In a breakthrough for a decades-old cold case, DNA technology has identified remains found in 1986, ending a 39-year mystery. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) announced that hunters discovered the remains in a remote area of Gilmer County. An autopsy confirmed the death as a homicide, but efforts to identify the victim had failed until now.
With help from genealogical experts and the FBI, Georgia Bureau of Investigation collaborated with Othram, Inc., a Texas-based company specializing in forensic genome sequencing. This partnership led to the identification of the victim as David Clary, solving a case that had seemed unsolvable. Federal and state law enforcement worked together, using DNA analysis to piece together the victim’s identity and bring closure to a family left in the dark for years.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the genealogical search provided new leads that identified Clary. Interviews and testing, coordinated by the FBI’s Portland office and supported by their Atlanta and Gainesville agencies, revealed Clary’s connection to the Charlotte area in North Carolina. He was last seen in Gwinnett County, Georgia, and traveled frequently between Metro Atlanta and North Georgia.
The investigation into Clary’s death continues as authorities seek justice. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has asked the public for any information, encouraging people to contact their Cleveland Regional Investigative Office, the Cold Case Unit, or the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the GBI’s online tip line.
Several law enforcement agencies, including the York County Sheriff's Office, the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office, the Alexander County Sheriff's Office in North Carolina, and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, all worked together to help solve the case.
