The Nameless: Atlantic County John Doe (2004)

Who Is He? Man Found in Laundry Bag in South Jersey: 22-Year Cold Case

A 22 year old cold case homicide in Absecon, New Jersey, remains unsolved as authorities continue searching for answers and, most importantly, the identity of the victim. On February 17, 2004, police responded to a marshy area off Route 30 after members of the New Jersey Department of Corrections, who were conducting roadside cleanup, discovered human remains stuffed inside a laundry bag along the side of the road. An autopsy later confirmed the remains belonged to an unidentified man, and his death was ruled a homicide. 

Investigators believe the man was between 25 and 35 years old at the time of his death. He had black hair, a prominent nose, and overlapping front teeth. Based on the condition of the remains, authorities determined he had likely been deceased for at least two months before being found. The New Jersey State Police Office of Forensic Services created a clay facial reconstruction in hopes of identifying him, but despite extensive comparisons with missing persons reports and DNA databases, no matches were made.

In 2023, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office secured funding for advanced DNA testing. Results suggested the victim may have been of South Asian descent, possibly with ties to India and/or Pakistan. Unfortunately, even with this new information, no definitive leads have emerged.

The FBI, alongside the Absecon Police Department and the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, is urging anyone who may have had a missing South Asian relative or acquaintance between mid-to-late 2003 and early 2004, or anyone who recognizes the reconstructed image, to come forward. Tips can be shared with the Major Crimes Unit Tip Line at 609-909-7666. 🕯️