Since 2005, the Natchitoches Parish Coroner’s Office has attempted to identify the remains of this subject which was located near Clarence, discovered in a drum encased in cement. Despite the normal methods of identification such as DNA, facial reconstruction and dental comparisons it is still unknown who this gentleman is.
Utilizing a new method, the Coroner’s Office has teamed up with Orthram to aid in generating new leads using advanced DNA technology and forensic genetic genealogy. Testing is expensive and through DNA Solves and Orthram there is hope that funding can be raised and this case may join other cases they have been successful in identifying and be solved, so this gentleman’s family can be identified and hopefully can lead to further investigation in this case.
By Michael Vogen, DNASolves.com
In October 2005, a 55-gallon oil drum was found partially submerged in a shallow creek on private property in Clarence, a small community in rural Natchitoches Parish. A portion of the oil drum had rusted out exposing skeletonized human remains encased in cement. The discovery was made by the property owner’s son. The Louisiana State Police Crime Laboratory was able to remove the remains from the surrounding cement and they were submitted to the LSU Forensic Anthropology and Computer Enhancement Services (FACES) Laboratory for assistance with identification. The man’s manner of death was determined to be homicide.
The remains were determined to belong to a black male who was approximately 18 to 30 years old and 5’6” to 5’10” in height. It was determined that the man had been deceased for as few as one and as many as 25 years. A cotton-blend shirt and medium Hanes brand boxer shorts were the only personal items recovered. LSU FACES utilized advanced forensic imaging and facial reconstruction to create an image depicting what the man may have looked like during his life in hopes that it would generate leads in the case.
Multiple individuals have been ruled out as being Natchitoches Parish John Doe. Dental x-rays of the decedent were utilized for comparison, eventually ruling out the man’s identity as that of Lester Davis and Jeremiah Parker. The case was featured in the film series, “The Killing Fields” where standard DNA testing excluded the possibility that the remains belonged to Curtis “Cochise” Smith. In 2008, details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as case number #UP846. Despite law enforcement’s exhaustive efforts to identify the man, the case has gone cold.
Anyone with information that could aid in the investigation is encouraged to contact the Natchitoches Parish Coroner’s Office by calling 318-357-2260 and referencing case number J-00506-05.
A DNASolves crowdfund has been created to raise funds for the casework costs. Anyone can contribute online at dnasolves.com/articles/natchitoches-parish-john-doe-2005/contribute.