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# Time running out to ID unknown homeless man
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/time-running-out-to-id-unknown-homeless-man/
- Published: 2006-03-30T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T17:24:12.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Community, Montana, #archive-import, Homeless

*Case of ‘Leon’ coming to end*

*By Daily Press staff*

Santa Monicans become accustomed to seeing homeless men and women in their favorite places throughout the city. But when they disappear, residents often wonder whatever became of them.

Such was the case for Dr. Hadiya Barnes, who knew a man named “Leon” that she and others walked past every morning in Palisades Park. He sat on a bench between California and Montana avenues, with a Walkman in his ear, working on a crossword puzzle, or reading the newspaper.

Leon was found dead on Jan. 1 on a cement bench in the 200 block of Wilshire Blvd. And if his identity isn’t known and his next of kin isn’t notified in the next two days, he’ll be cremated by the Los Angeles Coroner’s Office, which refers to him as “John Doe.”

Although no family members’ contact information was found, coroners did locate in Leon’s pocket several phone numbers, including that of Barnes. She also had given him books she had written, as well as hot tea, food and clothing.

“He told us that he has a son who was a minister somewhere in the Midwest and that his son is the pastor of a church,” Barnes said. “Leon also had a daughter and frequently spoke fondly of a granddaughter who made him the Indian talisman that he wore around his neck.”

Leon told those who knew him that he was born Sept. 26, 1934\. He often spoke of his mother, whose name is Mary Lamont. Leon said that she lived in Canada and that he flew Air Canada on a special pass around the various holiday seasons to visit his mother. Leon said he would be flying standby, using the pass provided by his mother for the holidays between Christmas and New Years.

“When we missed him on the bluff right after Christmas, we just assumed he had gone to see his mother on Air Canada,” Barnes said. “We thought his name was Leon Stephens or Leon Stevens or even Leon Stephenson. We would chat about sports, church, or politics. We would bring him food, and inquire about his health, since he had osteoarthritis in his knees. All of us were encouraged by the fact that he was an inspiration to us and kept us on our toes until we finished our laps for the mornings. Even though he slept outside in the doorway at 16th and Wilshire, Leon never begged or asked for handouts. He went into the VA hospital for knee treatments, sometimes weekly. But they have no record of his visits.

“Leon was intelligent, well read, a born again Christian and told us that he attended church weekly,” Barnes added. “He could give you the stats on every baseball, basketball or sports team, as well as political insight on each party, local, state and national issues. His views on the plight of the homeless in Santa Monica were very vocal and valid.”

Leon often talked about attending church, although exactly where remains a mystery. Barnes believes the church was off of Wilshire Boulevard, between 15th and 18th streets. Barnes said she knew he wore a size 12 extra wide shoe because she had given him a pair in December. But he told her that he exchanged the shoes with his pastor, who also wore a size 12, because they were tight.

Barnes is pleading with anyone who knows more about “Leon” to contact investigator Dan Machian at the LA County Coroner's Office at (323) 343-0770, before he is cremated as a John Doe.

“If no identification is made by April 1, 2006, there will be no family to mourn the loss, no friends to claim the body and no evidence that this man who was a friend to many and a mystery to some, ever existed,” Barnes said. “He was a man of integrity, with a big smile and a great heart, who survived the Vietnam War, even though the VA Hospital in Westwood and the U.S. Government has no record of it. Leon deserves a decent burial.”

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/033006-01_01.jpg)

of Hadiya Barnes This man, known only as ‘John Doe No. (Photo: Photo courtesy)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 30, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/033006.pdf?ref=smdp.com)