21 h, jul 28, 1980 y - John Earl Dean Jr Body found

Description:

"Found shortly after 9pm Monday [7/28/80] by a motorist" (TDB 7/29/80).
"Found Monday night" (LAT Wed., 7/30/80).
"Discovered by a motorist the night of July 28 [1980]" (LAT 8/28/80).

"An Orange County sheriff's homicide detective said that the death of a young man found partially nude Monday night [7/28/80] in the foothills north of El Toro does not appear to be related to the so-called Freeway Killings. The victim remained unidentified and his cause of death unknown, but Orange County Sheriff's Sgt. Bill Miller said, 'Right now it doesn't appear that he's connected with those at all'" (SDUT 7/30/80).


I could not find any information concerning est. PMI or when he was last seen alive.


COD drug and alcohol overdose
Specifically, "toxicological tests revealed high levels of alcohol, Valium, and antihistamines" (LAT 8/28/80).

Proposed by: LE and/or contemporary newspapers
Reasons proposed: Demographics, time period, SoCal (especially specifically OC); body dumped, found on side of road, partially clothed (wearing only pants), COD alcohol & drug intoxication (especially specifically Valium (diazepam)), traveling (possibly hitchhiking?) when he disappeared, proximity to confirmed dump sites / epicenter of dump sites

Reasons against: Despite being proposed at the time, there were no later newspaper mentions/updates regarding whether Kraft is/was still considered a suspect, + not included in more recent/official lists


NOTE TO SELF: Any record requests should be submitted to OC Coroner + OCSO (source: OCR 9/7/83, + others); OC Fire Dept. (LAT 7/29/80)
Mentioned authorities:
Sheriff's Sgt. Harold Schaffroth (TDB 7/29/80); Chief Deputy Coroner James Beisner (source: OCR 9/7/83); Sheriff's Lt. Wyatt Hart (most NPs)
Orange County Sheriff's Sgt. Bill Miller (SDUT 7/30/80)


TDB 7/29/80: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-breeze-john-earl-dean-jr-vi/198584301/
LAT 7/29/80: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-two-bonin-victims/198584381/
EDTA 7/29/80: https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-times-advocate-john-earl-dean-jr/198584727/

LAT 7/30/80: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-john-earl-dean-jr/198584630/
Sac Bee 7/30/80: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-john-earl-dean-jr/198584709/
SDUT 7/30/80: https://cacoldcases.blogspot.com/p/sdut-on-joseph-daly-walter-tanner-1979.html

LAT 8/28/80: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-john-earl-dean-jr/198584684/
LAT 9/16/80: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-john-earl-dean-jr/136302807/

OCR 9/7/83: https://websleuths.com/attachments/ocr_sept7_1983-jpg.58115/

FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/177946030/john-earl-dean

WS mention: https://websleuths.com/threads/ca-unidentified-possible-missing-victims-of-randy-kraft-1971-1983.119731/post-10921929?ref=JSCoB
** Also featured in WS user DS2021's Kraft map **

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