San Francisco Medical Examiner Seeks Public's Help to Identify Unidentified Man Found Dead

The man was discovered on a Tenderloin sidewalk on December 31st with no identification.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 7:39pm by Ben Kaplan

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The San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is asking the public for help in identifying a man found dead on a Tenderloin sidewalk on December 31st. The man, believed to be around 30 years old, was pronounced dead at the scene, but investigators have not been able to determine his identity through typical methods such as government ID, fingerprints, or DNA testing.

Why it matters

Identifying the deceased is a critical part of the medical examiner's role in order to properly determine the cause and manner of death, as well as notify the man's family. The Tenderloin neighborhood has a high rate of homelessness and unnatural deaths, so this case highlights the ongoing challenges the city faces in caring for its most vulnerable residents.

The details

The man was found unresponsive on the sidewalk in front of 5 Olive Street, near Larkin Street, and emergency services were called. He was a white male, approximately 5'11" tall and 186 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. Investigators noted circular burn marks on his inner right forearm that were mostly healed and scarred.

  • The man was found dead on December 31, 2025.

The players

San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner

The government agency responsible for investigating deaths in San Francisco and determining the cause and manner of death.

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What’s next

The medical examiner's office is asking anyone with information about the identity of the deceased man to contact them.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges the city of San Francisco faces in caring for its most vulnerable residents, as well as the critical role the medical examiner's office plays in investigating unnatural deaths and providing closure to families.