Credit: Moxxy
Unidentified remains discovered by hunters in Blount County almost 20 years ago have officially been identified as Patrick Grayson Spann from Mississippi.
According to Blount County (Alabama) District Attorney Pamela Casey, skeletonized human remains discovered in the woods by hunters in October 2005 off of U.S. Highway 31 near Garden City are the remains of Patrick Grayson Spann.
In 2005, authorities used information collected from the recovery site to locate friends and associates who knew the subject as Chad Patrick Singleton. However, law enforcement soon learned that this was an alias and not the real identity of the remains. The remains were examined by a forensic anthropologist in 2005, but despite efforts the identity was unknown.
In 2024, Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey reopened the case. The man known as Chad Singleton had two biological daughters while he was living in Blountsville. The District Attorney's Office submitted DNA evidence of one of those daughters for genetic genealogy testing to identify and locate possible relatives which could lead authorities to the true identity of the remains. A possible biological son was located.
Spann's identification was made possible by investigative genetic genealogical research performed by Moxxy Forensic Investigations, who was hired by Casey.
DNA testing positively identified the remains to be that of Spann by using the comparison of DNA profiles obtained from a tooth extracted from the remains and that of his potential biological son. The confirmation was made by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.
During the investigation, it was discovered that Spann assumed the alias after he escaped from the Hinds County detention facility in Raymond, Mississippi. Spann had been living on Overlook Road in Blountsville, AL, under the alias. According to witnesses, Spann left the home one day in October 2004 and never returned. The vehicle Spann was reportedly driving was eventually recovered behind a barn off Bangor Hollow Road.
"Patrick Grayson Spann's remains have been released to his family in Mississippi for proper burialm" said Casey. "But, this does not conclude the investigation into his death. State and local law enforcement will continue to pursue and follow leads until all remaining questions surrounding his death have been resolved. I ask anyone who has information pertaining to the disappearance and death of Patrick Grayson Spann a/k/a Chad Patrick Singleton to contact the Blount County District Attorney's Office."
Additionally, according to Casey, over 100 unidentified remains are in the custody of the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. Casey hopes that more genetic-investigative genealogy will be used for identification in order that every individual makes it back home to their loved ones even after their death. Casey thanked Moxxy Forensic Investigations and Blount County Coroner Lynn Sweatman for their assistance in this matter.
Republished courtesy of Moxxy Forensics/Blount County DA