John Doe was found 17 December 1998.
His Killers, were found and convicted, his name, was still unknown.
Eric Cupo was Identified to the Public on 12 April of 2023.
Santa Cruz County Sheriff-Coroner Teams with Othram to Identify 1998 Homicide Victim
After 25 years, an unidentified California murder victim has been identified as 22-year-old Eric Cupo.
--
Deseret black logo
LATEST NEWS
THE WEST
UTAH
S.L. truck driver charged with kidnapping
By Associated Press
Jan 16, 1999, 11:00pm PDT
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- A Salt Lake truck driver has been charged with kidnapping a man now being held for the slaying of an unidentified man near Santa Cruz, Calif.
Joseph D. Tregeagle, 51, admitted to authorities that he kept 18-year-old Jeremy Michael Kraft chained in the back of his truck after picking him up in Seattle in late November. He is being held in the Richmond County Jail along with Kraft, who has been charged with the California killing. The judge set bail at $1 million for Kraft.Tregeagle told police he only held Kraft against his will because the teenager was wanted in the Santa Cruz slaying, said Richmond County Chief Deputy Ronald Strength. Kraft called Augusta police Wednesday, claiming a former California death-row inmate had kept him chained inside a tractor-trailer truck for two months and sexually assaulted him.
Authorities from the Santa Cruz, Calif., sheriff's office met Friday with Augusta police officials and Kraft, hoping to learn the victim's identity.
The man's body was found by sightseers last month in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The victim, between the ages of 17 and 25, had been slain six to eight weeks before he was found, Santa Cruz police said Friday in a statement.
Two detectives did not learn the victim's identity Friday, said Sgt. Joe Cervantes, a spokesman for the Santa Cruz sheriff's office.
Santa Cruz police are trying to determine whether the unidentified man's killing is connected to the November killing of businessman Gaylord Chilcote of Watsonville, about 25 miles from Santa Cruz. Four people have been arrested in that case.
The Augusta Chronicle said Tregeagle was convicted of murder in California in 1971, but his death sentence was commuted to life in prison when the U.S. Supreme Court in 1972 ruled the death penalty unconstitutional.
He was paroled in 1988, the newspaper said.
--
1208UMCA - Unidentified Male
Identified...Identified...Identified
Date of Discovery: December 27, 1998
Location of Discovery: Boulder Creek, Santa Cruz County, California
Estimated Date of Death: 3-6 weeks prior
State of Remains: Skeletal
Cause of Death: Homicide by stabbing
Physical Description
Estimated Age: 16-20 years old
Race: White
Gender: Male
Height: 5'7" to 5'8"
Weight: 150-160 lbs.
Hair Color: Medium to dark brown. Hair shaved at 2-3 inches with a 5 inch pony tail on the back of his head. The pony tail had beads and other material woven into it.
Eye Color: Blue
Distinguishing Marks/Features: The victim likely used recreational drugs, as opiates were found in his system.
Identifiers
Dentals: Available
Fingerprints: Not available
DNA: Available
Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: maroon or dark red long sleeved turtle neck shirt (size large), white socks and Kikwear91 brand pants made of very heavy blue denim with very wide legs.
Jewelry: 16 inch long, large diameter beaded chain necklace. The necklace had silver 3/8" diameter spheres connected by short lengths of chain.
Additional Personal Items: Unknown
Circumstances of Discovery
The victim was located in a remote mountain area on a steep hillside.
The perpetrators were arrested and convicted of the murder of this young man. His identity was unknown to the perpetrators. It is thought that his name might be Eric and that he was from Florida and was currently homeless. He was accompanied by a girlfriend who had a Toyota auto with white license plates. Her name is unknown. The motive for his murder was that he had a vehicle which they wanted.
Investigating Agency(s)
Agency Name: Santa Cruz County Sheriff-Coroner
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 1-831-454-7790
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 98-13920
NCIC Case Number: U180850338
NamUs Case Number: 3067
NCMEC Case Number: 1184227
Information Source(s)
NamUs
NCMEC
Admin Notes
Added: 2/16/09; Last Updated: 8/28/17
--
His Killers, were found and convicted, his name, was still unknown.
Eric Cupo was Identified to the Public on 12 April of 2023.
Santa Cruz County Sheriff-Coroner Teams with Othram to Identify 1998 Homicide Victim
After 25 years, an unidentified California murder victim has been identified as 22-year-old Eric Cupo.
--
Deseret black logo
LATEST NEWS
THE WEST
UTAH
S.L. truck driver charged with kidnapping
By Associated Press
Jan 16, 1999, 11:00pm PDT
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- A Salt Lake truck driver has been charged with kidnapping a man now being held for the slaying of an unidentified man near Santa Cruz, Calif.
Joseph D. Tregeagle, 51, admitted to authorities that he kept 18-year-old Jeremy Michael Kraft chained in the back of his truck after picking him up in Seattle in late November. He is being held in the Richmond County Jail along with Kraft, who has been charged with the California killing. The judge set bail at $1 million for Kraft.Tregeagle told police he only held Kraft against his will because the teenager was wanted in the Santa Cruz slaying, said Richmond County Chief Deputy Ronald Strength. Kraft called Augusta police Wednesday, claiming a former California death-row inmate had kept him chained inside a tractor-trailer truck for two months and sexually assaulted him.
Authorities from the Santa Cruz, Calif., sheriff's office met Friday with Augusta police officials and Kraft, hoping to learn the victim's identity.
The man's body was found by sightseers last month in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The victim, between the ages of 17 and 25, had been slain six to eight weeks before he was found, Santa Cruz police said Friday in a statement.
Two detectives did not learn the victim's identity Friday, said Sgt. Joe Cervantes, a spokesman for the Santa Cruz sheriff's office.
Santa Cruz police are trying to determine whether the unidentified man's killing is connected to the November killing of businessman Gaylord Chilcote of Watsonville, about 25 miles from Santa Cruz. Four people have been arrested in that case.
The Augusta Chronicle said Tregeagle was convicted of murder in California in 1971, but his death sentence was commuted to life in prison when the U.S. Supreme Court in 1972 ruled the death penalty unconstitutional.
He was paroled in 1988, the newspaper said.
--
1208UMCA - Unidentified Male
Identified...Identified...Identified
Date of Discovery: December 27, 1998
Location of Discovery: Boulder Creek, Santa Cruz County, California
Estimated Date of Death: 3-6 weeks prior
State of Remains: Skeletal
Cause of Death: Homicide by stabbing
Physical Description
Estimated Age: 16-20 years old
Race: White
Gender: Male
Height: 5'7" to 5'8"
Weight: 150-160 lbs.
Hair Color: Medium to dark brown. Hair shaved at 2-3 inches with a 5 inch pony tail on the back of his head. The pony tail had beads and other material woven into it.
Eye Color: Blue
Distinguishing Marks/Features: The victim likely used recreational drugs, as opiates were found in his system.
Identifiers
Dentals: Available
Fingerprints: Not available
DNA: Available
Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: maroon or dark red long sleeved turtle neck shirt (size large), white socks and Kikwear91 brand pants made of very heavy blue denim with very wide legs.
Jewelry: 16 inch long, large diameter beaded chain necklace. The necklace had silver 3/8" diameter spheres connected by short lengths of chain.
Additional Personal Items: Unknown
Circumstances of Discovery
The victim was located in a remote mountain area on a steep hillside.
The perpetrators were arrested and convicted of the murder of this young man. His identity was unknown to the perpetrators. It is thought that his name might be Eric and that he was from Florida and was currently homeless. He was accompanied by a girlfriend who had a Toyota auto with white license plates. Her name is unknown. The motive for his murder was that he had a vehicle which they wanted.
Investigating Agency(s)
Agency Name: Santa Cruz County Sheriff-Coroner
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 1-831-454-7790
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 98-13920
NCIC Case Number: U180850338
NamUs Case Number: 3067
NCMEC Case Number: 1184227
Information Source(s)
NamUs
NCMEC
Admin Notes
Added: 2/16/09; Last Updated: 8/28/17
--
John Doe was found 17 December 1998.
His Killers, were found and convicted, his name, was still unknown.
Eric Cupo was Identified to the Public on 12 April of 2023.
Santa Cruz County Sheriff-Coroner Teams with Othram to Identify 1998 Homicide Victim
After 25 years, an unidentified California murder victim has been identified as 22-year-old Eric Cupo.
--
Deseret black logo
LATEST NEWS
THE WEST
UTAH
S.L. truck driver charged with kidnapping
By Associated Press
Jan 16, 1999, 11:00pm PDT
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- A Salt Lake truck driver has been charged with kidnapping a man now being held for the slaying of an unidentified man near Santa Cruz, Calif.
Joseph D. Tregeagle, 51, admitted to authorities that he kept 18-year-old Jeremy Michael Kraft chained in the back of his truck after picking him up in Seattle in late November. He is being held in the Richmond County Jail along with Kraft, who has been charged with the California killing. The judge set bail at $1 million for Kraft.Tregeagle told police he only held Kraft against his will because the teenager was wanted in the Santa Cruz slaying, said Richmond County Chief Deputy Ronald Strength. Kraft called Augusta police Wednesday, claiming a former California death-row inmate had kept him chained inside a tractor-trailer truck for two months and sexually assaulted him.
Authorities from the Santa Cruz, Calif., sheriff's office met Friday with Augusta police officials and Kraft, hoping to learn the victim's identity.
The man's body was found by sightseers last month in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The victim, between the ages of 17 and 25, had been slain six to eight weeks before he was found, Santa Cruz police said Friday in a statement.
Two detectives did not learn the victim's identity Friday, said Sgt. Joe Cervantes, a spokesman for the Santa Cruz sheriff's office.
Santa Cruz police are trying to determine whether the unidentified man's killing is connected to the November killing of businessman Gaylord Chilcote of Watsonville, about 25 miles from Santa Cruz. Four people have been arrested in that case.
The Augusta Chronicle said Tregeagle was convicted of murder in California in 1971, but his death sentence was commuted to life in prison when the U.S. Supreme Court in 1972 ruled the death penalty unconstitutional.
He was paroled in 1988, the newspaper said.
--
1208UMCA - Unidentified Male
Identified...Identified...Identified
Date of Discovery: December 27, 1998
Location of Discovery: Boulder Creek, Santa Cruz County, California
Estimated Date of Death: 3-6 weeks prior
State of Remains: Skeletal
Cause of Death: Homicide by stabbing
Physical Description
Estimated Age: 16-20 years old
Race: White
Gender: Male
Height: 5'7" to 5'8"
Weight: 150-160 lbs.
Hair Color: Medium to dark brown. Hair shaved at 2-3 inches with a 5 inch pony tail on the back of his head. The pony tail had beads and other material woven into it.
Eye Color: Blue
Distinguishing Marks/Features: The victim likely used recreational drugs, as opiates were found in his system.
Identifiers
Dentals: Available
Fingerprints: Not available
DNA: Available
Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: maroon or dark red long sleeved turtle neck shirt (size large), white socks and Kikwear91 brand pants made of very heavy blue denim with very wide legs.
Jewelry: 16 inch long, large diameter beaded chain necklace. The necklace had silver 3/8" diameter spheres connected by short lengths of chain.
Additional Personal Items: Unknown
Circumstances of Discovery
The victim was located in a remote mountain area on a steep hillside.
The perpetrators were arrested and convicted of the murder of this young man. His identity was unknown to the perpetrators. It is thought that his name might be Eric and that he was from Florida and was currently homeless. He was accompanied by a girlfriend who had a Toyota auto with white license plates. Her name is unknown. The motive for his murder was that he had a vehicle which they wanted.
Investigating Agency(s)
Agency Name: Santa Cruz County Sheriff-Coroner
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 1-831-454-7790
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 98-13920
NCIC Case Number: U180850338
NamUs Case Number: 3067
NCMEC Case Number: 1184227
Information Source(s)
NamUs
NCMEC
Admin Notes
Added: 2/16/09; Last Updated: 8/28/17
--
His Killers, were found and convicted, his name, was still unknown.
Eric Cupo was Identified to the Public on 12 April of 2023.
Santa Cruz County Sheriff-Coroner Teams with Othram to Identify 1998 Homicide Victim
After 25 years, an unidentified California murder victim has been identified as 22-year-old Eric Cupo.
--
Deseret black logo
LATEST NEWS
THE WEST
UTAH
S.L. truck driver charged with kidnapping
By Associated Press
Jan 16, 1999, 11:00pm PDT
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- A Salt Lake truck driver has been charged with kidnapping a man now being held for the slaying of an unidentified man near Santa Cruz, Calif.
Joseph D. Tregeagle, 51, admitted to authorities that he kept 18-year-old Jeremy Michael Kraft chained in the back of his truck after picking him up in Seattle in late November. He is being held in the Richmond County Jail along with Kraft, who has been charged with the California killing. The judge set bail at $1 million for Kraft.Tregeagle told police he only held Kraft against his will because the teenager was wanted in the Santa Cruz slaying, said Richmond County Chief Deputy Ronald Strength. Kraft called Augusta police Wednesday, claiming a former California death-row inmate had kept him chained inside a tractor-trailer truck for two months and sexually assaulted him.
Authorities from the Santa Cruz, Calif., sheriff's office met Friday with Augusta police officials and Kraft, hoping to learn the victim's identity.
The man's body was found by sightseers last month in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The victim, between the ages of 17 and 25, had been slain six to eight weeks before he was found, Santa Cruz police said Friday in a statement.
Two detectives did not learn the victim's identity Friday, said Sgt. Joe Cervantes, a spokesman for the Santa Cruz sheriff's office.
Santa Cruz police are trying to determine whether the unidentified man's killing is connected to the November killing of businessman Gaylord Chilcote of Watsonville, about 25 miles from Santa Cruz. Four people have been arrested in that case.
The Augusta Chronicle said Tregeagle was convicted of murder in California in 1971, but his death sentence was commuted to life in prison when the U.S. Supreme Court in 1972 ruled the death penalty unconstitutional.
He was paroled in 1988, the newspaper said.
--
1208UMCA - Unidentified Male
Identified...Identified...Identified
Date of Discovery: December 27, 1998
Location of Discovery: Boulder Creek, Santa Cruz County, California
Estimated Date of Death: 3-6 weeks prior
State of Remains: Skeletal
Cause of Death: Homicide by stabbing
Physical Description
Estimated Age: 16-20 years old
Race: White
Gender: Male
Height: 5'7" to 5'8"
Weight: 150-160 lbs.
Hair Color: Medium to dark brown. Hair shaved at 2-3 inches with a 5 inch pony tail on the back of his head. The pony tail had beads and other material woven into it.
Eye Color: Blue
Distinguishing Marks/Features: The victim likely used recreational drugs, as opiates were found in his system.
Identifiers
Dentals: Available
Fingerprints: Not available
DNA: Available
Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: maroon or dark red long sleeved turtle neck shirt (size large), white socks and Kikwear91 brand pants made of very heavy blue denim with very wide legs.
Jewelry: 16 inch long, large diameter beaded chain necklace. The necklace had silver 3/8" diameter spheres connected by short lengths of chain.
Additional Personal Items: Unknown
Circumstances of Discovery
The victim was located in a remote mountain area on a steep hillside.
The perpetrators were arrested and convicted of the murder of this young man. His identity was unknown to the perpetrators. It is thought that his name might be Eric and that he was from Florida and was currently homeless. He was accompanied by a girlfriend who had a Toyota auto with white license plates. Her name is unknown. The motive for his murder was that he had a vehicle which they wanted.
Investigating Agency(s)
Agency Name: Santa Cruz County Sheriff-Coroner
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 1-831-454-7790
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 98-13920
NCIC Case Number: U180850338
NamUs Case Number: 3067
NCMEC Case Number: 1184227
Information Source(s)
NamUs
NCMEC
Admin Notes
Added: 2/16/09; Last Updated: 8/28/17
--
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