17 unidentified people have been found dead in North Jersey since the year 2000.

These fatalities range from infants that were only a matter of days old to adults that were well into their 50s and 60s.

Their bodies were found along the side of a road, in wooded areas, or in water.

Some cases have a good amount of information to go on while others have practically no details.

Regardless of the circumstances, authorities are still trying to find out who these people are.

Officials with the New Jersey State Police would like to hear from you if any of these sketches or details jar any memories.

If you have any information about the cases listed below, you are asked to call (800) 709-7090.

Notes

  • For simplicity purposes, we're defining North Jersey here as counties along and north of Interstate 195.
  • Unidentified persons in South Jersey can be found in a previous article.
  • Due to a large number of unidentified deceased people in Hudson and Essex Counties, those areas will be covered separately in a future blog.

Mercer County - July 20, 2011

On July 20, 2011, the discovery of a deceased male was reported to the Hamilton Twp. Police Department - Photo: NJ State Police
On July 20, 2011, the discovery of a deceased male was reported to the Hamilton Twp. Police Department - Photo: NJ State Police
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A deceased male was reported to the Hamilton Twp. (Mercer) Police Department in a wooded area off South Broad Street near the I-295 overpass. This area is frequented by homeless individuals and transients.

He was estimated to have been born between 1946 and 1966. He was about 5' 9" tall, around 160 pounds, with black hair.

He was wearing plaid (navy, white, and red) pajama bottoms and a white t-shirt. He was also wearing blue medical/surgical-type shoes with two Velcro straps. He was also in possession of a gold ring and designer watch (photos available).


Monmouth County - July 28, 2008

On July 28, 2009, the unidentified male was found washed up on the beach in Long Branch, NJ - Photo: NJ State Police
On July 28, 2009, the unidentified male was found washed up on the beach in Long Branch, NJ - Photo: NJ State Police
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An unidentified male was found washed up on the beach in Long Branch.

The man, possibly Hispanic, was born between 1978 and 1988, according to police. He was about 6' tall, about 140 to 150 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He had two moles on the left side of his face at the angle of the mouth. He also had stubble on his face.


Monmouth County - June 15, 2008

On June 15, 2008, an unidentified female was struck by a New Jersey Transit train in Brielle - Photo: NJ State Police
On June 15, 2008, an unidentified female was struck by a New Jersey Transit train in Brielle - Photo: NJ State Police
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An unidentified female was struck by a New Jersey Transit train in Brielle.

She was estimated to have been born between 1968 and 1988. She was about 5' 5" tall, around 120 pounds, with a scar on her right abdomen approximately 2 1/4" long, indicating a possible appendectomy, a scar on her left hand, and a scar on her right hand.

The unidentified female was wearing a red sweatshirt, a white t-shirt on top of the red sweatshirt, a white partial button down shirt that was wrapped around her waist, light green underwear, white socks, white Adidas brand sneakers with 3 black stripes. In her possession was a brown tote bag with the words New York . . . . Inside the tote bag was a blue sweatshirt with a winter scene (snow covered trees and a cardinal)...black jeans with a zipper on the left and right side of the waist, a sun hat with blue flowers, a black/white bandana, and blue/yellow scarf with yellow flowers. The tote bag also had a toothbrush, cap, lighter, and area maps.

She was wearing a blue rosary bead-type necklace with a cross and a wooden bracelet with religious icons/saints on it.


Middlesex County - February 14, 2008

  • Photo/sketch not provided

The partial skeletal remains of an unidentified female were recovered in a wooded area in Old Bridge.

Her estimated range of birth was 1962 to 1972, she was about 5' 5" tall, 125 pounds, with brown hair.

According to authorities, she had a healed fractured area of the left nasal bone (nose).


Monmouth County - June 19, 2005

The victim's body was found on June 19, 2005 in an irrigation pond in Millstone Township - Photo: NJ State Police
The victim's body was found on June 19, 2005 in an irrigation pond in Millstone Township - Photo: NJ State Police
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The victim's body was found in an irrigation pond in Millstone Township.

His estimated years of birth was from 1965 to 1975. He was about 5' 5", 130 pounds, with brown hair. The victim was found wearing jeans and other additional unknown clothing.

Additional Clothing and Schwinn Bicycle were found near the body. There was a comb and a key ring found in the victim's pocket. He is possibly Hispanic. It is also possible that he retained primary root between upper and central incisors.


Union County - November 2, 2005

  • Photo/sketch not provided

The body of a white male was found in Elizabeth.

He was estimated to be born between 1970 and 1985. Authorities say he was about 5' 6" tall with no scars, marks, or tattoos. The victim was wearing a belt with a soccer player belt buckle.


Mercer County - June 23, 2005

  • Photo/sketch not provided

A male victim was found in Trenton.

Limited information is available: he was about 5' 10" tall, around 140 pounds. He was found wearing a disconnected tan jogging suit jacket, black jogging pants, and white sneakers.


Middlesex County - September 8, 2004

  • Photo/sketch not provided

The victim was found in South Brunswick.

The Asian male was estimated to have been born between 1959 and 1974. He was about 5' 3" tall with black hair.

The victim was wearing underwear. Brown pants and a yellow patterned shirt were found in the shipping container but were not on the body.


Monmouth County - December 2, 2002

This unidentified Caucasian/Hispanic male was found at 5 PM on Emleys Hill Road in Upper Freehold.

The victim is suspected to be in his early 20s, close to 6' tall, about 150 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Distinguishing features include an obvious hairless scar along the left part line on the scalp and two facial moles. One mole is located above the upper lip under the right nostril and the other is located on the left cheek.

He was wearing two necklaces and a watch. One necklace is a black cord with two small oval religious pendants. The other necklace is made up of wood-like rod and ball beads. The watch is a black Casio chronograph with green buttons.

At the time he was found, he was wearing a black White Sox Major League Baseball shirt and Levis carpenter-style blue jeans.


Passaic County - November 20, 2002

  • Photo/sketch not provided

The body of an unidentified white male was found in Paterson.

Police believe the victim was born between 1957 and 1967, was about 5' 3" tall, around 140 pounds, with black hair.

The victim was wearing jeans, white thermal pants, white boxer shorts, and red and white boxer shorts.


Monmouth County - May 15, 2002

  • Photo/sketch not provided

The body of a white male was recovered.

Police say he was born between 1957 and 1962. He was 5' 7" tall, 150 pounds, with grey hair.


Monmouth County - April 29, 2002

  • Photo/sketch not provided

A white male victim was found in Marlboro Township.

Authorities say he was estimated to be born between 1978 and 1984, about 6' tall, 145 pounds, with black hair.

The victim was found wearing red, white, and blue striped XL Ralph Lauren chaps; size 34x32 Carhartt jeans, a belt, white socks, a pair of size 38 Hanes Jockey shorts, and size 9.5 Timberland ankle-high boots.

The victim had $2.00 with him.


Mercer County - December 18, 2001

Tattoo of a victim found on December 18, 2001, in a canal off of Route 1 in Trenton - Photo: NJ State Police
Tattoo of a victim found on December 18, 2001, in a canal off of Route 1 in Trenton - Photo: NJ State Police
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A male victim was found in a canal off of Route 1 in Trenton.

The victim had no upper teeth but a few lower teeth were present but in poor condition.

Police say he was estimated to have been born between 1936 and 1941. He was about 5' 8", 140 pounds, with grey hair, brown eyes, a scar on his forehead, a tattoo on his left calf of what appears to be a girl naked from the waist up (pictured).

He was wearing black/blue shirts, black pants, a black sweatshirt, black sweatpants, black sneakers, a twine belt, with a Timex watch. He had old rib fractures on his left side.


Monmouth County - May 25, 2001

  • Photo/sketch not provided

A male human left foot, along with a sneaker and sock, was discovered in the water in Sea Bright.

The foot was contained within a mainly gray with black "Attest" brand left sneaker. The sneaker had an orange "Nike" emblem on it. "BRS 1000" was printed on the sole of the sneaker. The shoelace of the sneaker is intact and tied in a double knot. The label of the show reads "Made in Indonesia, US11, 990406IR". The sneaker is a male size 11. The foot was also contained within a white "Haines" brand anklet sock.

Police say it is not known what race the victim was but it is certain that the foot is not from a Black man.


Union County- February 25, 2001

  • Photo/sketch not provided

The body of a Black female infant was found Rahway.

Police say the child weighed around six pounds and was found wearing a diaper made from a dish towel. It had two safety pins attached to it.


Union County - February 21, 2001

  • Photo/sketch not provided

The body of a Black man was found in the county.

Authorities believe he was born between 1934 and 1954. He was 5' 5" to 5' 9" tall, about 170 pounds, with no scars or tattoos.

The victim probably had lower back pain and/or walked with a limp. He also had a healed fracture of the foot. His watch has a silver meal link band.


Union County - April 27, 2000

  • Photo/sketch not provided

The body of a male infant was located in a wooded area.

The only description that police can offer is that he had black hair and weighed between five and eight pounds.

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