Ode to Doe: Pinellas County John Doe (Oct. 10, 1980)

Artist Depiction of Pinellas County John Doe

In October of 1980, the body of a young man was found floating in Tampa Bay. The unknown man was discovered beneath the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in St. Petersburg, Florida. The body showed no signs of trauma, and the fact that he was absent of a shirt made it likely he'd been swimming prior to his passing. However, an exact cause of death has never been determined. One of two Pinellas County John Doe's who have remained unidentified for going on 40 years, he was estimated to have been between the ages of 15 and 25 years old when he succumbed to his untimely death. This young Doe had stood approximately 5'3" to 5'5" tall and weighed 115-135 lbs. Despite being found less than 24 hrs after his death, and in identifiable condition, no one has been able to reveal who he may have been. The only things he wore were a pair of Sears blue jeans - which appeared to be new - a pair of jockey-style underwear in a rust colour, size 30, and a pair of white socks with coloured bands around the top (with colours appearing in the order; blue, white, red, white, blue). The young man had light brown hair which reached just above shoulder length and fine hair on his upper lip. It was assumed that he'd gone a day or two without shaving. He also had brown eyes, and his lower-front teeth seemed to be a bit crowded.

If you or someone you know has any information on the identity of this young man or the circumstances of his death, please contact the St. Petersburg Police Department at 1-727-893-7575. Help bring closer to a family that has been missing a loved one for four decades.

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