Accident – Death – Obituary News :
Identity of U.S. Marine Vietnam War Veteran Revealed after More than Four Decades
After over forty years of mystery, the identity of a man found buried in a Florida park has finally been uncovered. The man has been identified as William Irving Monroe III, a U.S. Marine and a Vietnam War veteran who was also a father.
Discovery in Pomona Park, Florida
The discovery of the body took place in December 1980 in Pomona Park, located in Putnam County, Florida. The body was found in a partially dug hole, showing signs of blunt force trauma to the chest and a gunshot wound to the neck. The case was immediately ruled as a homicide, but the man’s identity remained a mystery.
A Long Road to Identification
For many years, the man was known only as John Doe 36, as investigators had no leads to follow. It wasn’t until last year when Captain Chris Stallings decided to take on the cold case and send the remains to Othram Labs for genetic sequencing. Despite the poor condition of the remains, a genetic profile was successfully created, leading to the identification of living relatives.
Family Reunion and Closure
With the help of a DNA sample from a suspected relative, it was confirmed that the man buried as John Doe 36 was William Irving Monroe III. His family, who had lost contact with him in 1979, had been searching for answers for decades. The revelation brought closure to the family, who had believed Monroe to be missing or possibly murdered in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Continued Investigation
Now that Monroe’s identity has been revealed, the case will continue to be investigated as a homicide. Authorities are working with veteran services to provide a military headstone for Monroe’s grave, honoring his service as a U.S. Marine and Vietnam War veteran.
Pomona Park, where the body was found, is located approximately 75 miles southwest of Jacksonville, Florida. The small town holds the key to unraveling a decades-old mystery and bringing closure to a family who had long been searching for answers.
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