The Gary Police Department announced Friday that it is taking new steps to identify human remains from nearly 25 years ago.
The department is collaborating with the Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force and DNAsolves.com. The service provides “innovative DNA testing techniques” that will aid in the investigation.
DNAsolves.com helps with crowdfunding, data and genomics in cases. The website only works with law enforcement agencies and doesn’t offer genealogy or health tools.
“This initiative is a critical step toward providing long-awaited closure for a family who has suffered the loss of a loved one,” said a news release from the police department.
The agencies are asking for community help to pay for the testing. The Gary Police Department contributed $500 to a fundraiser, and the groups have a $7,500 goal. People can donate to the fundraiser online.
In January 2001, the remains of an unknown individual were found in Gary, according to the police department’s news release.
The remains were those of a Black man aged 20 to 29 years old with black hair and brown eyes. The man weighed about 157 pounds and was 5 feet 7 inches tall.
The man’s manner of death was determined to be a homicide, according to the Friday news release. Since he couldn’t be identified, the victim became known as Lake County John Doe.
Case details were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.
In late 2024, the Gary Police Department and Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force teamed with Othram to see if DNA testing could help. Othram, a Texas-based company, helps law enforcement agencies solve homicides.
According to Othram’s website, only about half of homicides are solved.
In 2024, the Lake County Coroner’s Office investigated 65 homicides. Gary led the county’s homicide numbers, according to information from the coroner’s office. Of the county’s 65 homicide deaths last year, 24 victims died in Gary.
