Urban Legends: Pan of Cherokee Park

Photo by Alan Canon

Cherokee Park is located in Louisville, Kentucky. It's a good place to see some natural scenery and maybe be able to see the mischievous Pan come to life.

In 1903 Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Hogan from Anchorage, Kentucky submitted a letter to the Board of Park Commissioners. They suggested building a water fountain for dogs and horses and offered $7,000 in order to help erect one. The Commission would ask park designers, and Louisville park architects Olmstead and Associates to find a site for the fountain. The highest part of Cherokee Park was chosen.

To Mrs. Hogan's suggestion, they decided to the Greek God Pan to be the subject of the fountain. Lousiville sculptor, Enid Yandell, designed the fountain. The statue of Pan was sculpted and cast in bronze to appear lively. Pan who has a human body, horns on his head, and goat legs and feet appeared to be dancing holding his musical pipe. He is flocked by turtles that are used as water spouts into the 14 ft wide basin. The basin was decorated with four dog heads from which water also flows into a trough.

The fountain would be erected and dedicated on August 31, 1905.

According to urban legend during the full moon or maybe even every night at midnight Pan comes to life. It's said that Pan gets up to mischief sometimes even damaging vehicles nearby. 

SOURCES:

Wikipedia (Pan)

Louisville Ghost Hunters Society

Lousiville Halloween

Only In Your State

August 30, 2013 La Paz County, Arizona Doe

On August 30, 2013, on the banks of a river near Ehrenberg, Arizona a mandible was found. Gender could not be determined, but it's believed that they were between 18 to 55-years-old, and died between 1905 to 2005.


SOURCES:
NamUs

Murder of Carle McConnell

At 10 p.m. on August 29, 1997, 17-year-old Carle McConnell was found in a wooded area off of Devine Road in Vancouver, Washington. He had been shot to death. 

Carle's death may have been drug related and it's believed that he was killed by someone he knew. He was going through a rough patch as for the last two years he had gotten into drugs such as meth and marijuana. At the time he was not going to school and was living with friends.

SOURCES:

City of Vancouver

Uncovered

The Columbian September 2, 1997

The Columbian February 12,1998

The Columbian February 12,1998

KPTV May 30, 2023

August 28, 1963 Indio, California Baby Boy Doe

On August 28, 1963, the burned remains of a newborn were found in Indio, California. The infant had evidence of charing, but the infant died from a head injury. The placenta and gas can were found at the scene. They likely died the day before.

John Doe was a white or Hispanic male. 

SOURCES:

NamUs

August 27, 1863 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Jane Doe

 On August 27, 1863, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania an unknown woman would die. She would be buried at the Philadelphia Almshouse Cemetery.

Jane Doe is a white female around 30-year-old.

SOURCES:

Find a Grave

Murder of William Henry Hill III

At 6:54 pm on August 27, 2019, police responded to the area of Mt. Vernon Ave and N 17th Ave in Columbus, Ohio. When they arrived they found 27-year-old William Hill III suffering from a gunshot wound inside a vehicle. William would be taken to the hospital, but would, unfortunately, pass over an hour later.

SOURCES:
Ohio Attorney General

Murder of Mildred Beamer

At 5:35 pm on August 26, 1993, 31-year-old Mildred Beamer was found dead at 757 A Pearcy St. in Greensboro, North Carolina. She had died from blunt force trauma.


SOURCES:
Greensboro North Carolina

Uncovered

August 25, 1923 Raleigh, North Carolina John Doe

 On August 25, 1923, the body of a man was found in a wooded area in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was believed that he had been dead for around a month before he was found. His cause of death is either unknown or unstated. 

John Doe was a black male about 45-years-old. 

SOURCES:

Find a Grave

Unidentified Wiki

Disappearance of Antwon Bernito Williams

On August 24, 1998, 20-year-old Antwon Williams was last seen leaving the 3800 block of North Dame Court in Charleston, South Carolina in his father's car. The next day the car was found abandoned on Cosgrove Bridge. It was still running with the hazard light on, but no sight of Antwon around.

Antwon is a black male and was 20-years-old at the time. He's 5'9" and 140 lbs. He has black hair and brown hair. He has the tattoo "Tony" on his arm. He was wearing a Jersey with a blue and yellow "Indiana" logo, blue shorts, and white athletic shoes.

SOURCES:

NamUs

National Missing Person Directory

Doe Network

Charley Project

August 1724 Plaxtol, England A Poor Traveling Woman

 On August 24, 1724, a poor unknown traveling woman was buried at the Plaxtol Parish Churchyard in Plaxtol, England. 

SOURCES: 

Find a Grave

Murder of Linda Maxwell

On the evening of August 23,1984, 18-year-old Linda Maxwell was seen leaving Calais, Maine with companions. Her body would be found 3 days later near the shore at the Robbinston Boat landing. She had drowned to death. Reportedly from a newspaper article at the time she was found nude, but there were no visible injuries on her. 

SOURCES:

Maine State Police

The Bangor Daily News August 28, 1984

The Calais Advertiser March 20, 2019

August 22, 2013 Rochester, New York Doe

On August 22, 2013, a femur would be found in a vacant lot in Rochester, New York.

SOURCES
NamUs

Disappearance of Jessica Johnson

On August 22, 1997, 13-year-old Jessica Johnson and another girl ran awat from a group home in Fairfield, California. The other girl was found, but Jessica however was not. It is not stated what the other girl knew about Jessica. There is little information in this case.

Jessica is a black female and was 13-years-old at the time. At the time she was 5'0" and 100 lbs. She has black hair and brown eyes. She was wearing blue sweats, green sweatshirt, and a white shirt,

SOURCES:
NamUs

Disappearance of Michael Adrian Lorenz-Schrader

In August/September 1996, 33-year-old Michael Adrian Lorenz-Schrader was last seen in Gordonvale, Queensland, Australia by his father. It was believed that he was on his way to Northern Territory from western Queensland.  His listed last seen date was August 21st.

At the time to close family and friends, He was going by his middle name Adrian. 

Micheal is a male and was 33-years-old at the time. He's 185cm (6'1") and has a solid build. He has black hair and brown eyes. He was sporting a beard and mustache. He would have been wearing glasses at the time.He has a scar on the back of his left shoulder from a traffic accident.

SOURCES:

Australian Federal Police

Disappearance of Dontray Miguel Hunter

On August 20, 1975, 1-year-old Dontray Hunter and his older sister were sitting on the porch of their home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Their mother was inside dressing their younger brother as their grandmother was going to show up soon so that their mother and them could go to the post office. Dontray's sister would go inside to use the bathroom. When she came back out Dontray was nowhere to be seen.

Police would be called and a search would be done with the help of neighbors. There would be no sign for him, however. Dontray's family believes that someone had kidnapped him as they believe he would have been found if he had wandered. His 2nd birthday would have been the next month.

Dontray is a black male and was 1-year-old. He was 3'0" and 30 lbs at the time. He has black hair and brown eyes. He has a birthmark on the back of his neck. He was wearing a white t-shirt, olive green trousers, and white tennis shoes. 

SOURCES:
NamUs
National Missing and Exploited Children
Doe Network
Wisconsin Missing

August 19, 2016 Harrison, Michigan Doe

On August 19, 2016, in Harrison, Michigan a dog would bring a right femur to their owner. It's unknown where the dog had gotten the femur as the property was large and wooded.

SOURCES:
NamUs

Disappearance of Li Li

On August 18, 1989, 32-year-old Li Li was last seen in her home in Huntsville, Alabama.

Li Li is an Asian Female and was 32-years-old at the time. She's 5'3" and around 100 lbs. She has black hair and at the time it was shoulder length. She was last seen in a nightgown.

SOURCES:
NamUs

Murder of Dawn Andrea "Magic" Svocak

On the night of August 16, 1984 20-year-old Dawn "Magic" Svocak went to Blair's Bar on Marion St. in Plattsburgh, New York. This was a gay bar at the time. She would leave around 2:30 a.m. the next morning.She would fail to return to her apartment at 71 Clinton St. Her ex-girlfriend and her then-partner would report her missing.

A belt, knife one of her red boots were found in the alleyway that connects Marion St and Oak St. This was within a block of her apartment and the bar. Police believe that these items were left here by the killer to stage a scene and detour the search for Dawn. So that the search would be focused downtown.

It wasn't until a little over a month later on September 21st that she would be found. In Beekman along ST-9 and Stafford Rd just a few miles outside of Plattsburgh two farmers were cutting down crops in a cornfield when they found Dawn's body. She had died from blunt force trauma. 

A friend of Dawn's believes that it was probably someone they were close to. Likely someone they knew from the bar and a part of their community.

There may be people who were part of the LGBTQ scene in the area who may know something. At the time the LGBTQ  people and the community as whole did not see eye to eye. At this time people weren't as accepting of LGBTQ people. The bar itself was also a place where drugs and fights were more common than not. It was a rough place for partying. Likely people who didn't come foward were probably afraid of what they'd be asked.

Though there was a rift between the gay community and community as a whole the police did not drop the ball in this case. If this case is to ever go to trial because of the throughness of the investigators the crime scene could be recreated down to the exact measurements. 

SOURCES:
New York Trooper
Uncovered

NBC June 18, 2016

New York Upstate October 8, 2019

My Champlain Valley May 6, 2021

Disappearance of Phyllis Gilliam

On August 16, 1971, 11-year-old Phyllis Gilliam was last seen leaving her grandmother's apartment in the 2100 block of Saxon Plaza in Columbia, South Carolina. She was supposed to go to the laundromat on Read St. One witness stated that they had seen her leave the cleaners and headed towards Two Notch Rd at 2:30 pm. By September friends, neighbors, and family would place a $450 reward for information on where Phyllis was. This was however fruitless as she was never seen again.

Her family said that Phyllis would not had gotten into a car with someone she did not know. It would be likely if someone did make her get into one she would have fought. 

Phyllis is a black female and was 11-years-old at the time. At the time she was 4'0" and 65 lbs. She has brown hair and brown eyes. She was wearing a black and white dress at the time.

SOURCES:
NamUs
Charley Project

The Columbia Record September 2, 1971

The Columbia Record November 4, 1971 .

Murder of Richard Gary Malin

At 8:30 a.m. on August 16, 1976 35-year-old Richard Marlin was found dead at their home on 30290 Palomino Drive in Evergreen, Colorado. He was found just inside the front door of the residence. He had been shot. 

SOURCES:
Colorado Bureau Of Investigation
Jefferson County, Colorado

Murder of James E. Smith

At 2 a.m. on August 15, 1961, 31-year-old James Smith went to work at the Hi Joy Bowling Alley in Port Orchard, Washington. James was working as a custodian for the bowling alley at the time. At 8 a.m. other staff of the bowling alley arrived and found James lying on the floor near the register counter. He had been assaulted and then struck in the head multiple times with a hatchet or axe.

A back window of the business was broken. Nothing was stolen, but it's believed that James may have interrupted a robbery and struggled with the intruder.

SOURCES
Port Orchard

Kitsap Sun

Uncovered

Longview Daily News August 16, 1961

August 15, 1853 Orleans Parish, Louisiana Orphaned German Jane Doe

On August 15,1853 an 8 to 9-year-old Orphaned German girl would die from yellow fever in Orleans Parish, Louisiana. Her identity would be unknown. She would be buried at Cypress Grove Cemetery 2 in New Orleans.

SOURCES:
Find a Grave
Unidentified Wiki

August 14, 2022 Ridgedale, Missouri John Doe

 The skeletal remains of a man were found behind a convenience store next to the highway in Ridgedale, Missouri. It appears that he was there for some time likely dying between 2017 and 2021

John Doe was a man between 20 to 40-years-old. Pants were found near the body. 

SOURCES: 

NamUs

Murder of Alexandra "Alex" Anaya

On August 12, 2005, 13-year-old Alexandra "Alex" Anaya would have a late-night meal at White Castle with her mother. They would go back to their home on the 4000 block of Pine Avenue in Hammond, Indiana. In the early hours of the next morning, Alex's mother, Sandra, would leave and return by 6:45 a.m. 

When her mother returned she found that the door was unlocked which was unusual. She had remembered locking it before leaving and Alex was very conscious of the door being locked before going to bed. Alex was still up when her mother left, but told her she was going to bed soon. 

So Sandra went to check on Alex and her younger sisters. Alex's bed was empty and she was nowhere to be seen. I would be unusual for Alex to just leave. Sandra thought that maybe Alex had gone to the nearby corner store. So when she went outside and found Alex's shoes on the steps outside their home she began to worry. 

The police would be called to report Alex missing. The police had told her it was likely that she had run away. Her mother thought that was out of character for her but thought that it was possible as she was a teenager and may be going through a rebellious phase. Her family would still search the streets for her. It wasn't for 3 long days until any news of Alex would be heard of.

On August 16th a family would be on their boat in the Little Calumet River. They would spot what they thought was a mannequin floating in the river. They called the police because they thought the mannequin could cause damage to other boats. 

When authorities arrived it was a gruesome discovery. It was the torso of a teenage girl. DNA would identify her as Alex. 

Only her torso was found, Her limbs, head, and a necklace she always wore were never recovered. It was found that she had been sexually assaulted, and she died soon after she was last seen as the fries she ate with her mother were in her stomach. It's possible that the necklace which was a religious gold medalion may have been kept as a trophy. 

SOURCES:

FBI

WGN TV

True Crime Society

Akilah "Shawnty" Valencia Charleswell

On August 12, 2009, 27-year-old Akilah "Shawnty" Charleswell was last seen at the Hull Bay E&M Grocery Store on the Island of ST. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. She would be reported missing 3 days later. 

At the time Akilah was living in St. Thomas with her grandmother. 

Akilah is a black female and was 27-years-old at the time. She has black hair and dark brown eyes. She's 5'10" and 110 lbs. Her hair was styled in short twisted dreadlocks. 

SOURCES:

NamUs

Charley Project

August 12, 1912 Chester, Pennsylvania John Doe

  On August 12, 1912, some of the remains of a young boy were found in the Delaware River in Chester, Pennsylvania. It was believed that the boy had drowned and died about a year before. 

John Doe was a white male and was about 6 or 7-years-old. 

SOURCES:
Find a Grave

Bunsoh Man

On May 17, 1890, a mummified body was found in a peat bog in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The body now known as Bunsoh Man was discovered by peat workers. He was found around 100 cm below the surface with woolen textile and birch branches on top of the body. It is believed he had died and lived between 560 to 620 CE. It's unknown how he died, but it is thought by some he may have strangled with a type of textile garrote. 

After his body was placed in storage it decomposed greatly. 

SOURCES:

Wikipedia

Mummipedia

Folklore: Toothstone

Photo by Salazar an Atlas Obscura User

The Toothstone lies in a glen just outside of the village of Port Charlotte, Scotland. The stone itself looks somewhat like a molar. The Toothstone was used for generations by the people in Port Charlotte. It was believed that the stone could relieve a toothache.

For the desired outcome if you wake up with a toothache during the night you were to go to the Toothstone. You bring a hammer and nail and then hammer a nail into the stone. This was to magically heal your toothache.

SOURCES:
Atlas Obscura

Edinburgh News December 26, 2020

Suspicious Death of Carmel Sue Whitacre

On August 9, 1970, 26-year-old Carmel Whitacre was last seen. She was released from the NH State Hospital for a weekend visit with her husband in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She was supposed to return to the hospital to never be seen again.

On October 27, 1979 hunters were a short distance from Route. 43 in Northwood, New Hampshire. This was where they found Carmel's skeletal remains. Her cause of death is either unknown or unstated. It's unknown if she was murdered or not but her death is suspicious. 

SOURCES:
New Hampshire Department of Justice
Valley News November 2, 1979

Disappearance of Jason "J" Anthony Franks

On August 9, 2001, 21-year-old Jason "J" Franks was camping with friends near the Klamath, California/Chiloquin, Oregon area. His friends would leave him at the campsite as they went into town. They claimed when they came back Jason was nowhere to be seen. Both California and Oregon Police are investigating this case. 

Jason is a white male and was 21-years-old at the time. He has Blonde or Strawberry blonde hair and blue/hazel eyes. He's 6'0" and 153 to 165 lbs. He has one partial upper front tooth, scars on his nose, and a previously fractured left arm. He had a cross and black dots tattoo on his right hand, a skull tattoo, and an unfinished tattoo of a demon on his right shoulder. 

He was wearing a heavy chain necklace. 

SOURCES:

NamUs

State of California Deparment of Justice

National Missing Persons Directory

Charley Project

1864 Larimer County, Colorado Unidentified Mexican Friend

In 1864 a man was buried at Modena Cemetery in Larimer County, Colorado. His Tombstone reads Unidentified Mexican Friend. 

SOURCES:

Find a Grave

Murder of Erika Farrant

On August 7, 1978, Erika Farrant was murdered in Anchorage, Alaska. There is little information in this case.

SOURCES:
Great State of Alaska

Project Cold Case

WANTED: Jane Doe 36

It is believed that Jane Doe 36 has information pertaining to the welfare of a child victim in an ongoing sexual exploitation investigation. A video containing her first came to law enforcements attention in August 2016. 

Jane Doe is a white female between 30 to 40-years-old. In the video she has long curly brown hair. She was seen wearing a pink shirt and a pair of black pants with polka dots. 

SOURCES:

FBI

August 5, 1898 Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Jane Doe

On August 5, 1898, a woman was found washed up on the shore of Lake Michigan in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. She had a hitching weight such as what a drayman would use to fasten a horse's brittle. It was placed together with the body with a light chain wrapped around the body twice and fastened by prying a link open. She was partial as she was wearing a top and her underclothing it's not stated whether or not the water may have caused it to come off. She was dead for around a month. Her cause of death was undetermined, but it was believed that she was hit over the head and placed in the water alive where she drowned.

Jane Doe was around 30-years-old. She was 5'4" and around 140 lbs. She had Dark Chestnut colored hair that was dyed. The hair at the back of her neck showed light brown hair sprinkled with grey. The underclothing was of good quality and made of handmade lace. She was wearing shoes and on the leather with Harding & Todd which was a shoe manufacturing company in Rochester, New York. 

SOURCES:

Find a Grave

The Weekley Wisconsin August 6, 1898

Murder of Valencia Hogan-Pierce

Shortly after 1 a.m. on August 4, 2012, 20-year-old Valencia Hogan-Pierce was shot in the area of N 16th St. and Willis Ave in Omaha, Nebraska. She would be found alive and brought to the hospital, but unfortunately would die at the hospital.

SOURCES:

City of Omaha

Disappearance of Mario Martinez Martinez

 

On August 3, 1999, 33-year-old Mario Martinez Martines was last seen in Tustin, California. There is little information in this case.  Mario is a Hispanic Male and was 33-years-old at the time. He's 5'6" and 190 lbs. He has black hair and brown eyes. He has a tattoo of a woman on his leg and Mario on his right hand. He was wearing white shirt, black jeans, and white tennis shoes. SOURCES: California Department of Justice Doe Network Charley Project

August 2, 2015 Bombings in Las Cruces, New Mexico

Around 8:30 a.m. on August 2, 2015. a device at the Calvary Baptist Church in Las Cruces, New Mexico exploded. Another device at the Holy Cross Catholic Church would detonate. There were no injuries in either bombing and the resulting damage was minor. It's believed that the cases may be related.

There was a man recorded on a surveillance video. He was seen walking to and from the Calvary Baptist Church around the time of the bombing. He was wearing plaid shorts, a blue short-sleeved T-shirt, and hiking boots and was carrying a package or bag. He may be a person of interest and or someone who may have information.

SOURCES:
FBI

Disappearance of Lydia White

Photo of Lydia and an age progression to 6-years-old

On August 1, 2004 4-month-old Lydia White was last seen by her father in Lawndale, California. She was not reported missing until March 3, 2011. There is little information in this case.

Lydia is a biracial white/black female and was 4-months-old at the time. She was 1'10" and 14 lbs at the time. She has brown hair and brown eyes.

SOURCES:
NamUs
Missing and Exploited Children
Doe Network

August 1, 1978 Sea Isle City, New Jersey

In August of 1978, a partial right maxilla was found in Sea Isle City, New Jersey. It was not brought to the police until July 7, 2014

Gender and race is unknown, but it's believed that hey were between 25 to 60-years-old.

SOURCES:

NamUs