinal region.[1]

He was fully clothed at the time of discovery. His clothing included a white T-shirt, black jeans, army-style boots, and white brief-style underwear. Jewelry on his person included a Casio watch, a yellow-colored ring set with nine clear stones, and a silver-colored band ring. Items found near the body included a keyring holding seven keys (four of which appeared to be bike lock keys), an alarm clock, a green backpack containing miscellaneous food items, and a red sleeping bag.[1]

Investigation

The case is held by the Oregon State Police Medical Examiner's Office under case number 00-2034.[1] The cause of death was listed as unknown.[3]

Fingerprints were collected and are reportedly on file. No antemortem dental records have been obtained or matched to the decedent, and dental charting has not been entered into NamUs. No DNA profile has been reported as available or submitted to CODIS.[3]

A forensic facial re-approximation was produced by forensic artist Kali Bellman and is included in the NamUs case record.[1]

Missing Person Candidate

One potential match has been identified through public records comparison. Roger Jacob LeMieux, a 35-year-old Native American male and member of the Ho-Chunk Indian Nation, disappeared from The Dalles, Oregon, on May 29, 1999, approximately 80 miles east of Portland. He was 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighed between 230 and 240 pounds, and had black hair and brown eyes. These physical descriptors are broadly consistent with those of UP10125.[2]

The comparison is not without significant discrepancies. LeMieux had a large scar on his forearm from a coil stove burn, a distinctive mark not documented anywhere in the UP10125 case record.[2] There is also a height difference of two inches and a weight difference of approximately 30 to 40 pounds between the two profiles. The absence of the forearm scar in the unidentified decedent's records has not been resolved, and no DNA comparison, fingerprint comparison, or formal investigative review linking LeMieux to this case has been documented in any public record. This candidate remains speculative and warrants formal evaluation by the relevant agencies.

The investigating agency for LeMieux's disappearance is the The Dalles Police Department, reachable at 541-296-2233.[2]

How to Help

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Oregon State Police Medical Examiner's Office. The NamUs case number is UP10125 and the agency case number is 00-2034.

References

  1. "NamUs Case UP10125." National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. namus.gov
  2. "Roger Jacob LeMieux." The Charley Project. charleyproject.org
  3. "Date of Discovery: July 18, 2000 — Location of Discovery: Portland, Multnomah County, OR." The Nameless Doe (Facebook). facebook.com
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