The skeletal remains of a man found under an H-1 Freeway on-ramp Jan. 11 have been positively identified as those of 59-year-old James Ferrer.
Ferrer’s remains were found under the on-ramp just west of Middle Street. But the city medical examiner was unable to identify the remains because of the advanced stage of decomposition.
The medical examiner’s office asked for the public’s help in identifying the remains.
Soon after an article appeared in The Advertiser Jan. 22, someone called the medical examiner and said the remains could be that of a family member, said acting chief investigator Susan Starrett.
"He’d been homeless for quite some time so they didn’t have much information on him, and because he was skeletonized we couldn’t do anything without obtaining dental records," Starrett said.
But the family member, whose name was not released, noted that Ferrer had entered the Navy soon after graduating from high school. Starrett said she was able to retrieve Ferrer’s 1963 dental records and positively identify him.
"Out of the tragedy, that he was identified is short of a miracle," Starrett said.
Starrett said her office is again asking for help in identifying a man who fell to his death from a Waikiki hotel Dec. 6.
No foul play was suspected in his death.
The man was described as Asian, 5 feet 8, 125 pounds with short, black gray hair and a scar on his chin.
Starrett said he may have been in his late 40s or early 50s.
In his shirt pocket, police found three photos, two black-and-white ones of children and a color picture of a woman.
A pair of glasses that matched the ones worn by the woman was found near the man.
Police also recovered a thin piece of paper with the name "Pablo G. Anton" written on it.
Anyone with information on the man is asked to call the medical examiner at 527-6777.
