Santa Clara County Coroner identifies man deceased in 1994

Authorities have identified a body found in 1994 and are seeking the public’s assistance to locate any relatives of the person, according to an announcement from the office.

The body was identified as Ian M. Shepard, according to the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office. Shepard died on July 18, 1994, officials said. He was found in a railroad boxcar in Santa Clara between Reed Street and De la Cruz Boulevard. The boxcar may have come from Oakland or Milpitas, officials said.

Authorites said Shephard was a 40-year-old white man with dark grey-brown hair about 10 inches long. He was thin and stood about six feet tall, with a short mustache and a full beard, they said.

Shepard was not wearing clothes when he was found lying on a blue aluminum blanket, covered by a light-colored blanket, officials said. He was found with several clothing items, including red pants, green pants, a sock, dark tennis shoes and a dark green or black duffel bag.

He also had nitroglycerin, likely for use as a prescription medication, officials added.

Anyone with further information should contact the Investigations Unit at 408-793-1900, extension 3. The case number is 94-199-018.