ORMOND BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) — For over four decades, a man who was found dead by two campers in Volusia County has only been known as “John Doe.”
His identity has continued to elude investigators, and it’s a mystery that detectives are now hoping AI might be able to help solve.
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The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office on Monday released AI-enhanced photos of what the unidentified man may have looked like. The images were derived from a clay sculpture of him created decades ago, authorities said.
(Credit: Volusia County Sheriff’s Office)
Investigators believe the John Doe was between 35 and 50 years old when two boys who were camping discovered his body in a wooded area of Ormond Beach on March 12, 1982.
Detectives said the man’s death was ruled suspicious since he was found without any clothing, jewelry or personal effects. He was about 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighed around 150 pounds.
Previous efforts to identify him using DNA revealed that most of his ancestral ties are French Canadian, with more than 50% of his admixture being Irish, Scottish, and English.
He has genetic ties to Ontario and Quebec, as well as distant matches in Massachusetts, Illinois, and Michigan. However, even after 18 months of research and testing, officials said they have not been able to find any living relatives.
His identified common ancestors are still very distant, dating back to the 1750s, investigators said.
According to the sheriff’s office, Genealogy For Justice is sponsoring a reference DNA testing program of the descendants of the John Doe’s distant ancestors to help identify him. The sponsorship is in memory of Volusia County murder victims Dean and Tina Linn Clouse.
Anyone who has more information is asked to reach out by emailing the sheriff’s office at ColdCaseUnitTips@volusiasheriff.gov.
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