VSO, Medical Examiner Team Up With Othram To Attempt To ID 1978 John Doe

Date Added: August 05, 2024 1:21 pm

In October 1978, the partial skeletal remains of an unidentified individual were discovered on the property of the Volusia County FFA Agriculture Farm, now the land of the Volusia County Farm Bureau, in DeLand.

The Volusia County Medical Examiner's Office determined that the remains were that of a male who was between the ages of 21 and 35 years old. At the time of the man’s discovery, he had remnants of gold foil restoration on the surface of several teeth.

Upon further examination, the individual’s ancestry could not be definitively determined and his cause of death was likely due to natural causes. It was also determined that the time between the death and the discovery of the remains was more than 18 months.

After the remains were recovered, details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP1381. Despite investigator’s work to identify the man, his identity remains a mystery.

In 2024, in collaboration with the Volusia County Medical Examiner's Office, the Volusia Sheriff’s Office partnered with Othram to determine if advanced DNA testing can help to determine the identity of the man.

Othram scientists will work to develop a suitable DNA extract that can be used with Forensic Grade Genome Sequencing to develop a comprehensive DNA profile to be used in records research and forensic genetic genealogy. Anyone with information that could aid in the investigation is encouraged to contact the Volusia Sheriff’s Office by calling 386-736-5961 and referencing agency case number 1978-00388.

The Volusia Sheriff’s Office has contributed a portion of the funds for this case, and a DNASolves crowdfund has been created to raise funds for the remaining casework costs. Anyone can contribute here: https://dnasolves.com/articles/volusia-county-john-doe-1978/