Johnson County Coroner’s Office & Greenwood Police Department Team with Othram to Identify a 1993 John Doe

Summary

In April 1993, the skeletal remains of an unidentified individual were discovered by children in Greenwood, Indiana. Greenwood is located just south of Indianan's capital city, Indianapolis. The children made the discovery in a field near Interstate 65 in what is now the Otte Golf Course. The Greenwood Police Department responded to the scene. The individual's remains were transported to the University of North Texas for further examination where it was determined that the remains were that of a man between the ages of 14 and 30 years old who stood between 4’10” and 5’4”.

In May 2008, details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP1828. Despite extensive efforts by law enforcement investigators to identify the man, no matches were found, and the case went cold due to a lack of investigative leads. The Johnson County Coroner's Office, in collaboration with the Greenwood Police Department, the University of Indiana, and the Indiana State Police, teamed with Othram to determine if advanced DNA testing could help to identify the man.

In 2023, forensic evidence was submitted to Othram's laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the forensic evidence and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown man. Othram's casework costs for the case were generously provided by Audiochuck. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used this profile to conduct genealogy research, ultimately providing new investigative leads to law enforcement.

Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the man. Reference DNA samples were collected from a potential relative and compared to the DNA profile of the unknown man. This investigation led to the positive identification of the man, who is now known to be Michael Benjamin Davis. Born in Richland County, South Carolina on December 16th, 1965, Davis would have been in his mid-20s at the time of his death. An investigation into his death continues.

The identification of Michael Benjamin Davis represents the ninth case in the State of Indiana where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. Most recently in Vigo County, Indiana, 47-year-old Mitchell Preston was identified twenty-six years after his remains were located near a highway overpass.

Audiochuck is an Indianapolis-based media company that develops true crime content. This case was funded as part of a project established by Audiochuck and Othram to help law enforcement solve cold cases in Indiana.