Summary

In October 1981, the skeletal remains of an unidentified individual were found in a wooded area, about 30 feet away from the Old San Mateo Road in Palatka, Florida. The Putnam County Sheriff's Office responded and began collecting evidence and investigating the case as a homicide. They determined the remains were that of a White adult man under the age of 60. He was likely 5' 5" to 6' 0" tall and weighed 200-250 lbs. The man was found with no clothing on his remains and a pair of size 40 underwear found nearby.

Despite a lengthy investigation, the man could not be identified and he became known as Palatka John Doe. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP102330.

In 2023, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office and the District 7 Medical Examiner in Volusia County reopened the case in an attempt to determine the man's identity. His remains were exhumed from a pauper's grave in Palatka's Oak Hill Cemetery. At that time, officials noted that the case was being treated as a suspicious death investigation until new information proved otherwise.

Forensic evidence gathered during the exhumation was submitted to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas in March of 2024 to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the man. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the man. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the profile in a forensic search to develop new investigative leads that were returned to law enforcement.

Using this new information, investigators conducted a follow-up investigation, identifying potential relatives of the Palatka John Doe. Reference DNA samples were collected from a relative and compared to the DNA profile of the unidentified man using Othram's KinSNP® rapid relationship testing. This comparison along with the investigative efforts of law enforcement led to the man's identification as Patrick Nordin.

Born in Erie, Pennsylvania in March or April of 1942, Patrick Nordin was adopted at a young age. His post-adoption name and adoptive family is not known. Investigators continue their search to find Patrick's adoptive family so that his remains can be returned for final disposition, and the investigation into his death can continue.

Anyone with information about Patrick Nordin, or the circumstances around his remains being found in Palatka, Florida in October 1981, is asked to contact the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.

We are grateful to the Florida Sheriff's Association - Cold Case Advisory Board who provided funding for Othram's casework costs.

This is the 55th publicly announced case in the State of Florida where officials leveraged Othram’s identity inference pipeline. Explore other cases on Othram’s website.