JANUARY 14--A South Carolina woman yesterday contacted police to file a missing person report on her son, who left home to follow the Grateful Dead nearly 20 years ago. 
 
 Margaretta Evans, 63, told a Myrtle Beach Police Department officer that “she has not seen or heard from her son since early June of 1995,” according to a police report. 
 
 Evans “advised that he left to follow the Grateful Dead at that time,” reported Officer Traci Chanaca. 
 
 The missing man, Jason Patrick Callahan, would now be 38, Evans told police. She described him as “approximately 5’ 10” to 6’ 00” in height and approximately 160 pounds” with “wavy brown hair and brown eyes.” 
 
 While the police report does not indicate why Evans waited two decades to report her son missing, the notification appears connected to the recent social media interest in the 1995 death of an unidentified man dubbed “Grateful Doe.” 
 
 The victim, who was killed in a June 26 car accident in Virginia, had Grateful Dead ticket stubs in his pocket at the time of his death, as well as a note addressed to "Jason." The driver of the vehicle was a South Carolina man, 21, who fell asleep at the wheel and also died in the crash. 
 
 In June 1995, the Grateful Dead performed a trio of shows at the Shoreline Ampitheatre in northern California before embarking on a 16-concert East Coast swing. The tour ended with a July 9 show at Soldier Field in Chicago that would be the band’s final performance. Guitarist Jerry Garcia died a month later of a heart attack at a California drug rehabilitation facility. (2 pages) ||||| Original: 6:42 pm, 1/10/15, Saturday 
 
 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY -- A 20-year old mystery could be close to being solved with a direct link to Champaign County. In the past week, social media outlets have been buzzing. Thousands across the nation have been trying to identify a crash victim killed in 1995 without any ID; just a Grateful Dead t-shirt and concert tickets in his pocket. Since then he’s been known as “Grateful Doe.” 
 
 
 
 After all this time, a local man believes he knows who it is. He saw a composite sketch and believes the victim's name is “Jason,” and says they actually lived together more than 20 years ago. 
 
 
 
 “To think that people had been looking for him for 20-years, just really blew my mind," said Mark Foley, of Urbana. 
 
 
 
 A sketch of Grateful Doe has been floating around the internet for years; hundreds hoping to give him a name. Foley saw it for the first time earlier this year and knows exactly who it is. 
 
 
 
 "My friend Steve happened upon the drawing when he was browsing the internet and said, 'That looks like the guy we used to live with,'" said Foley. 
 
 
 
 Foley and his other roommates recognize him as “Jason,” but after 20 years, couldn’t remember his last name. Jason lived with them in Champaign for six months in 1994. 
 
 
 
 "Jason was just really laid back and really kind and nice and just a gentle soul," he said. 
 
 
 
 Foley and his roommates were able to find pictures of Jason from that time and shared them with online communities devoted to solving the case, like a Facebook page started by a woman named Alyssa Hillman, in Texas, who wanted to help. 
 
 
 
 "It was an accident. He wasn't murdered or anything like that. It's just very, very strange that no one was able to figure out who he was," said Hillman. 
 
 
 
 According to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, “Grateful Doe” was killed in a car accident in Greenville County, Virginia in June, 1995. He had a lighter, four quarters, and Grateful Dead concert tickets on him. Foley’s recollection of Jason sounds similar. 
 
 
 
 "He and I shared a love of the Grateful Dead. I remember, during the winter he said he had to get out of Illinois because it was so cold and so he was going to go on tour with the Dead over the summer and spring." 
 
 
 
 He says he saw Jason that spring, but never heard from his friend again and, after putting the pieces together, now believes it’s because he died that summer. 
 
 
 
 "We feel like we have found the Grateful Doe, which kind of makes me sad because that means I lost a friend," said Foley. 
 
 
 
 The pictures Foley and his former roommates shared have brought national attention to the case. 
 
 
 
 "It's really a power, I think, to the internet and the power of people who care about this case a lot and we're just a couple of guys who had a photograph to put on the internet," he said. 
 
 
 
 Other people have stepped forward since, saying they recognize the man in their picture as “Jason.” Authorities in Virginia say they haven’t made a positive identification yet, but Foley feels confident. 
 
 
 
 “Basically, a week ago I didn't know anything about this Grateful Doe case, which has been going on for 20 years and in the last week, my friends, Steve and I have probably provided enough information to close the case," he said. 
 
 
 
 Online communities hope that if someone could just look at Jason’s face and remember his last name, it could bring closure to some family, somewhere. 
 
 
 
 "I feel really sad for him, because he just was following his passion. He was following the Grateful Dead and having fun and trying to live: an adventurer. And it turned out tragically," said Foley. 
 
 
 
 Anyone with information or who may recognize the person in these images should call case manager, David Baldwin, (757) 683 - 8366. ||||| Welcome to the sub! 
 
 I will be updating this thread as I confirm new information :) 
 
 Please if you have information or suggestions, post away! We will be here to listen. 
 
 For those who are interested in doing further reading in this case; Please visit the following wonderful links: 
 
 Wikipedia! Because any teacher who told you that Wikipedia is not a legitimate reference is a liar. Here, The Grateful Doe is referred to as the Greensville County John Doe, but it will provide you with an over view of the case as it stands: 
 
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greensville_County_John_Doe 
 
 WebSleuths is an online forum dedicated to the investigation of homicides, missing persons, unidentified persons and cold case crimes: 
 
 http://www.websleuths.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?172-Grateful-Dead-Fan 
 
 This is a link to one of the most recent media articles written about the plight of The Grateful Doe. David Lohr is a wonderful writer, and obviously did significant amounts of research for this article: 
 
 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/25/grateful-doe_n_5208512.html 
 
 The National Unidentified Persons Database, this is a link to Grateful Doe's file which will give you more indepth information into the case notes, the accident, and his description: 
 
 https://identifyus.org/cases/6095 
 
 The Doe Network is a website similar to the NamUs website, providing up to date information about the case of The Grateful Doe: 
 
 http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/127umva.html 
 
 As of right now; the most significant information we have in the investigation into the identity of The Grateful Doe is as follows 
 
 POSSIBLE LEAD #1: 'Jason' from Champaign, Illinois. 
 
 Origin of lead: Contact was made by three males who lived with a 'Jason' who matched the description of GD, after one had seen an Imgur post about The Grateful Doe. 
 
 The Facts: 
 
 From contact #1: This contact has a strong belief Jason is our GD. 
 
 Photo: http://imgur.com/R9WnPYu 
 
 Was known to the contact in late 1994 to early 1995. 
 
 He was living with the three informants 
 
 He began living with the three informants in fall of 1994 
 
 He was living with them in a house off the campus of the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana 
 
 He was younger than all three of the males living in the house, and was estimated between 17 - 18 years of age. 
 
 He was described as a 'laid back surfer dude' from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. 
 
 This is where one of the informants, G, met Jason. 
 
 G and Jason shared one bedroom. 
 
 Jason was NOT a student at UofI 
 
 He was a 'major Dead Head' and would discuss The Grateful Dead frequently with a fellow housemate 
 
 He discussed topics such as Atheism, hallucinogens, and believed he could talk to trees. 
 
 He worked at a McDonalds near the house. It is possible it's address was; 1605 South Neil Street, Champaign, IL 61820. 
 
 Was romantically involved with a 30 - 40 year old female manager at this location 
 
 He 'disappeared' in mid to late winter of February 1995. 
 
 Would frequently call 1900-RUN-DEAD (A line for fans of GD to call and be provided with information about setlists of concerts) 
 
 He had a slight build, hair looked sun-bleached like he had 'spent plenty of time at the beach'. His hair was described to look like 'Kurt Cobain' 
 
 His eyes were always slightly closed, and was possibly 'baked alot', it is possible he also took mushrooms. 
 
 The newer computer image doesn't 'look like Jason, they made him look too conventional/mainstream/awake' 
 
 He talked like a soft-spoken surfer dude, although he could get quite animated. 
 
 There is no recollection of Jason speaking about family 
 
 Jason's friend (contact #2), remembers the shoes identified in the GD's belongings. He states "His feet were a little bigger than mine, he only had a pair of sandals when we came back from SC. He tried to borrow some of my shoes, but most were uncomfortably small on him. I'm a 10 1/2, the info on GD says he was an 11 1/2". 
 
 From contact #2: - The Jason I knew had wavy blond hair, the sketches make it look kind of curly or frizzy - He was a cheerful guy, and often in a good mood - Jason lived with contact #2's parents place for a month or two when they came from Myrtle Beach. 
 
 What needs to be done with this lead? - We need follow ups done with areas in South Carolina surrounding, and including, Myrtle Beach. This includes enquiries for high schools, primary schools, colleges, workplaces. This can be done in person, or over the internet through Reddit, Facebook, Imgur and Craiglist. - We need follow ups done with McDonalds in the Champaign area. This can be done online, or in person. I have had a few seperate people contact me about this. I will be chasing up with them tonight, and update as soon as I know (one via WS, one via Reddit). - INVOLVING THE MEDIA. How do we go about doing this? Contact made with relevant media agencies across the US! GM. 
 
 I have been posting these updates on Reddit and Imgur aswell, below are a combined list of suggestions made by users from Reddit, Imgur and WebSleuths. Having a list of them, will make them easier to cross off. If you do any of these suggestions, please mail me so I know to cross them off as done. Huge thank you to EVERYONE who proposed suggestions! 
 
 THE SUGGESTIONS: - "If he was a music fan beyond the Grateful Dead, you could try the facebook group called Fans of Mabels. Mabels was a (now closed) music venue in Champaign (and there used to be a McDonalds a few doors down from there-not sure if it's the same one)" 
 
 "hey hows it going, i might be able to show this picture to some people. but im a little confused about what information your looking for?" COMPLETED: Messaged this user asking for assistance in showing the photo around Charleston. GM. 
 
 "You might want to look into contacting GD radio programs and see if they'll run an announcement or put it on their Facebook pages, America's Most Wanted-style. Looks like there are a couple of shows originating from VA and MD as well." 
 
 "I wonder if it's possible for to get employment records from local McDonalds locations so that you could at least get full names of any Jasons employed in the area at the time. That may be something that only law enforcement officials could do (they might need to be subpoenaed) and it might not be worth their time to do it. But if you could get that info it would really help to narrow things down and give you much more concrete information to work with." 
 
 "It should be possible to come up with records of the business that was there, if you want to put in the research effort. McDonald's stores are often franchises, so there should be a corporate registration with information on who owned/managed the store. The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is also quite meticulous, and may still have or be able to recover records of that store that could lead to supervisors or other staff there. On your own, voter registration records are public information, including what elections were voted in. So, if GD was over 18 and registered, people named Jason registered in Champaign County with no votes cast after the date of death should be a pretty narrow set. If you can get a little bit of interest from law enforcement personnel who can make official inquiries, that residence and employment lead could be enough to narrow down tax filings and driver's license records to candidate identities - including a lack of subsequent activity in that name following the date of death." 
 
 "Important tip: All of the local McDonald's in C-U with the exception of the one located on Philo Road in Urbana were owned and operated by McDonald's itself (McOpCo) until the late 80s-early 90s, when they were sold to the current franchisee." 
 
 "Some leads that could be followed: News-Gazette missing persons article? High school yearbooks at Champaign Public Library Local police" 
 
 "You can see if the UIUC area has any groups (at bars/clubs) that were into the band back then. I'm sure he would've attended/known people from." 
 
 POSSIBLE LEAD #2: 'Jay' 
 
 Origin of lead: Contact made on internet forum. This contact also believes that Jay and Jason, may be our GD. 
 
 THE FACTS: 
 
 Contact was first initiated after seeing a photo of the 'Jason' previously discussed. 
 
 Commented stating that they knew the young man in the photos 
 
 The contact referred to this young man as 'Jay' 
 
 The contact noted that they had met 'Jay' on tour in the summer of 1995 
 
 Jay first came into contact with contact and friends in a hotel 
 
 Contact and Jay discussed Kiawah Island, South Carolina. He had family who was from South Carolina area. 
 
 They did not remember him being penniless 
 
 He would interrupt you while speaking 
 
 Jay stayed with them one night, and had no bags 
 
 It's possible that Jay was not into the Dead, rather, touring with them. 
 
 Jay knew about about Kiawah Island and Charleston, South Carolina 
 
 Another friend remembers Jay, confirmed he was called Jay. 
 
 He was on tour, but 'didn't really seem to know what he was doing' 
 
 Contact met and hung with Jay in the shows leading up to RFK, 95 
 
 Best they can remember, it would have been the Albany, New York City show 
 
 Jay had no tickets to any shows 
 
 He asked contact and friends for a ride to Washington D.C 
 
 Jay was at a hotel in Albany for three days before heading to Washington D.C 
 
 It is possible at this time he did have a bag, and a wallet 
 
 Jay did not have a plan from Albany to DC. 
 
 Jay was in Albany, New York for both shows 
 
 This contact left Jay a note when they left him at the hotel 
 
 He had no money and was floor surfing. It is possible the note in his pocket was from a hotel or someone he was staying with. 
 
 This contact also had an expert look at the photo who agreed; It is a solid lead. 
 
 Jay told contact he had crashed with people in Vermont 
 
 Leaving a note was possible in this situation 
 
 No family mentioned, may have been using Dead as a means to escape 
 
 Possibly only high school education 
 
 It is possible he did not want to be at home 
 
 What needs to be done about this lead? 
 
 Enquires need to be made in South Carolina, particularly for Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Kiawah Island. This can be done online or in person. 
 
 Enquires need to be made about the Albany, New York shows. I have previously posted in both the Albany and New York subreddits, appealing for people to come forward who had been at this shows - With no luck. We need to explore these leads further. It seems that he was in the habit of following the tours with people and making friends along the way 
 
 We now need to extend our research to Vermont. The Grateful Dead played a show at the Franklin Co. Airport Field, Highgate, VT, on the 15th of June, 1995. This was followed by a concert at the Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ on the 18th and 19th of June, 1995 
 
 POSSIBLE LEAD #3: 
 
 Origin of lead: Contact made on internet forum. 
 
 THE FACTS: - A woman commented on an internet forum to state that she recognised the man in the photos supplied by Jason's roommates, and friends 
 
 She states that his name is 'Jason C', and that she is his mother 
 
 She states that he was from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 
 
 She states that he has been missing for 20 years 
 
 Contact numbers for the LE, ME and NCMEC were provided 
 
 The post was removed to preserve the anonymity of the woman 
 
 WE NOW WAIT FOR CONFIRMATION FROM THE ME AS TO 'JASON C' BEING THE JASON IN THE PROVIDED PHOTOS 
 
 WE NOW WAIT FOR DNA TESTING 
 
 UPDATE: #4 
 
 Photos have been provided by the woman who provided lead #3 
 
 From these photos, it is believed that her son, Jason Callahan, is the young man in the photos provided to us by friends and roommates 
 
 DNA has been provided to the medical examiners for testing 
 
 This testing will determine whether or not Jason Callahan is the Grateful Doe 
 
 This may take a few weeks, or a few months; We need to remain patient 
 
 Jason Callahan now has a NamUs page: https://www.findthemissing.org/en/cases/27394/0/ 
 
 We now need to remain patient. We need to remain hopeful. You will have all of the information and updates as they come! :) 
 
 We love you all.
– A woman in Myrtle Beach, SC, filed a missing person report this week over a teenage son who left 20 years ago, reports the Smoking Gun. Strange? Yes, but this might be the answer to the mystery of "Grateful Doe," an unidentified car-crash victim from 1995. Start here: Margaretta Evans says that in June 1995, son Jason Callahan left their South Carolina home to follow the Grateful Dead on tour. She never heard from him again. Later that month, a young man was killed in a car accident in Emporia, Va. He was a passenger, likely a hitchhiker, and police were never able to identify him, in part because the accident disfigured his face. But he wore a Grateful Dead shirt and had Grateful Dead ticket stubs in his pocket, along with a note addressed to "Jason," reports MyrtleBeachOnline. The victim has been known as Grateful Doe ever since, and he's had supporters trying to unravel his identity all this time. A few years ago, Virginia police issued a composite sketch, and the case has been generating interest on social media, complete with specific pages on Facebook and Reddit. A seemingly big break came recently when a man in Urbana, Ill., saw the sketch online and recognized the victim as a fellow Deadhead named Jason, though he couldn't remember a last name, reports Illinois Homepage. He posted more photos to social media sites trying to crack the case, and it appears that this renewed interest is related to the filing of the missing person report. A Myrtle Beach PD rep says DNA samples are being evaluated in an attempt to link Grateful Doe to Callahan, who would now be 38. (This missing person case had a happy ending.)