Hurricane Katrina claimed more than 1,300 lives in Louisiana. Fifteen months after the storm, 30
bodies remain unidentified, including one recovered just this month. Most were found weeks after the storm and were badly
decomposed.
A few have tentative IDs, but without known living relatives cannot be positively identified via
DNA. For the others, all that's known with any degree of certainty is the clothes and objects that accompanied them to their
death. Even the addresses where they came to rest are approximate; sometimes bodies floated hundreds of feet, and field notes
were not always accurate.
Here is a list of the unidentified dead, in the order they were recovered:
-White woman. Found Sept. 3, 2005, on the Superdome loading dock. 4-foot-9. Between 25 and 40 years
old. Wearing skirt, brown hose, black shoes and "Bourbon Street" T-shirt. Wrapped in a pink blanket. No teeth. Abdominal scar.
-Black man. Found Sept. 10, 2005, under Interstate 10 at Elysian Fields. Age unknown. 6 feet tall.
Long black hair. One Nike shoe, Nike workout pants. Back brace. Catheter attached to 250-cc bag, for urine disposal.
-Black man. Found Sept. 11, 2005, outside 2011 LaHarpe St. 5-foot-11. Over 50. Beard and mustache.
Tattoo on chest, "Mother Love."
-Black man. Found Sept. 11, 2005, at Bullard Avenue and Chef Menteur Highway. 5-foot-7. Over 45.
Short black hair. Cutty Sark key chain, two pocket knives, two door keys. Dark blue pants.
-Black man. Found Sept. 11, 2005, near Rim Rock Auto. 5-foot-8. Over 45. Red bandanna around neck.
Dodge Ram pickup key chain. Red long-sleeved shirt. Blue pants. Boots.
-White woman. Found Sept. 12, 2005, inside house at 1208 Mehle St., Arabi. 5-foot-2. Over 60. Found
wearing Padre Pio necklace.
-Man, race unknown. Found Sept. 12, 2005, on South Claiborne. Cracked skull. Healed rib fracture.
Over 40. Tattoo on left arm, "Susan." One orange comb. Winn-Dixie card. Red-and-blue plaid shirt. Wrangler jeans. Hightop
shoes.
-Black woman. Found Sept. 12, 2005, in yard next to 2709 S. Prieur St. 4-foot-6. Over 50. Two curlers
in her hair. Knee brace. Single earring with initials "RMJ." Blue T-shirt, colorful skirt. One handkerchief with white-and-blue
paisley design.
-Black man. Found Sept. 13, 2005, in yard of 2519 Delachaise. 6-foot-1. 30 to 55. Rubber band on
right wrist. Several tattoos, including one of a person holding shield, or else a heart. Gray plaid shirt. Blue slacks. Laced-up
boots. Keys.
-Black man. Found Sept. 14, 2005. Location unknown. 5-foot-3. Over 30. Bushy beard and mustache.
Jeans held up with a rope belt. Striped T-shirt. Nine keys.
-Black man. Time and place of pickup unknown. 5-foot-8. 30 to 60. Black-handled scissors. Denim
jeans. Red sweatshirt.
-Human hand. Found Sept. 15, 2005, on the ground at Miro Street and Orleans Avenue. Left hand. No
nail polish. Possibly male. Race unknown.
-Black man. Found Sept. 15, 2005, near Almonaster Bridge. 5-foot-7. Over 45. Rod in lower right
leg, including four pins and screws. Tattoo on right shoulder says "Joy Pride." Multiple other tattoos, including one on right
thigh which says "Lillie," encircled by flowers and a heart. Jeans and denim jacket.
-White woman. Found Sept. 19, 2005, outside fence line of 605 Norton Ave., Arabi.
5-foot-4. Over 50. Petite, with slim bones. Long brown hair. Naked.
-White man. Found Sept. 21, 2005, face down on porch opposite 6216 Lafaye St. 5-foot-7. Over 50.
Beard and mustache. Wearing swimming trunks with drawstrings.
-White woman. Found Sept. 21, 2005, at 609 Community St., Arabi. 5-foot-3. Over 45. Scar on abdomen.
Necklace with Joseph Kohn high school signet. Naked. Wrapped in hospital sheet.
-Black woman. Found Sept. 22, 2005, in back room of 5916 N. Galvez St. 5-foot-3. Over 60. No bottom
teeth. Wearing girdle and Vinezzi brand shirt. On shirt, three buttons shaped like white fish, or sea shells. Navy slacks.
Yellow, wireframe bifocal glasses.
-Black man. Found Oct. 9, 2005, outside at Forstall Street and North Prieur. 6-foot-4. Age between
28 to 35 years old. T-shirt says: "Summer Fun. Remember to donate blood to Tenet Regional Blood Bank." Slacks. Brown tennis
shoes. Key chain of a tiger wearing a helmet, Louisiana State University logo.
-Black man. Found Feb. 17, 2006, on Highway 90. Intermediate build. Height unknown. 40s. Wearing
a plaid shirt and blue T-shirt. Socks.
-Black woman. Found March 19, 2006, inside collapsed house at 2400 Tupelo Street. Height unknown.
Over 65. Wearing underpants and a camisole. Pink plastic flower found near her.
-Skull and mandible of a black man. Found March 20, 2006, inside a plastic grocery bag, placed on
top of rubble pile outside 4110 Dale St. Between 35 to 50 years old. No height.
-White man. Found April 6, 2006, inside 2106 Mirabeau Ave. 5-foot-7. 200 pounds. Over 65. Two wallets
with multiple IDs. Key rings. Watch. Had on tank top T-shirt, striped, button-up shirt. Dockers brand pants. Boots.
-Probable male. Mixed race. Found June 21, 2006, in a wooded area near Behrman Highway and Texas
Drive. Height unknown. Skeletonized and mummified. Age between 17 and 25 years old. Small build. Has Caucasian, black and
Asian features. No clothing. Wig found near body. Wig had long dark brown and dyed red hair.
-White woman. Found July 31, 2006, inside 6144 S. Laverne St. Only skeleton remained. No personal
effects.
-Sex and race unknown. Found Nov. 29, 2006, in yard near St. Maurice Avenue and North Robertson
Street during demolition of nearby house.
-Black man. Died in Baton Rouge hospital after evacuating from New Orleans. Buried in Iberville
Parish cemetery, later exhumed. 5-foot-8. Over 65. Wearing hospital gown.
-Black man. Time and place of pickup unknown. 6-foot-1. Over 49. Wearing blue boxers and white T-shirt.
-White man. Time and place of pickup unknown. 5-foot-6. Over 50. Naked. Short gray hair and beard.
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