John Doe, Calhoun County (Artist’s rendering)CALHOUN COUNTY —
Nearly nine years after a human skull was discovered in rural Calhoun County, investigators are still searching for answers about the unidentified man and how he died.
Authorities say the cranium of a male was found May 4, 2017, prompting a search of approximately 45 acres in the surrounding area. Despite the extensive search, no additional human remains were located.
Officials initially said the remains were believed to belong to a Hispanic male, but investigators have been unable to determine the man’s age, height or weight.
Sheriff Greg Pollan previously said the case has produced very few leads since the discovery, leaving authorities with little information about the victim’s identity.
Recent forensic genetic genealogy work has provided new clues. DNA analysis indicates the man likely had Mexican and Iberian Peninsula ancestry, and investigators believe someone may recognize him.
However, officials say the search has been complicated by the scarcity of Hispanic and Latino DNA profiles in the databases used for forensic genealogy, including DNASolves, FamilyTreeDNA and GEDmatch.
Investigators are asking for the public’s help in two ways. First, they encourage people to share information about the case on social media, which could lead to new tips or recognition.
Second, individuals of Hispanic or Latino descent who have taken consumer DNA tests are encouraged to upload their results to FamilyTreeDNA or GEDmatch, where they may help generate investigative leads.
Common surnames appearing in DNA matches include Martinez, Serna and Ledesma, with ancestral ties to Nuevo León and San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
Authorities say people with family connections to those areas who have taken DNA tests could play a key role in helping identify the man.
An artist’s rendering has also been created to show what the victim may have looked like in hopes that someone might recognize him.
The case remains under investigation by the Calhoun County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Anyone with information that could help identify the victim is asked to contact the office at 662-628-5177.
