Facial reconstruction completed by Ohio BCI’s forensic artist in August 2022 that led to the tip. Credit: BCI
Old-fashioned detective work, modern DNA technology, and a serendipitous tip that was offered in one case but proved vital in another case have led to the identification of a John Doe in Ohio, Attorney General Dave Yost announced this week.
“Cases like these are why I created BCI’s cold case unit,” Yost said. “It’s to put the pieces together and assist local law enforcement so they can help bring closure to loved ones.”
In August 2022, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) unveiled the facial reconstruction of a Mahoning County John Doe found in 1987 in hopes that the 3D-rendering would jump start the cold case.
Not long after, Youngstown police began to receive tips, including one that ultimately did not relate to their case but that detectives thought might be valuable in a different case elsewhere in the state. So, detectives forwarded the information to BCI, which realized its relevance to a Fayette County human remains case dating back to 1981. The tip proved to be the missing piece that lead to the identification of Theodore Long.
Long’s body was found Nov. 17, 1981, in Paint Creek near Lamp Road. Deputies from the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office diligently worked the case and had partnered with BCI’s Cold Case Unit in April 2022 to review potential new leads.
“It gives us some comfort that we no longer have to refer to this person by a location, but instead his name: Teddy Long,” Fayette County Sheriff Vernon Stanforth said. “Our condolences go out to the family who has been looking for 41 years to identify their loved one. We have an appreciation for the Youngstown Police Department and BCI for their assistance. Now our work begins to solve a homicide.”
Long’s case remains an ongoing homicide investigation led by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office.
Republished courtesy of Ohio AG.