Homicide Victim Found on California Trail in 1974 Finally Identified
ALISO VIEJO, Calif. (TCD) — Using investigative genetic genealogy, authorities have recently identified a homicide victim 49 years after his body was discovered near a fire road trail.
On September 14, 1974, two individuals off-roading stumbled upon the body of a man. An investigation revealed that the victim had died three to five days prior due to alcohol and diazepam intoxication, and his death was initially ruled an accident. However, investigators from Othram Inc. believed that the victim, known as John Doe, was between 18 and 25 years old at the time of his death.
Authorities released information about the victim in the hope of finding leads that could help identify him. However, fingerprint classification results from the Criminal Identification and Investigation Division in Sacramento, the Federal Bureau of Identification, and Canadian authorities were negative, leaving the victim unidentified.
After several weeks of investigation, the victim was buried as John Doe at El Toro Memorial Park in an unmarked grave.
Years later, multiple deaths from alcohol and diazepam intoxication were ruled as homicides, including several in close proximity to where John Doe’s body was found. Investigators suspected that John Doe may have been an early victim of Randy Steven Kraft, also known as the “Scorecard Killer.” Kraft was convicted in 1989 of killing 16 people and is currently on death row.
In November 2022, tissue samples from John Doe were submitted to Othram Laboratories, and a DNA profile was created. Investigators built John Doe’s family tree, leading them to identify his grandparents. The sheriff’s office then located a granddaughter who revealed that she had not seen her 17-year-old brother since April 1974.
Investigators traveled to Kansas City and collected a DNA sample from a potential mother, which confirmed the victim’s identity as Michael Schlicht from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The victim’s family has been notified, and efforts are underway to mark Schlicht’s gravestone.
This breakthrough in identifying a 49-year-old cold case victim showcases the power of investigative genetic genealogy in solving crimes. The cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the use of advanced DNA technology has provided closure for Michael Schlicht’s family and brought them one step closer to justice.
