Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey gave an update on the murder investigation that was discovered in January 2016. Skeletal remains were located on January 3, 2016 on US 127 near Coldwater Creek by someone walking their dog.
The bones, after examination by forensic anthropologist Elizabeth Murray, were determined to be human bones. A two-day search of the area resulted in more skeletal remains being found. Murray then completed an autopsy of the skeletal remains. She was able to determine that the victim was a male, age range 20-35, 5’7”-6’1”. She also concluded the remains were left in the elements less than 12 months, but probably only 3-4 months.
Evidence showed the victim was dismembered and a complete skeleton was not recovered. A full DNA profile was extracted by the University of North Texas at the request of the Sheriff’s Office.
The DNA information was loaded into CODIS (FBI’s Combined DNA Index System) and into NAMUS (National Missing and Unidentified Person System). The DNA did not match anyone in either system.
In May 2017 the Sheriff’s Office requested ISO Forensics to pull oxygen isotopes from the remains to predict areas of the United States that the victim could be from.
Detectives continued to work the case, following up on any found skeletal remains from throughout the country and maintained contact with Ohio BCI analysts. In January 2020, an analyst at Ohio BCI became intrigued about a missing person case from Columbus, OH. The person had went missing in the time frame suspected in our case and the person fit the description Murray gave.
It was determined that the missing person did not have a DNA profile in the databases. Columbus Police Department then reached out to the parents of the missing person to request their DNA. After receiving their DNA, Ohio BCI Labs were able to make a positive match that our victim was, in fact, the person missing from Columbus.
Our victim is Ryan R. Zimmerman, age 22 at time reported missing, from Corbin, KY, which matches an area that ISO Forensics suggested he could be from. Ryan moved to Columbus, OH in August 2015, to meet some friends he had met on the Internet. Ryan’s family had not had contact with him since September 27, 2015, and when his father got a letter that his vehicle, the one Ryan was driving, had been impounded, he reported Ryan missing after not being able to get in touch with him.
The Mercer County Sheriff’s Office is looking for anyone who may have seen Ryan in Mercer County or Columbus, OH. If anyone has any information or remembers seeing Ryan, please contact the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau at 419.586.1450 or by calling the tip line at 567.890.TIPS (8477).
Republished courtesy of Mercer County Sheriff's Office. Photo credit: MCSO.