Summary

On April 4, 1981, a local hunter discovered the body of a man in the East Miller's Cove area of Blount County, Tennessee. Blount County is just south of Knoxville, Tennessee. Investigators responded to the scene and began collecting evidence and investigating. A forensic anthropology examination determined that the remains were those of a white man who was likely between the ages of 18 to 35 years old when he died, likely sometime between 1977 and 1980.

Investigators with the Blount County Sheriff’s Office worked to determine the victim’s identity using the technology available at the time. Despite their efforts, the man could not be identified and he became known as Knoxville John Doe (1988). In 2007, an STR DNA profile was developed and entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) in hopes of identifying the man. However, no matches were found. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP1591.

In 2025, as part of the Tenneesee Bureau of Investigation's Unidentified Human Remains Initiative, TBI agents began working with the Blount County Sheriff’s Office to submit a sample of the remains to Othram for identity inference, a process that enables investigators to identify individuals from DNA evidence, even when there is no known reference sample to initially compare against.

In April 2025, forensic evidence was submitted to Othram's laboratory headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas. At Othram, scientists worked to develop a DNA extract from the provided skeletal remains, and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive SNP profile for the John Doe. This SNP profile powered a forensic search led by Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team, resulting in new investigative leads about the man's identity.

TBI agents and Blount County detectives conducted a follow-up investigation, leading investigators to potential relatives of the man. Reference DNA samples were collected from a relative and compared to the DNA profile of the unidentified man. This investigation led to the man's positive identification as William Thomas Green, who was born March 29, 1942. Green was originally from the Knoxville area. It was further determined that Green was last seen by family members in Knoxville around 1977.

Investigators are now hoping the public can help provide additional information about William Thomas Green and help piece together the events that occurred leading up to his death. If you have any information about the individuals Mr. Green may have been with before his death, please contact the Blount County Sheriff's Office at 865-273-5001. Tips can be submitted anonymously via the 24-hour crime hotline at 865-273-5200.

This is the 32nd publicly announced case in the State of Tennessee where officials leveraged Othram’s identity inference pipeline. Explore other cases on Othram’s website.