Description:
On the morning of May 22, 1978, the body of a teenage boy washed ashore at Silver Strand State Beach in Coronado, California. It was determined that he was 5’6” tall and weighed 128 pounds, while it was estimated that he was 16-18 years old at the time of his death. DNA analysis has revealed that he was Hispanic.
He was found wearing blue swimming shorts, and it’s believed that his cause of death was drowning. He also wore an identification bracelet on his right wrist, with various symbols engraved on there, but no identifying information.
NamUs ID:
UP113873
Agency Case ID:
1978-01118
Date Body Found:
May 22, 1978
Race:
Hispanic/Latino
Sex:
Male
Estimated Age:
16-18
Estimated PMI:
1 week
Agency of Jurisdiction:
San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office
Investigator Kat On
858-694-2905
mxinvestigations@sdcounty.ca.gov
More Information:
https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/113873/details
https://unidentified-awareness.fandom.com/wiki/Coronado_John_Doe_(1978)
https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/software/main.html?id=4374UMCA
https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=CJ19780525.2.29&e=——-en–20–1–txt-txIN——–
Status:
Active
Image Credit:
Eve Grant
Last Updated: August 11, 2026
