Multiple Remains Identified Using Forensic Genetic Genealogy
Published on June 13, 2023
Charlotte, N.C. – (Tuesday, June 13, 2023) – Today, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) announced the identification of three deceased victims who were previously unidentified. Detectives with the CMPD Cold Case Unit have worked diligently in partnership with two non-profit organizations to identify these victims through forensic genetic genealogy.
On December 24, 2008, partial skeletal human remains were located in a wooded area near Dixie River Road in Charlotte. The remains were transported to the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner’s Office. The victim was determined to be male and the manner of death was determined to be homicide. In November 2019, a now-retired CMPD detective contacted the DNA Doe Project for assistance in identifying this victim. The DNA Doe Project is an all-volunteer non-profit organization whose mission is to identify John and Jane Does and return them to their families. DNA Doe Project, through multiple attempts, was able to obtain a workable DNA profile and load that profile into two genealogy databases that cooperate with law enforcement. A team of investigative genetic genealogists worked the case until September 2022, when they notified CMPD detectives of a possible victim name. CMPD detectives contacted the victim’s family and his identity was later confirmed through DNA. The victim has been identified as Jose Elder Espinoza, (DOB 01/18/1978). Espinoza was reported missing by his family in May 2003. His murder continues to be investigated by the CMPD Cold Case Unit under complaint number 20030511-1002-01. Anyone with information should call 704-432-TIPS to speak directly with a detective.
On June 26, 2021, human remains were located near the 4200 block of Trailer Drive in Charlotte. The remains were transported to the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner’s Office. The victim was determined to be male and no evidence of trauma was found. In June 2022, detectives requested the assistance of the North Carolina Unidentified Project to identify this victim. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Foundation provided financial assistance, which allowed the CMPD to fund advanced DNA testing at Othram Labs in The Woodlands, Texas. The victim’s DNA was loaded into a genealogy database. Leslie Kaufman, Forensic Genealogist and owner of First Genes LLC, is a partner with the CMPD and began research on the case. Mrs. Kaufman provided leads to detectives, who collected DNA from a close family member. The victim was positively identified in March 2023, as Cody Ray Herrell, (DOB 02/13/1983). Cody was originally from South Carolina but was known to live on the streets of Charlotte. Cody’s remains have been returned to his family for final arrangements.
On February 9, 1988, human remains were found in an elevator shaft at 237 N. Tryon St. The building had been abandoned since 1981 but Dunhill Development had recently purchased it and began a remodel. This building is now the Dunhill Hotel. Detectives worked to identify the victim but were unsuccessful. In June 2022, detectives requested the assistance of the North Carolina Unidentified Project to identify this victim. Dr. Ann Ross, Forensic Anthropologist at North Carolina State University, sent a bone sample to Othram Labs in The Woodlands, Texas. Again, with funding from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Foundation, advanced DNA testing was performed. The victim’s DNA was loaded into a genealogy database and Forensic Genealogist Leslie Kaufman conducted research. Mrs. Kaufman was able to provide detectives with a potential victim name, and detectives collected DNA from a close family member. The victim was positively identified in May 2023 as Oliver Doc Mundy, (DOB 07/20/1923). Mundy, known by his family and friends as “O.D.”, was a World War II veteran. He was from Mooresville but had been known to live on the streets of Charlotte. His family in Mooresville will receive his remains for final arrangements.
The CMPD Cold Case Unit continues to work to identify victims and return them to their families. This work could not be done without extensive assistance from many resources. The CMPD would like to thank the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Foundation for the funding for much of the advanced DNA work. The CMPD would also like to thank Dr. Ann Ross and Leslie Kaufman of the North Carolina Unidentified Project, as well as Dr. Margaret Press and her team of volunteers at DNA Doe Project for their outstanding work in the field of forensic genetic genealogy. The CMPD would like to extend thanks to multiple labs and lab partners for their work, including Othram Labs, Astrea Forensics, HudsonAlpha Discovery, and Saber Investigations. These identifications could not be made without the cooperation of Family Tree DNA and GEDmatch, which allow law enforcement to utilize their genealogy databases to match these victims with family members.
As of today, the CMPD Cold Case Unit is still working to identify at least 8 remaining victims, whose discoveries date back to 1975.
For a video breaking down the cases and providing further context from Cold Case Det. Matthew Hefner follow this link: https://youtu.be/OQiDSMeB8cY
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