John Doe V

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John Doe V
Discovered	July 6, 1937
Unidentified for	88 years
Sex	Male
Location	Cleveland, Ohio
Age	35-40
Race	White
Height	5'8
Weight	150 pounds
Body condition	Traumatic injuries
Postmortem interval	1-2 days
Cause of death	Decapitation

John Doe V is the ninth canon victim of the Cleveland Torso Murderer.

Case

The victim was found by a National Guardsman by the West 3rd Bridge in the wake of a passing tugboat in the Cuyahoga River. The next few days, police recovered the rest of body except for the head. No clothing was found. Additionally, it appeared the abdomen was gutted and the heart was ripped out.

The victim, called "John Doe V," is also referred to as "Victim #9" of the Cleveland Torso Killer. Between 1935-1938, the Cleveland Torso Killer was responsible for the murder and dismemberment of twelve transients and hobos in which only two were ever identified. Investigators believe there are additional victims. Although investigators had several suspects, most notably Frank Dolezal and Dr. Francis E. Sweeney, no one was ever charged and convicted for the murders.

Other victims believed to be related to the Cleveland Torso Murderer include Lady of the Lake, Tattooed Man, Jane Doe I, Jane Doe II, Jane Doe III, Jane Doe IV, John Doe I, John Doe III, John Doe IV and John Doe VI.

Characteristics

• "Well-groomed" fingernails.

Sources

• John Doe V at the Doe Network
• Cleveland Torso Murderer on Wikipedia
• Cleveland Police Museum^{GRAPHIC POSTMORTEM WARNING}