Summary
In February 2022, the decomposing remains of a man were discovered wrapped in plastic near a dumpster in the parking lot adjacent to an apartment complex. The unknown man was wearing a navy-blue t-shirt that contained a map of the United States and the brand name “Ducks Unlimited'' on its back. He was also wearing dark navy blue drawstring cargo shorts and a navy-blue sock. Near the man’s body was a navy-blue Abercrombie & Fitch brand short-sleeved t-shirt. Investigators also found a unique tattoo on the unknown man’s lower left thigh, which could have been a crown, possibly also containing the inscribed name “Jesus”.
Investigators believe the unknown man was 5’1” tall and weighed at 84 pounds at the time of his death. Additionally, investigators observed that he had light brown to blond hair that was approximately two inches in length. He was stabbed in the heart and so investigators have classified the case as a homicide. Advanced decomposition has made it difficult to learn anything more about the man, including his age.
In March 2022, his case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as #UP89470. Law enforcement investigators have diligently pursued leads in the case but they have been unable to identify this unknown man. In 2022, the Fayette County Coroner’s Office partnered with Othram to see if advanced forensic DNA testing could help establish an identity for the man or a close relative.
Anyone with information that could aid in this investigation is encouraged to contact the Lexington Police Department by calling 859-258-3600 and referencing agency case 2022-02-026456 or NamUs #UP89470.
Fayette County Coroner’s Office has contributed some of the funding to support this case and a DNASolves crowdfund has been created to raise funds for the remaining casework costs. We are grateful to anyone that can contribute and help us solve this case here.
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.