Investigators determined that the man had been dead at least two days, and that someone had to have dumped the steamer trunk at the Wayside between 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. the night before. The autopsy revealed that the man had died by strangulation, but had also suffered blunt force trauma to the head. He had a Duran Micro-Valve ring in his heart. Toxicology revealed toxic levels of over-the-counter sleep aids in the man's system. Police tried to trace the identity of the man through the Duran Micro-Valve, but could not. Police speculated that he might have been a patient in either a private home, or a convalescent home, and that someone - a relative, caretaker, nurse or an orderly wanted him dead.

Police were baffled as to why the killer would leave the body at the overlook only two feet from its edge. Two more feet, police said, and the steamer trunk would have dropped into the river, never to be seen again. Investigators speculated that someone wanted the body to be found. The fact that he was only wearing pajama tops indicates he might have been wheelchair-bound. Further, the toxic amount of over-the-counter sleep aids in the man's system indicated to police that someone wanted him groggy.

Since May of 1996, investigators have been unable to solve this mystery. Authorities say the victim has a very distinct face and they believe anyone who knows this person will immediately recognize him upon seeing his picture. They hope that someone will come forward and identify him.

UPDATE: In November of 2003, police submitted the man’s fingerprints to a database and came up with a match – Jasper F. Watkins.   Several months after discovering his identity, police arrested a woman who had been his alleged caretaker.  Nancy Jean Siegel was with murder and mail fraud.  She will be tried sometime later this year.