Man found dead in Golden Gate Park remains unidentified; public asked for help
A man found dead at Golden Gate Park in May remains unidentified, and the public is now being asked for help, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said on Monday.
He was found unresponsive on May 12 in a Golden Gate Park public bathroom, near Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive and 19th Avenue, the OCME said. First responders were called to the scene, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
He was described as being 5 feet, 9 inches, about 157 pounds, white, or possibly Hispanic, and around 30 years old. He also has multiple tattoos, including a cross on his right cheekbone.
A sketch of the man was created by the San Francisco Police.
A man was found unresponsive on May 12, 2025, in a Golden Gate Park bathroom. The OCME asked the public for help identifying him.
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, San Francisco
The cause and manner of death are still pending, the OCME said.
"The OCME uses extensive investigatory methods to identify decedents, such as valid government issued identification cards on their person, fingerprint check, witness interviews, or DNA testing that lead to a valid identification. In an overwhelming majority of cases, the OCME makes a positive identification of the subject within 24 hours," the OCME said. "In this rare case, the OCME's investigatory methods have not resulted in an identification. "
Anyone with information is asked to contact the OCME Investigative Division at 415-641-2220 or email OCME.INV@SFGOV.ORG or OCME@SFGOV.ORG. Anyone who contacts them is asked to reference OCME Case Number 2025-0673.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
26 minutes ago
- CBS News
Idaho shooting suspect identified, motive for ambush of firefighters still unknown, sheriff says
The suspect who allegedly ambushed firefighters on the job Sunday in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, had contact and a brief discussion with them before opening fire with a shotgun, killing two and critically injuring a third, Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris said Monday. Fire officials identified the deceased firefighters as Battalion Chief Frank Harwood, 42, and Battalion Chief John Morrison, 52. The third firefighter who was critically injured, engineer Dave Tysdal, underwent two successful surgeries on Monday, fire officials said during a news conference. During a separate news conference Monday afternoon, Norris identified the suspect as 20-year-old Wess Roley. His body was found at the scene of the fire late Sunday night along with a firearm, the sheriff said. Norris said it appears the suspect shot himself. As the Nettleton Gulch Fire continued to burn on Monday, the sheriff said it will take days to fully process the area, but investigators have located Roley's vehicle in an embankment near the scene. He said investigators have not yet been able to inventory the vehicle, which has "a lot of debris in there." People who have seen the vehicle say it appears Roley was living in the vehicle, Norris said. Norris said authorities have not found any writings that would indicate the suspect's motive. The suspect previously had five "very minor" encounters with law enforcement but had no criminal history, according to the sheriff. The interactions with officers "had to do more with trespassing, he was asked to leave and [was] cooperative," Norris said. Other interactions included welfare checks reported by property owners about Roley's vehicle, the sheriff said. Law enforcement officers gather after multiple firefighters were attacked when responding to a fire in the Canfield Mountain area outside Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, June 29, 2025. Young Kwak / REUTERS Authorities are also looking through Roley's social media presence for any clues to a possible motive. Norris said investigators have not found any connection to "Islamic jihad," disputing rumors spreading on social media. "We have information that he, at one time, he wanted to be a firefighter," Norris said, but added that investigators don't know if that has any connection to what happened. Victims identified as veteran firefighters Frank Harwood and John Morrison The families of Harwood and Morrison and the firefighting community as a whole are dealing with "unimaginable loss," Kootenai County Fire & Rescue Chief Christopher Way said during the fire department's news conference Monday. Battalion Chief Harwood had been a member of the department for 17 years, Way said. Harwood was also a well-respected former Army National Guard member, Way said. He is survived by his wife and two children. Frank J. Harwood, Battalion Chief with Kootenai County Fire & Rescue, and member of Kootenai County Fire Fighters, IAFF L2856. IAFF 7th District "This loss is felt by so many, including all of the members of his shift that worked and saw the incident yesterday," Way said. Morrison had been a firefighter since 1996, Way said, adding that he had served the city of Coeur d'Alene for more than 28 and a half years. Way said he had the opportunity to work with Morrison two weeks before he was killed, and they had a "rare moment" to talk. "We talked about being better fathers. We talked about being better leaders. We talked about being better firefighters," he said. John Morrison, Battalion Chief with Coeur d'Alene Fire Department, and member of Coeur d'Alene Firefighters IAFF Local 710. IAFF 7th District After the ambush shooting, Way said local law enforcement agencies are now going on every call with the fire department. "I don't know that we're ever going to be able to guarantee people's peace of mind, at least for a while after an incident like this," he said. "But we are taking every measure we can to ensure safety." Suspect lured firefighters by sparking fire, sheriff says The firefighters were responding to a wildfire Sunday afternoon in a popular recreation area at Canfield Mountain when Roley began firing at them, Norris said. The sheriff said investigators believe the suspect used a flint starter to start the fire to lure the firefighters there. "And we do believe that it was an ambush and it was intentional. These firefighters did not have a chance," Norris said Sunday. Investigators initially believed there might have been more than one sniper, due to early reports from first responders, but now say the evidence indicates it was Roley armed with a shotgun. "We know that there was a shotgun used, absolutely, 100%, we know that for sure," Norris said Monday, noting that rifled slugs were recovered from the scene. He said smaller fragments were also found in the area, and the scene is still being processed. Two firefighters were killed by a shooter in ambush while responding to a fire in Idaho. Mehmet Yaren Bozgun/Anadolu via Getty Images Suspect's grandfather describes him as "pretty much a normal kid" According to a Facebook post by his mother, Roley moved from Arizona to Idaho when he turned 18 in 2023 to work for his father's tree-cutting company. In an update shared in October 2024, his mother wrote he was "doing great living in Idaho." In a phone interview with CBS News, his paternal grandfather, Dale Roley, described Wess as "pretty much a normal kid." He said his grandson had recently lost his cellphone and did not have a "high-powered rifle." "He had a .22 long rifle and a shotgun," he said. "That's not a high-powered rifle by any stretch. We're just hoping there's some weird circumstances and Wess wasn't actually involved." Dale Roley confirmed that Wess had worked for his father's tree company, but more recently was working at a different tree company in Coeur d'Alene. He said his grandson "wanted to be a fireman" and applied for a job with the forestry service four or five months ago. In a statement provided by their attorney, Wess Roley's family offered its condolences to the families of the firefighters who were killed and to the Coeur d'Alene community. "There are no words that can suffice for this tragedy and the infinite losses suffered by those affected by this shooting," the family said in the statement. "We do not understand why this happened or how this came about. Our hearts and spirits are broken for the lost and hurting, and for our own loss as well. We intend to fully cooperate with authorities in seeking answers. As we also deal with the grief of this heinous tragedy in our own family, we will not be answering any questions outside of law enforcement." As of Monday afternoon, the Nettleton Gulch Fire has spread to approximately 26 acres, the Idaho Department of Lands said in a statement. No evacuations have been ordered and no structures are at risk, the agency said. , and contributed to this report.
Washington Post
27 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Husband of Suzanne Morphew to appear in court to face murder charge a second time
DENVER — The husband of a woman who disappeared on Mother's Day 2020 is set to appear in court in Colorado on Tuesday for the first time since being charged again with murder in her death. Barry Morphew was arrested June 20 in Arizona after being newly indicted in the death of Suzanne Morphew, three years after the initial case against him was dropped because of prosecutorial issues with evidence. Authorities announced Monday that he had arrived at the jail in the small southern Colorado city of Alamosa, not far from where Suzanne Morphew's skeletal remains were found off a dirt road in September 2023. Her remains were discovered accidentally as authorities were searching for another missing woman a year after prosecutors dropped their initial prosecution of Morphew. A 2024 autopsy report said Suzanne Morphew died of 'unspecified means' but ruled her death a homicide. While her remains showed no signs of trauma, investigators found in her bone marrow a drug cocktail used to tranquilize wildlife that her husband had a prescription for, according to the indictment. Barry Morphew has maintained his innocence since his wife disappeared. Two attorneys listed in court documents as representing Morphew at Tuesday's hearing, David Beller and Jane Fisher-Byrialsen, did not immediately return telephone or email messages seeking comment. Beller has previously criticized prosecutors for allowing 'their predetermined conclusion to lead their search for evidence.' The mystery surrounding Suzanne Morphew began when the 49-year-old mother of two daughters, who lived near the small mountain community of Salida, Colorado, was reported missing on Mother's Day 2020. Her mountain bike and helmet were found in separate spots not far from her home, but investigators suspected the bike was purposefully thrown into a ravine because there were no indications of a crash. A week after his wife went missing, Barry Morphew posted a video on Facebook pleading for her safe return and the case quickly drew attention. In May 2021, prosecutors charged him with murder. They subsequently dropped the case in 2022 just as Morphew was about to stand trial. A judge had barred prosecutors from calling key witnesses after the attorneys repeatedly failed to follow rules for turning over evidence in Morphew's favor. The latest case is being prosecuted by a different prosecutor in a separate judicial district where Suzanne Morphew's remains were found, a rural area about 40 miles (65 kilometers) south of the Morphews' home. Investigators found at the site a port through which Suzanne Morphew could receive medicine to treat follicular lymphoma, a type of blood cancer that she had. They also found biking clothes similar to what she was known to wear. Based on the condition of the remains and clothes, a forensic anthropologist theorized that the body likely decomposed elsewhere before being moved to the site, according to Morphew's new indictment.
Forbes
31 minutes ago
- Forbes
Clemson Gymnastics Coach Dismissed For Cause Amid Allegations Of Abusive Conduct
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 26: Head coach Amy Smith reacts with Lilly Lippeatt of the Clemson ... More Tigers against the California Golden Bears at Haas Pavilion on January 26, 2025 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Thien-An Truong/) The spring's bombshell firing of the Clemson Gymnastics Head Coach was likely due to alleged abusive treatment of athletes, new documents suggest. In a university notice of separation acquired by Jon Blau of The Post and Courier, the findings pointed toward Smith's violation of three clauses in her university contract as cause for termination. The document alleges that Smith failed to do the following in her tenure as head coach. First, she did not uphold 'the responsible treatment of athletes.' Second, she did not '(demonstrate) concern for their welfare,' and third, Smith failed to not engage in 'physical and/or emotional abuse.' The reporting comes nearly three months after the university announced Smith's termination on April 21, 2025, cutting short her two-year term as the program's inaugural head coach. Though hired to lead Clemson's gymnastics program from the ground up, Smith's tenure was overshadowed by controversy. Past Misconduct Comes to Light Multiple former athletes accused Smith of abusive behavior during her time as head coach at Utah State (2017–21) and as an assistant coach at the University of North Carolina (2016–17). In a 2023 report by the Washington Post, Smith's former athletes alleged body-shaming and public humiliation that escalated to team-wide disordered eating, with one UNC gymnast attesting to Smith's attempt to pressure her into a weight-loss contract. At Utah State, Smith's coaching fostered a 'culture of fear and anxiety,' with her behaviors allegedly leading to untimely retirements and transfers from large swaths of the athletes. Ten gymnasts departed the program in 2019 and seven in 2021. Though UNC's then-head coach Derek Galvin would later recognize the negative impact of Smith's 'intensity,' neither UNC nor Utah State conducted investigations into Smith's behavior. In result, Clemson University was unaware of any active investigations against Smith in her role as a gymnastics coach, with Clemson Athletic Director Graham Neff ensuring that Smith was 'thoroughly vetted.' Thus, the Clemson Tigers went on to a winning record in Smith's two seasons at the helm, with both seasons ending with appearances at the NCAA gymnastics postseason. The Tigers finished 2nd and 5th at the 2024 and 2025 ACC Championships, and senior Brie Clark made national headlines as the first NCAA gymnast to compete the 'Biles' skill on floor exercise. Anonymous Reports Prompt University Action Despite the apparent success, underlying concerns began to surface. Clemson University utilizes Real Response, a system where student-athletes can anonymously report 'any issues related to their student-athlete experience.' The university states these concerns can range from 'compliance or time management concerns, gambling, hazing, drugs/alcohol, discrimination, sexual assault, team issues, domestic violence, social issues, health/wellness issues, etc. to less serious issues such as a maintenance problem in your locker room.' To share feedback or concerns with university athletic administrators, a Clemson student athlete can text 'share' to 66595. In late 2024, anonymous messages began to trickle in from gymnasts, with Clemson women's sports administrator Stephanie Ellison-Johnson attesting to an 'increased number of messages' from gymnasts in the fall of 2024 and early spring of 2025. Those messages pertained to concerns regarding "the program's culture and environment.' The influx of messages spurred the university to act, conducting one-on-one meetings with 15 of the 20 athletes on the gymnastics team, Ellison-Johnson wrote. Findings from those meetings led to a mid-year review in mid-February with Coach Smith, followed by meetings with athletes' parents in March. The Post and Courier reports that gymnasts were then surveyed about their experience in the program. On April 6, administrators met with Smith to discuss 'team culture and environment' as well as 'roster management plans" for the upcoming season. Three days later, the athletics administration 'engaged legal counsel' to seek 'guidance' and 'share information collected.' Another email from Johnson-Ellison referenced an April 11 meeting for athletes to meet with Athletic Director Neff to 'voice their concerns.' One week after the meeting, on April 18, Clemson terminated Smith's contract. Community Response The reaction to Smith's termination was swift and overwhelmingly positive. Following Smith's firing on April 18, one parent emailed the Athletic Director to applaud Clemson's execution of the investigation, thanking Neff for "doing your due diligence and actually protecting our girls." "We assumed, correctly, that you didn't take this lightly," another parent wrote to Neff. 'In the end, it looks like you made the choice for your student-athletes over how it would look initially for the program.' Roughly a month following Smith's termination, Clemson hired the University of California's lauded coaching duo – Justin Howell and Elisabeth Crandall-Howell – as Smith's replacements. The hiring included a multi-million-dollar buyout. The duo led the Cal Women's Gymnastics program to new heights in the past decade, taking the program to a National Runner-Up finish in 2024. Since their arrival, the Howells have sparked an immediate and dramatic surge in Clemson's recruiting success, with several former California gymnastics commits flipping to join the Howells in their new locale. With fresh leadership at the helm, Clemson positions itself not just as a rising contender, but as a program with clearer commitment to athlete safety and wellbeing.
