COLUMBUS — A man found deceased over 25 years ago has finally been identified, bringing closure to a long-unsolved case.
On January 30, 1999, Columbus Police Department (CPD) officers discovered the body of a man alongside Jonathan Moore Pike near Carr Hill Road. Initially believed to be in his 50s or 60s, he died from a single gunshot wound, and two handguns were found at the scene. However, investigators could not identify him as he had no identification or personal belongings.
The death was ruled a suicide, but the lack of identity left a mystery for decades. Investigators employed various methods to ascertain the man’s identity, including fingerprint analysis, public appeals for information, and entries into nationwide missing person databases. The FBI even created a reconstruction of the man’s appearance while he was alive, but all efforts yielded dead ends.
In a significant breakthrough, local investigators collaborated with the Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office to engage Othram, a Texas-based company specializing in forensic genetic genealogy. After sending a DNA sample to Othram, new leads emerged that traced back to central Ohio.
A nephew, upon seeing the FBI-reconstructed photo, recognized his uncle and provided his own DNA to confirm the deceased’s identity as Leo Michael Murray.
Murray, a 61-year-old Ohio resident at the time of his death, had never married and had no children. He had informed family members of his intention to move to Florida before his disappearance, which led them to believe he was relocating rather than missing.
The resources utilized for this investigation were funded by the Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office and NamUs, a national clearinghouse for cases involving missing, unidentified, and unclaimed persons. Those interested in learning more about forensic genetic genealogy and its role in solving such cases can visit Othram’s website at dnasolves.com.
The Columbus Police Department urges anyone who is missing a loved one to report their case to law enforcement.
