TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Three cold cases in Tampa Bay have been solved through advances in DNA technology, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office announced.
The HCSO cold case unit, in partnership with the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office and forensic genetic genealogy experts, solved the three cold cases that dated back to 2005, 2011, and 2012.
“These identifications highlight the impact of modern forensic science and the commitment of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and its partners to resolving cases that have remained unanswered for years. Even decades later, advances in technology continue to provide long-awaited answers to families and ensure that no case is ever truly forgotten,” The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said.
William Lewis Crummey
Hillsborough County deputies responded to American Used Truck Parts on Sept. 23, 2005, after a man was found dead inside the sleeper compartment of a tractor-trailer.
According to HCSO, the man was in an advanced state of decomposition, and despite extensive investigative efforts, detectives were unable to identify him.
In 2025, the HCSO cold case unit reopened the investigation with the Medical Examiner’s Office.
A DNA profile was previously uploaded into the Combined DNA Index System, but there were no matches.
HCSO and the Medical Examiner’s Office partnered with Othram Labs, a forensic genetic genealogy laboratory, and on July 15, 2026, they confirmed that the remains belonged to Crummey after identifying family connections and obtaining a DNA sample from a sibling, HCSO said.
Investigators found more family members, who confirmed that Crummey had not been in contact with them since early 2005.
William McClain
Deputies responded to the area of Highland Manor Drive and North Falkenburg Road on Feb. 7, 2011, after a 911 call reported that there was a dead man in a wooded area.
The Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the cause of death was natural causes, HCSO said.
Despite investigators’ efforts, the identity of the man was undetermined.
Reopening the case in 2025, investigators developed a DNA profile from the remains and used the results to generate leads that identified possible extended family members, according to HCSO.
After getting reference DNA samples and completing comparison testing, McClain was positively identified on May 27, 2026.
Cartis Jackson
HCSO deputies responded to a wooded area near the northwest corner of Bassa Street and North Street in Wimauma on Sept. 21, 2012, when a partially decomposed man was found.
According to deputies, detectives exhausted all leads but were unable to identify the man at that time.
Reopening the investigation in 2025, HCSO and the Medical Examiner’s Office developed and uploaded a DNA sample into CODIS, but no matches were found.
HCSO partnered with Othram Labs to conduct forensic genetic genealogy research, and in June 2026, investigators received potential family leads and obtained DNA samples from a possible sibling.
On June 1, 2026, laboratory testing confirmed that the dead person was Jackson, who was born in Georgia in 1946, moved to Florida with his family as an infant, and had been estranged from his family since 2005, HCSO said.
“Part of our mission is preserving the dignity of everyone in this community, including those who can no longer speak for themselves. These identifications mean three men who were once nameless now have their identities restored, and their families finally have the closure they have waited years for,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “I want to thank our Cold Case Unit, the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office, and our partners at Othram Labs for their persistence and dedication to this work.”
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