Summary
In February 1988, human remains were found in the elevator shaft of an abandoned building located at 237 N. Tryon St in Charlotte, North Carolina. The building had been abandoned since 1981 and had been recently purchased by Dunhill Development for redevelopment into what is now the Dunhill Hotel. Upon discovery of the remains, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) detectives worked to identify the decedent, but were unsuccessful despite their exhaustive efforts. In March of 2021, details of the unidentified person case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP79092.
In June 2022, CMPD detectives requested the assistance of the North Carolina Unidentified Project to identify this decedent. Dr. Ann Ross, Forensic Anthropologist at North Carolina State University, sent skeletal remains to Othram's laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas. Using Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing®, Othram built a comprehensive DNA profile for the decedent so that forensic genetic genealogy could be performed to provide new leads in an attempt to identify the unknown man.
Forensic Genealogist Leslie Kaufman performed the forensic genetic genealogy for this case. Mrs. Kaufman provided detectives with a potential name of the decedent. Following these leads, CMPD detectives collected DNA from a potential relative of the decedent for reference testing. In May 2023, CMPD detectives were able to positively identify the unknown decedent as World War II veteran, Oliver Doc Mundy. Mundy, who was known by his family and friends as "O.D.", was born July 20, 1923. Mundy was from Mooresville, NC but had been known to live on the streets of Charlotte. Mundy's family in Mooresville received his remains for final arrangements.
Advanced DNA testing for this case was funded by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Foundation.
Michael Vogen
Director of Case Management
Michael works with law enforcement agencies throughout the United States and Canada on “unsolvable“ cases that can benefit from advanced DNA testing methods. He helps these agencies use cutting edge DNA sequencing and new forensic techniques to develop investigative leads for their cases.