Crime Scene: Body found with $700 in '74 still a Somers mystery

THE CASE: On Sept. 8, 1974, two hunters entered the woods from the dead end of Annarock Drive off Route 100 in Somers and walked south for about a half-mile to what is now the dead end of Teed Court. There, along a stone wall, they discovered the skeletal remains of a man lying on his back. The Westchester County medical examiner found a gunshot wound that entered the left side of the man's head between his ear and temple and an exit wound on the right temple. But police found no weapon at the scene.

THE VICTIM: Dr. Henry Siegel, the medical examiner, determined the victim was white, about 60 years old, about 5 feet 5 inches tall with a medium build, and had brown hair that was turning gray. The man had been dead about 10 months when the hunters found him. He was lying with his ankles crossed and his hands by his sides. Given his age then, he would have been about 100 now.

THE EVIDENCE: The man was wearing a short-sleeved green-and-yellow-striped Van Heusen shirt, size 14½, brown slacks, Van Heusen underwear, brown suede low-rise shoes, gray ankle socks and a brown leather belt with a brass belt buckle marked with the letter "J." A brown, waist-length jacket was found folded near his head. A Boy Scouts of America knapsack containing toiletries and survival items was also found nearby. In his pockets, police found a live shotgun round and $707.30. Police also found under his head a metal tube stamped "No. 31 K-D-MFG. CO," which they later identified as an extension handle from a 13-piece hex key set. The woods where the body was discovered has since been developed and there are several new homes in the area. But the stone wall still sits in the woods at the end of Teed Court.

THE INVESTIGATION: Investigator James Stirpe of the Somers barracks said police are not sure whether the victim was killed elsewhere and dumped there or whether he was a suicide victim. Although police never found a gun at the scene and the hunters who discovered the body insisted they found no gun, Stirpe said it's possible the man may have used the metal tube found under his head as part of a homemade gun to harm himself. The fact that he had more than $700 in cash on him led police to question whether he was a homicide victim. "You'd think that if someone did kill him, they would have taken the money," Stirpe said.

THE PROGRESS: DNA testing did not exist in 1974 and there was nothing found at the scene indicating the presence of a second person. Stirpe has since publicized news of the man's discovery with police agencies nationwide, missing persons databases and websites but has gotten no tips. That's why police are seeking the public's help. Stirpe is asking for people to reach out if they know anybody from this area who went missing around 1973-1974. Contact state police in Somers at 914-277-3177.

Twitter: @CorcoranTerence