Summary
In December 1976, the skeletal remains of an unidentified individual were found in the woods near the Chattahoochee River in Donalsonville, Georgia. The Seminole County Sheriff's Office responded and began collecting evidence and investigating. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation Medical Examiner's Office determined the remains belonged to a Black man who was likely 50 years old or older who had died approximately six months prior. The man was found wearing size 32 pants, white boxer-style underwear, a white handkerchief, and one black or dark blue sock.
Despite a lengthy investigation, the man could not be identified and became known as Seminole County John Doe (1976). Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP2127. 
In 2024, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Cold Case Unit submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas 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 suitable for forensic genetic genealogy. Upon completion of the process, this profile was returned to law enforcement, enabling the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Cold Case Unit to conduct a genealogical search to generate new investigative leads. These leads powered a follow-up investigation, allowing investigators to narrow in on the man's possible identity.
A reference DNA sample was collected from a potential relative and compared to the DNA profile of the unknown man using Othram's KinSNP® Rapid Relationship Testing. This investigation led to the positive identification of the man, who is now known to be Curtis Lee Jones, whose cause of death is listed as undetermined.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the GBI Cold Case Unit at (404) 239-2106 or the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Thomasville. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to the GBI by contacting the GBI Tip Line at 1-800-597-TIPS(8477) and https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online.
Individuals who have taken a consumer DNA test can aid ongoing forensic investigations by joining the DNASolves database. Expanding the pool of available DNA data increases the likelihood of successful identifications, helping to reunite families with their missing loved ones and resolve cases that have remained unsolved for years.
This is the 28th publicly announced case in the State of Georgia where officials leveraged Othram’s identity inference pipeline. Explore other cases on Othram’s website.
Dan Miller
Director of Customer Service
Dan guides law enforcement agencies across the United States and internationally through every step of the forensic process—from crime scene to courtroom. He ensures investigators have the support and resources they need to navigate advanced DNA testing and maximize the impact of forensic evidence in their cases.