Volusia County, FL – Investigators with the Volusia Sheriff’s Office are using artificial intelligence and modern DNA genealogy to help identify a John Doe whose remains were discovered more than 40 years ago near Ormond Beach.
According to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, the man’s skeletal remains were found by two boys camping in a wooded area on March 12, 1982. His death was ruled suspicious because no clothing, jewelry, or personal effects were found. Authorities say the unidentified victim was a white male, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing around 150 pounds, and believed to have been 35 to 50 years old at the time of his death—likely born between 1935 and 1947.
Investigators partnered with FHD Forensics and Genealogy For Justice to analyze his DNA profile. The results show that the man’s ancestry is primarily French Canadian, with over half of his background linked to Irish, Scottish, and English roots. Distant genetic connections have been identified in Ontario, Quebec, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Michigan, though common ancestors trace back as far as the 1750s.
Using AI-enhanced imaging, forensic artists created digital portraits based on the original clay reconstruction of the victim’s face, offering the public a clearer view of what he may have looked like.
Anyone with information that could help identify this John Doe is urged to contact the Volusia Sheriff’s Cold Case Unit at ColdCaseUnitTips@volusiasheriff.gov.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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