Summary
In October 2023, the skeletal remains of an unidentified individual were discovered floating in Belleview Lake in Waterbury, Connecticut. The Waterbury Police Department responded to the scene where they determined the remains were that of an adult Black male. It was estimated that the man stood between 4’5” and 5’5” tall and weighed between 100 and 130 pounds. An autopsy report was performed and revealed that the cause and manner of death are undetermined, but no one could identify the man. At the time of the man’s discovery, he was wearing darkened white socks, a brown leather belt, tattered jeans, black thermal underwear, a maroon sweater, and black boxer briefs.
After the remains were recovered, details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP111071. Despite investigator’s work to identify the man, his identity remains a mystery.
In 2024, the Connecticut Office of Chief Medical Examiner partnered with Othram to determine if advanced DNA testing can help identify the man. This is part of an ongoing collaboration to solve the backlog of Connecticut cold cases established in 2023 between the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and Othram in The Woodlands, Texas. Forensic evidence was sent to Othram's laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas where Othram scientists will successfully develop a DNA extract and then use Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown man. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team will use that profile in a genetic genealogy search to develop new investigative leads to be returned to to investigators.
Anyone with information that could aid in the investigation is encouraged to contact the Waterbury Police Department by calling 203-574-6917 and referencing agency case number 23-19564 or NamUs ID UP111071.
The Waterbury Police Department has contributed a portion of the funds for this case, and a DNASolves crowdfund has been established to cover the casework costs.
Your support can make a difference in identifying this individual and reconnecting him with his family. Please consider donating to the DNASolves fund to help cover the costs of advanced DNA testing. Additionally, if you have taken a consumer DNA test, you can contribute by opting into forensic genetic genealogy matching to assist in solving this case and others like it.
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.