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Daniel (‘Danny’) Paul Armantrout
Nickname: Danny
Alternative Name: Unknown
La Apoda: Danny
Nombres alternativos: Desconocida
Disappearance
Missing from: Centreville, Alabama, United States
Date Missing: March 27, 1961 (Monday)
Suspect: Unknown
Falta de: Centerville, Alabama, Estados Unidos
Falta en la fecha: 27 de marzo de 1961 (lunes)
Sospechoso: Desconocido
Circumstances (Circunstancias)
We are pleased (and sad) to announce that justice and closure has come for one of our John Doe’s (Case File #1697). Although our hearts go out to his family and those who loved him, it is good to be able to put a name to his story and give his memory the honor it deserves.
In March 1961, a driver picked up a young teenage hitchhiker who was riding with him as they approached Centerville, Alabama. Despite an apparent limp (it is now known that he survived polio as a child), the boy had been hitchhiking quite a ways and it is estimated that he had ridden with as many as two other drivers that day. Based on the reports from the drivers, it seemed the boy was heading to San Diego, California to try joining up with the Marines. The actual story behind Danny’s leaving home is not clear at this time. But it is now known that he was originally from Tennessee and had disappeared that same year.
As they drove along, the driver and his unnamed passenger spoke a bit, and the boy admitted he was running away from home after his parents’ separation. They told him that he was facing a choice of either moving away to an orphanage or joining up in the navy but he couldn’t stay with them. Unfortunately, the driver wasn’t able to gather much additional information that could contribute to his identification.
While they were driving across the Cahaba River, tragedy struck when the vehicle hit the guardrail and went into the River which was more than 20′ in that area. The driver was able to survive but rescuers were upset to find that the young boy with him had died from drowning and a broken neck. Upon recovering his possessions, there was nothing there to identify him but there were signs that he was greatly loved and was a religious person. He carried a photo of himself and a young girl with writing on the back that read “Think of me always and remember how we used to go places together.” He was also wearing a medallion with the miraculous medal of the immaculate conception displayed.
With little to go on but a tragic end, the locals have long maintained his memory and wondered where the young man came from and what story he had to tell. After sixty years, it was through the hard work of forensic genealogists and DNA testing that some of those questions are now answered. John Doe is now known to be Daniel (Danny) Paul Armantrout.
Whatever difficulties he faced in life, we celebrate and honor the memory of his presence amongst us.
Rest in peace sweetheart.
Description (Descripción)
- Date of Birth: December 28, 1945
- Age at Disappearance: 15
- Ethnicity: Caucasian
- Nationality: United States
- Gender at Birth: Male
- Hair: Brown Hair dyed Bleached Blonde
- Eye Color: Blue Eyes
- Height: 5’7″ (170cm)
- Weight: 120lbs
- Languages Spoken:
- Fecha de Nacimiento: 28 de diciembre de 1945
- Edad: 15
- Etnicidad: Caucásico
- Nacionalidad: Estados Unidos
- Sexo al nacer: Hombre
- Cabello: Cabello castaño oscuro teñido de rubio decolorado
- Color de los ojos: Ojos Azules
- Altura: 5’7″ (170cm)
- Peso: 120 libres (54,4kg)
- Idiomas:
Distinguishing Marks or Factors (Características Distintivas)
- Tattoo that reads “RY + Love” carved into his left arm
- Tatuaje que dice “RY + Love” en el brazo izquierdo
Medical Concerns (Preocupaciones Médicas)
- He may have had a limp
- Puede que haya caminado cojeando
Clothing (Ropa)
- White Cotton Dress Shirt
- Blue Dress Pants.
- Brown Leather Belt with a Silver Horse-Head Buckle.
- Black coat.
- 10″ Tan Boots (Moccasin-toed).
- Timex Watch.
- Necklace with the Miraculous Medal of the Immaculate Conception (tied with cotton twine)
- Brown Leather Valise- Style Suitcase containing:
- Clothing (long sleeved shirts and pants)
- Brown Wallet (No ID).
- A Photo of Danny and an unknown girl
- A set of matches and Pall Mall cigarettes (South Carolina tax stamp)
- A small key.
- A Ruby Ring marked with “United States Army” was found in the car he was riding in (assumed to belong to Danny)
- Camisa de vestir de algodón blanca
- Pantalones de vestir azules.
- Cinturón de piel marrón con hebilla de cabeza de caballo plateada.
- Abrigo negro.
- Botas color canela de 10 “(con punta de mocasín).
- Reloj Timex.
- Collar con la Medalla Milagrosa de la Inmaculada Concepción
- Bolsa de cuero marrón que contiene:
- Ropa (camisas y pantalones de manga larga)
- Cartera marrón (sin identificación).
- Una foto de Danny y una chica desconocida
- Un juego de fósforos y cigarrillos Pall Mall (timbre fiscal de Carolina del Sur)
- Una pequeña llave.
- Se encontró un anillo de rubí marcado con “Ejército de los Estados Unidos” en el automóvil en el que viajaba (se supone que pertenece a Danny)
Suspect (Sospechoso)
- Unknown
- Desconocido
Vehicle (Vehículo)
- Unknown
- Desconocido
If You or Anyone You Know Has Information About This Case, Please Contact:
- Bibb County Coroner’s Office
- Crime Stoppers
Or use the QR Code (right) to find contact information for the National Police.
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Resources
- Phillips, D. (2021) ‘Sleuths Solve Case Of Unidentified ‘John Doe’ In Bibb County’, Patch, 31 October. Link
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