2000
OFFICE OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER
700 Fuller, N.E.
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503
616/336-3021 - FAX 616/336-3884
JVtedicaf Examiner Telephone Exchange 616/242-6700
MEDICAL EXAMINERS CASE REPORT
PHONE
NAME- JOHN DOE (PREMODERN SKELETAL BONES HUMAN) - 616-336-3113 2254-24AUGOO 25 00
ADDRESS Cin'/STATE
" 5240 West River Road N.W. Comstock Park, Michigan
AGE- Pre-Mod DOB-Unknown RACE" Native Am.? SEX MARITAL STATUS^y^^
Unknoqn
OCCUPATION SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
Unknown -None
COUNTS & TOWNSHIP WHERE INCIDENT OCCURRED
"Kent County Plainfield Township
ADDRESS WHERE INCIDENT OCCURRED
-W. River Road, 1 mile southwest of Buth Dr., Comstock Park, IVII.
DATE & TIME INCIDENT OCCURRED TIME-
-August 30, 2000 1130 Hrs,
PLACE OF DEATH-
Unknown
DATEOFDEATH-u^nown TIME PRONOUNCED
-Unknown Disc. 11.30 Hrs.
FOUND DEAD/WITNESS TIME
-Bones found August 30,2000 -1130HS.
LAST SEEN ALIVE TiME
Unknown Unknown
SCENE CONDITIONS TEMPERATURE HUMIDin
Warm 82 F. -Mod.
OUTS1DE/WEATHER TEMPERATURE
-Sunshine Clear 82 F.
RIGOR MORTIS LIVIDITY LOCATION BODY TEMP_-——
RECEIVED CALL FROM TIME
•Telephone Exchange August 30,2000 -1220Hrs.
BODY VIEWED BY PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN T!ME-1250 Hrs.
Dr. Ramon B. Lang EV1D August 30,2000 Yes
NOTIFIED POLICE PROSECUTOR PUBLIC ADMiN
"Present No No
NAME OF POLICE BADGE ff;
-Kent County Sheriff's Dept. Pep. Dawn Greenwald 88
LICENSES
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE«Non8
INFORMATION
-Kent County Sheriff's Dept & Dr. Normal Sauer PhD MEch. State Univ.
PHONEff;
BODY SENT TO CONTRACT FUNERAL HOME
-Bones sent to Michigan State for evaluation. -No No
DEPOSITION OF VALUABLE TELEPHONE
-None
NEXT OF KIN ADDRESS PHONE
NEXT OF KIN NOTIFIED AUTOPSY TO BE PERFORMED?
No - No autopsy done. Bones to be evaluated at Michigan
State by Dr. Norman Sauer PhD. Antrhropology
TOXICOLOGY AUTOPSY REASON"Not Indicated
No No
PROSECTOR HOSPITAL
Pr, Norman Sauer PhD. Anthropology -Michigan State University
-CAuse'or DEATH
Unknown
-COtfflttBUTINS FACTORS-
Unknown
MANNER OM»CAW
Unknown
(CONTIMUET5 OSTlMEXT PAGE)
REPORT NUMBER- RBL 00-L053.AUG 09/02/2000
KENT COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER CASE REPORT
NAME OF DECEASED-PREMODERN SKELETAL BONES HUMAN
DATE OF DEATH. Unknown
PAGENUMBER- 2 of 2
NAME OF PERSONAL PHYSICIAN NOTIFIED
None -— No
TISSUE BANK NOTIFIED
-No
HISTORY
The Kent County Road Commission Personnel and work force were digging a trench approximately 10 feet deep
in front of 5240 West River Road, Comstock Park, Michigan to replace and lay new water mains. The excavations
was being done and the dirt piled on the south side of West River Road, and no bone had been noted. At
approximately 1130 hours, August 30, 2000, the Foreman walked along the pile of freshly dug dirt and noted
bones that appeared to be human with a part of a skull, teeth and other bone parts and fragments. The Kent
County Sheriff's Department was called and Deputy Dawn Greenwald responded to the call. She in addition to be
Deputy Sheriff for Kent County holds a Masters Degree in Anthropology and is working toward her PhD in
Anthropology. She called the Medical Examiner Office.
On arrival at 5440 West River Road, Comstock Park, IVIichigan by the Medical Examiner the bones were located En
the grass south of the excavation with large pipes which appeared to be water pipes being laid by the Kent
County Road Commission Workers. The depth of the excavation appeared to be about 10 feet. There was about
half of a human skull present, and half of a jaw bone with five teeth present and the surfaces of the teeth had
been worn down so the tops of the teeth were smooth. This fact alone probably dates these as pre-modern
bones, probably Native American in origin. There was the head of a Femur with about five inches of the Femural
shaft stilt attached. There were bones that appeared to be Pelvic Bones. The bones appeared to be
demineralized and very light on picking them up. Later while sitting the sand and gravel several other small
fragments of small bones were found, one appearing to be part of either an Ulna or FEbula. All of the bones were
stained reddish brown from the surrounding soil. All of the bones were very fragile and could be pulverized with
little effort. The bones appeared to have belonged to a person of small stature. The Kent County Sheriff's
Department related that there used to be an Indian Trading Post located about a mile north east of this site at the
corner of what is West River Road and Buth Dr. N.E., Comstock Park, Michigan. So it would appear that this was
a Native American buried at the site many years,
The case was discussed with Dr. Stephen D. Cohle M.D., Forensic Pathologist, and Chief Deputy Medical
Examiner of Kent County, and Dr. David A. Start M.D., Forensic Pathologist, and Deputy Medical Examiner of Kent
County and Chief Medical Examiner of Ottawa County. They agreed with the action being undertaken in the
investigation of the Human Bone Remains. Dep. Dawn Greenwald KCSD then made arrangement with Dr.
Norman Sauer PhD in Anthropology, Michigan State University to transport the bones to Michigan State
University at 1600 hours, today, August 30, 2000 and have them examined for authenticity and identification. The
scene is to be protected as a crime scene until his findings are determined.
The Bone Findings were presented to Dr. Normal Sauer PhD. In the Antrhopology Department of Michigan State
University for his examination by Deputy Dawn Greenwaald KCSD. The bones were to be examned by him and he
fgave his'opinion that these were Pre-Modern Bones, probably of the origin from a Native American Indian buried
there many year ago. The bones are to be studied for the possible sex, origin and size of the deceased person by
the Anthropology Department of Michigan State University.
SUMMARY:
The Human Bone Remains appear to be those of a Native American Indian, probably buried many years ago.
There was an Indian Trading Post within a mile of the bones discovery site.
DATE- August 30,2000
-Ramon B. Lang MD
•Kent County Deputy Medical Examiner
(END OF REPORT)
RBLiribl AUGUST 31, 2000
