Cold Case: 92-3882
Date Discovered:
Age at Incident:
45
Gender:
Male
On April 29, 1992, the body of an unidentified white male was discovered in the Columbia River by Kelley Point near the mouth of the Willamette River.
The unidentified male body was estimated to have been in the water about 7 to 10 days prior to its discovery. Based on that amount of time in the water, forensic analysis was unable to obtain viable fingerprints for the person. The body was ultimately identified via other forensic means as 44-year-old John Warner Nolen, a former City of Tacoma, Washington Police Department officer.
The Medical Examiners Office determined that the cause of his death was by gunshot wound. The manner of his death was undetermined, either by suicide or by homicide. Unusual circumstances surrounding his death lead investigators to suspect that homicide was more likely than suicide.
Nolen had been reported missing to law enforcement by his family member in April 1993. He was missing from the area of Tacoma, WA. He had not been seen or heard from by his family since March of 1992.
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