Summary

On May 14, 1983, a burned-out vehicle was discovered in Canton, Mississippi, with the charred remains of an unidentified man inside. Initially, authorities believed the remains belonged to the car’s owner, Edward L. Cates, a former Jackson city commissioner. However, in a shocking twist, Cates was found alive in Georgia the following year.

Investigators determined that Cates had faked his own death in an attempt to escape mounting financial troubles. He was later charged with capital murder for the death of the unknown victim. In a plea deal, Cates admitted to manslaughter and was sentenced to 20 years in prison, but he never revealed the identity of the man whose life he had allegedly taken. Madison County Sheriff Billy Noble confirmed that Cates refused to provide any information about the victim, leaving investigators without a name, a background, or a missing persons report to connect to the remains.

The unidentified man is believed to have been a white male between 35 and 55 years old. Due to the condition of his remains, little is known about his height, weight, or distinguishing features. With no way to identify him at the time, his case remained cold for more than four decades.

Now, in 2025, forensic scientists at Othram are using advanced forensic DNA testing to finally give this man his name back. By applying Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing®, Othram will build a comprehensive DNA profile that can be used for forensic genetic genealogy to generate new investigative leads in the case. A DNASolves crowdfund has been established to cover the costs of this critical testing.

With your help, we can finally uncover his name and the truth about what happened to him. Please consider making a contribution to support the DNA testing that could solve this case. Every donation, no matter the amount, brings us one step closer to answers.