In his Myspace profile, 20-year-old Dennis Knowlton seemed upbeat and ready to start a new chapter in his life, stating that he was committed to getting into the National Guard and had adopted a new peace of mind. “Being true to myself and my loved ones means a lot to me in my life and it will stay that way no matter the cost,” Knowlton wrote. But the young man from a small town outside Olympia, Wash., never got the chance to start that new chapter because he paid the ultimate cost: his body was discovered on Tuesday, June 22, shortly after 6:30 a.m. floating in the water near Fort Mason. While the medical examiner’s office has not released an official cause of death, Knowlton had been stabbed multiple times.

According to SFPD Lt. Troy Dangerfield, a blood trail started near the doorway of the post office in the 3700 block of Buchanan Street near Beach Street and crossed Marina Boulevard toward the pier. A resident spotted the blood on Monday night and called the police, but after a search of the area that evening they did not find any victims. It was a person jogging along Marina Green early Tuesday who discovered the body, clad in a white tank top and jeans.

Officers towed a green Volvo with Washington state license plates and a sticker from Joint Base Lewis-McChord (located a short distance from Knowlton’s home town) parked at Buchanan and Bay streets, just two blocks from the scene. Some residents said that two possibly homeless men had been living out of the car. Joe Kubistek, spokesperson for Fort Lewis, told the Seattle Times newspaper that military police are working with San Francisco police in the investigation. Kubistek also stated that he did not know to whom the car belonged.

Divers were in the water on Wednesday, June 23 looking for evidence, and the police posted signs asking the public for help. Knowlton is described as a white male, approximately 6 foot 2 inches tall. While he was found wearing a white tank top and jeans, police say he may have had on a black shirt at some point as well as red and black tennis shoes. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the police department’s anonymous tip line at 415-575-4444 or send a tip via text message to TIP411.

Knowlton alluded to having a troubled past in his Myspace profile, but seemed to feel those days were behind him: “Working out and staying hydrated for this nice summer weather is my way of staying out of old habits. Routine and responsibility are playing big roles in daily life as well. Something good will come of hard work and considerable change, I promise you that.”