Date:
May 24 – 26, 1984
Location:
Intracoastal Waterway
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
Situation:
Deceased
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Unidentified John Doe – ‘Paratrooper’
Nickname: Unknown
Alternative Name: ‘Paratrooper’
La Apoda: Desconocida
Nombres alternativos: Paracaidisto
Disappearance
Located: In the canal near the 500th block of Bayshore Drive, Fort Lauderdale Florida 33304
Date Found: May 24 – 26, 1984
Suspect: Unknown
Falta de: Fort Lauderdale, EE. UU.
Falta en la fecha: 24 – 26 de Mayo de 2021
Sospechoso: Desconocido
Circumstances:
News and blog articles give several possible dates for the recovery of John Doe, namely May 24th and May 26th.
The body was recovered in the intracoastal waterway near the 500th block of Bayshore (close to the Sunrise Boulevard Bridge) sometime during the week leading up to or over the weekend of Memorial Day that year. A fisherman in a small boat located the body at approximately 7:00am
Unique tattoos suggest he may have been a US Paratrooper. Given his age (20s – mid 30s), that would put him serving sometime between 1970 and 1984.
Some have observed that the U.S. is spelled with commas instead of periods (Link), which might mean he got the tattoo abroad.
There is also some resemblance with the 330th Troop Carrier Squadron from Tennessee (Link)

Description
- Date of Birth:
- Age at Disappearance: 21 – 35
- Ethnicity: Caucasian
- Nationality: American
- Gender at Birth: Male
- Hair: Brunette
- Eye Color: Brown
- Height: 5’6″ (168cm) – 5’9″ (175cm)
- Weight: 162lbs (73.5kg)
- Fecha de Nacimiento:
- Edad: 21 – 30
- Etnicidad: Caucásico
- Nacionalidad: Americana
- Sexo al nacer: Hombre
- Cabello: Morena
- Color de los ojos: Cafés
- Altura: 5’6″ – 5’9″ (168cm)
- Peso: 162lbs (73.5kg)

Distinguishing Marks or Factors (Características Distintivas)
- Right Arm has tattoo of skull with a red beret that reads “U.S. Paratrooper”
- Left Arm has tattoo of a Pegasus with the words “Born to Fly Free”
- El brazo tiene un tatuaje de calavera con una boina roja que dice “Paracaidista de EE. UU.”
- El brazo tiene un tatuaje de un Pegaso con las palabras “Born to Fly Free”
Similar Tattoo Artist’s Sketch Artist’s Sketch
Medical Concerns (Preocupaciones Médicas)
- Unknown
- Desconocido
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Clothing (Ropa)
- Tan Swimming Suit
- Traje de baño marrón
Suspect (Sospechoso)
- Unknown
- Desconocido
Vehicle (Vehículo)
- Unknown
- Desconodido
If You or Anyone You Know Has Information About The Disappearances, Please Contact:
- Fort Lauderdale Police (Carrie Southerland) at:
- carrie.sutherland@unthsc.edu
Or use the Blue QR Code (right) to find contact information for the National Police:


Resources
- Veteran Doe, “Paratrooper John Doe: Veteran Doe Top Case #2”, Link.
- Florida Unidentified Decedents Database, “FLUIDDB Case #50”, Link
- Unidentified in Florida (Facebook), 6 August 2019, Link
- Connelly, M, (1984) ‘Body found in Intracostal’, Fort Lauderdale News, 27 May.
- Connelly, M., (1984) ‘ Body of man found floating in waterway in Fort Lauderdale’, Fort Lauderdale News, 27 May.
- Kefkin, O. (1984) ‘Police seek ID of victim’, South Florida Sun Sentinel, 12 June.
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Are there actual head shots facial photographs and the tattoos of Paratrooper Doe ?
Thank you