County of Santa Clara Medical Examiner Identifies Body Found Deceased in 1994

The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s (ME-C) Office has made the positive identification of Ian M. Shepard who died on July 18, 1994. The office has been unable to locate family for this case, despite extensive efforts, and is seeking the public’s help.

Shepard was found deceased on July 18, 1994, in a railroad boxcar between Reed Street and De la Cruz Boulevard in Santa Clara, CA. The railroad boxcar may have been transferred into Santa Clara from either Milpitas, CA or Oakland, CA. 

At the time of his death, Shepard was thin and measured 72.5 inches tall. He was described as a 40-year-old white male with dark grey-brown hair that measured approximately 10 inches in length. He had a mustache that measured approximately 1.5 inches in length and a full grey beard measuring approximately 4 inches in length. His teeth were natural. 

Shepard was not wearing clothing and was covered with a light-colored blanket and lying atop a blue aluminum type sheet or blanket. 

Located in the railroad boxcar near him were the below clothing items: 
• Red pants 
• Green pants 
• A sock 
• Dark green or black duffel bag 
• Large pair of dark tennis shoes 
• Possible prescription medication (Nitroglycerin) 

Contact the ME-C’s Office Investigations Unit at 408-793-1900 extension 3 with any information.
Medical Examiner-Coroner reference case number: 94-199-018. 
NamUs reference case number: UP127090.

ABOUT THE COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA 
The County of Santa Clara government serves a diverse, multicultural population of 1.9 million residents in Santa Clara County, Calif., making it more populous than 14 states in the United States. The County provides essential services to its residents, including public health protection, environmental stewardship, medical services through the County of Santa Clara Health System, child and adult protection services, homelessness prevention and solutions, roads, park services, libraries, emergency response to disasters, protection of minority communities and those under threat, access to a fair criminal justice system, and many other public benefits.

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Media Contact: María Leticia Gómez / Matthew Rudig, Office of Communications and Public Affairs, (408) 299-5119, [email protected]