A land surveyor working a wooded lot near Honey Creek Road and Tucker Mill Road in Conyers made a grim discovery on November 14, 2025: a child's skeletal remains packed inside a suitcase. Nearly a year later, Rockdale County investigators still don't know his name, but newly completed DNA testing has narrowed who he might have been considerably — a boy of Sub-Saharan African ancestry, between six and seven years old.
The Rockdale County Sheriff's Office was called to the scene the day the remains were found, according to Atlanta News First. Investigators say the boy was wearing a long-sleeved shirt and shorts when he was found, and deputies are now asking anyone who might recognize him to come forward. This week, the sheriff's office released new facial images depicting what the boy could have looked like, built from forensic analysis of his remains.
How the New Images Were Made
The updated renderings were produced by a forensic artist with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, who combined DNA phenotype analysis with digital CT scans of the boy's skull, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. That approach marks a significant advance from the case's earliest days. The station also reports that investigators confirmed the boy's remains were found packed inside a suitcase left in the woods, a detail authorities say points to deliberate concealment rather than an accidental death.
Earlier in the case, 11Alive reported on a forensic facial reconstruction. More recent DNA results provide a specific ancestry finding and an estimated age of six to seven years old.
A Tip Line and a Missing Piece
The sheriff's office has assigned Investigator L. Smith to field public tips on the case, directing anyone with information to call 770-278-8044 or email [email protected], FOX 5 Atlanta reported. The sheriff's office's general line, 770-278-8000, remains listed as well, according to Atlanta News First. Deputies are asking anyone who may recognize the boy from the released images to reach out.
The discovery site is in a wooded area of Rockdale County near Honey Creek Road and Tucker Mill Road. The boy remains unidentified, and investigators are asking the public for help.
The Investigation Continues
Investigators are seeking information that could help identify the child. The sheriff's office has asked anyone with information to come forward.
The child's identity remains unknown. Investigators continue to hold out hope that someone will recognize him from the newly released images.
