The Cleveland John Doe Case
Apr 2025 · 50 States of Crime Book 3 · Sold by Penzler Publishers
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Ohio. A suicide, no fingerprints, no identity.
In July 2002, the Eastlake police discovered a decomposed body in a modest studio apartment in Cleveland, Ohio. It appeared to be a suicide by firearm. The man was Joseph Newton Chandler III, a retiree whom neighbors and former colleagues described as quiet, secretive, and strange. But as the investigation progressed, less and less about Joseph's life and identity made sense.In 2018, thanks to scientific advances in DNA, the man's true identity was finally discovered: Robert Ivan Nichols. A veteran with a wife and three sons, Nichols eventually left his family, telling his wife "One day you will know why." A few years later, in 1965, his family reported him missing. By 1978, he had stolen the identity of Joseph Newton Chandler III, who had been killed in a car accident at eight years old. But who was this man and why did he change his name? What secret was he trying to hide?Thibault Raisse examines the case, exploring the many theories that have emerged, from the craziest to the most credible. Among these theories is a possible connection to the Zodiac Killer, whose murders date back to 1968 and 1969 in California.
50 States of Crime: France's leading true crime journalists investigate America's most notorious cases, one for every state in the Union, offering up fresh perspectives on famously storied crimes and reflecting, in the process, a dark national legacy that leads from coast to coast.
In July 2002, the Eastlake police discovered a decomposed body in a modest studio apartment in Cleveland, Ohio. It appeared to be a suicide by firearm. The man was Joseph Newton Chandler III, a retiree whom neighbors and former colleagues described as quiet, secretive, and strange. But as the investigation progressed, less and less about Joseph's life and identity made sense.In 2018, thanks to scientific advances in DNA, the man's true identity was finally discovered: Robert Ivan Nichols. A veteran with a wife and three sons, Nichols eventually left his family, telling his wife "One day you will know why." A few years later, in 1965, his family reported him missing. By 1978, he had stolen the identity of Joseph Newton Chandler III, who had been killed in a car accident at eight years old. But who was this man and why did he change his name? What secret was he trying to hide?Thibault Raisse examines the case, exploring the many theories that have emerged, from the craziest to the most credible. Among these theories is a possible connection to the Zodiac Killer, whose murders date back to 1968 and 1969 in California.
50 States of Crime: France's leading true crime journalists investigate America's most notorious cases, one for every state in the Union, offering up fresh perspectives on famously storied crimes and reflecting, in the process, a dark national legacy that leads from coast to coast.
Ohio. A suicide, no fingerprints, no identity.
In July 2002, the Eastlake police discovered a decomposed body in a modest studio apartment in Cleveland, Ohio. It appeared to be a suicide by firearm. The man was Joseph Newton Chandler III, a retiree whom neighbors and former colleagues described ...
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1 review
Mad Nodder and Nuts
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August 28, 2025
This series and book is great for true crime lovers as Eastlake detectives discover a body, initially ruled suicide, but a perplexing $70,000 and Joseph Chandler III's isolated life lead to heir-searching and genetic genealogy. The narrative highlights the human drive to uncover truth, revealing how death sparked a collaborative effort to unmask a hidden identity. It's a gripping dive into a baffling mystery.
About the author
Born in Paris, Thibault Raisse was a staff reporter at Le Parisien daily newspaper for nine years. He now works as a freelance journalist for French magazines Society and Elle, with a special interest in unsolved crime stories. He co-authored the bestselling true crime book, Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès: l’Enquête, which was published in 2020.
Laurie Bennett is a certified French-to-English translator and the former Treasurer of the Society of Translators and Interpreters of British Columbia. She is an associate member of the American Translators’ Association (ATA) and a volunteer on the ATA Business Practices Committee.
Laurie Bennett is a certified French-to-English translator and the former Treasurer of the Society of Translators and Interpreters of British Columbia. She is an associate member of the American Translators’ Association (ATA) and a volunteer on the ATA Business Practices Committee.
Born in Paris, Thibault Raisse was a staff reporter at Le Parisien daily newspaper for nine years. He now works as a freelance journalist for French magazines Society and Elle, with a special interest in unsolved crime stories. He co-authored the bestselling true crime book, Xavier Dupont de Ligo...
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