After more than 50 interviews, Cincinnati investigators are still no closer to identifying a man found dead in a Walnut Hills trash bin last month.

        Cincinnati homicide investigators say they have talked to tattoo experts, jewelers, workmen and neighbors and still have no leads. And the FBI fingerprint analysis that came back this week yielded nothing.

        “Now we wait,” Sgt. John Newsom said.

        The man — believed to be Hispanic and 25 to 35 years old — died of multiple gunshot wounds. His burned body was found Nov. 4 in a trash bin on Kerper Avenue.

        He was wrapped in a white or light-colored sheet or curtain, which was then wrapped with a black-and-white throw rug. An accelerant was used to start the fire.

        “Just like in the movies, you try to reconstruct the deceased's last 24 hours,” Sgt. Newsom explained.

        But until investigators figure out who the man is, they can't piece together how he died.

        The mystery man is Cincinnati's only unidentified homicide victim going back to at least 1995.

        Coroner's investigators this week identified the skeletal remains of a man that were found in Alms Park on Dec. 19, said Terry Daly, spokesman for the coroner's office.

        Although investigators have not determined how old the remains are, they have identified the man as Rudy Ellenberger, 71, of the 3800 block of Eastern Avenue.

        In the case of Mr. Ellenberger, police have said no foul play is suspected.

        Investigators say the case of the burned man is unusual in the Queen City because people generally call police if they haven't seen a neighbor, co-worker or friend in a while.

        “This is the conservative Midwest, and people care about each other here,” Sgt. Newsom said. “Generally, we go from there, and that hasn't happened in this case.”

        That's why investigators think the man may be from somewhere else. They think he was killed elsewhere and brought to the trash bin in an isolated neighborhood by somebody familiar with the area, Sgt. Newsom said. They think he might have some connection to the military because of their research into his tattoos — particularly a bright red little devil — and his expensive silver anchor-and-crucifix necklace.

        The man weighed at least 244 pounds and had curly, dark hair graying at his temples.

        He wore two distinctive rings — one with a large flat black stone and the other a silver metal eagle.

        He wore black or navy denim pants with a large metal belt buckle. He was not wearing shoes.

        Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers, 352-3040, or the homicide unit, 352-3542.

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