PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. — While the identity of the 'John Doe' found dead in Pleasant Prairie in 1993 has not been found, investigators released new details about the case.
Kenosha County Medical Examiner Patrice Hall said this 'John Doe' was found in an advanced state of decomposition, making it hard to identify him.
An autopsy, forensic anthropology exam, forensic dental exam, and a reconstruction of the man's tattoo were all performed, but did not lead to any hits.
"It takes a lot of leg work and a lot of extra work to try and figure out who someone is," Hall said.
On Aug. 27 of 1993, a photographer walking along the Soo Line railroad tracks came upon the man's body. His body was in an 'advanced' state of decomposition so authorities were never able to identify him.
Over the weekend, the Pleasant Prairie Police Department issued a statement, saying that advanced genetic genealogy has since discovered that John Doe is of Native American descent with family possibly belonging to the Keshena, Shawano, Langlade, Calumet, or Waupaca areas.
Police also said that the man has descendants in the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin.
Authorities are partnering with the DNA Doe Project to ID the man. The volunteer group uses investigative genetic genealogy to identify remains. Watch the I-Team's report on the group here.
Inside a Franklin home, the work continues, as an investigative genetic genealogist is working to help investigators name this 'John Doe'.
"We use DNA and genealogy to identify John and Jane Doe," said Jenny Lecus, an investigative genetic genealogist with DNA Doe Project.
Lecus and her team of volunteers have been able to process the DNA using data from genealogy websites.
"The end goal is to really get those answers for the family," Lecus said.
This year, the team was able to learn more about 'John Doe'.
"Likely Native American, and has relatives from the Menominee Tribe with ties to Keshena and Shawano," Lecus said.
Anyone with interest in the case is asked to contact the Pleasant Prairie Police Department at 262.694.7353.
Read the statement from police below:
