- March 21, 2025
The Volusia Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help to identify a John Doe's remains found in Ormond Beach in 1982.
VSO, in collaboration with FHD Forensics and the Dean and Tina Linn Clouse Memorial Found, is hoping to collect more DNA samples from people of French Canadian or Irish Canadian ancestry to help identify the John Doe, whose skeletal remains were found on March 12, 1982, in a wooded area near Williamson Boulevard by two boys who were camping. According to the Genealogy for Justice organization, the man's death was ruled suspicious because he was found without any clothing, jewelry or other personal effects.
The man was white, about 5-foot-7-inches tall, weighed about 150 pounds and was between 35-50 years old at the time of his death. VSO's Cold Case Unit states he also had reddish brown hair.
"FHD Forensics hopes to collect more DNA samples from people with similar backgrounds to this man to help restore his identity and bring closure to his family," VSO wrote on its Facebook page. "This man's ancestral ties are French Canadian, with deeper Irish (Canadian) influence in both his maternal and paternal ancestry."
After sequencing his DNA in early 2024, the John Doe was found to have genetic ties to Ontario, Quebec, Massachusetts, Illinois and Michigan. VSO stated he, or his family before him, may have lived in one of these areas before moving to Florida.
Distant ancestors include the surnames LeFevre, LaPoint, Bellenoit, Brosseau, Lerat, and Desjardins.
To learn more about how to contribute a DNA sample, visit https://tinyurl.com/5n737xna.
