Genetic Genealogy Gives Victim's Name, Leads to Suspect

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Credit: Marshall County Sheriff’s Office

On April 15, 1997, a body was located in a wooded area along Little Cotaco Creek. The body was identified as that of a white male; however, due to the removal of the head, hands, and feet, it was impossible to give an accurate age or description. There was also some other mutilation of the body, which appeared to be consistent with a forensic countermeasure.

The autopsy results found that the manner of death was a homicide, and that the removal of the body parts was done intentionally, most likely to make identification impossible.

Investigators from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office and the State Bureau of Investigation worked tirelessly to identify the individual and followed up on numerous leads, but were still unsuccessful in making a positive identification. The case was entered into the FBI’s VICAP (Violent Criminal Apprehension Program), however, there were no credible leads generated there either. Throughout the years leads stopped coming in, and eventually the case went cold.

In November 2019; Sheriff Sims and then Chief Investigator Keith Wilson made contact with Parabon NanoLabs. Through DNA phenotyping, Parabon provided possible physical characteristics for what the victim may have looked like.

After 26 years, the deceased individual has now been identified as Jefferey Douglas Kimzey, 20, of Santa Barbara, California.

Now, investigators have persons of interest involved in this case and are actively pursuing those leads. The Marshall County Sheriff’s Office will also be working with Parabon on DNA investigators have recently become aware are related to items found at the crime scene. If anyone has any information about this case from that time period, please call the sheriff's office at 256-582-2034.

Republished courtesy of Marshall County Sheriff's Office.

 

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