Volusia County detectives are asking for the public’s help in identifying a John Doe whose skeletal remains were found in the Ormond Beach area in 1982.

According to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, deputies are collaborating with FHD Forensics to help identify a man who was found deceased in Ormond Beach on March 12, 1982. His skeletal remains were discovered in a wooded area by two boys who were camping.

Since the man was found without any clothing, jewelry, or any personal effects, his death was ruled “suspicious.” He was a white male who stood approximately 5’7” tall, weighed around 150 pounds, and was likely born between 1935 and 1947.

“We need your help to give this John Doe his name back!” said the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office in a social media post on Monday. In that post, VCSO shared two forensic portraits of the man, which have been AI-enhanced to show what he may have looked like.

VCSO stated that John Doe’s DNA profile has revealed that most of his ancestral ties are French Canadian, with more than 50% of his admixture being Irish, Scottish, and English.

In addition to Ontario and Quebec, John Doe also has genetic ties to distant matches in Massachusetts, Illinois, and Michigan. Investigators believe that John Doe, or his family before him, may have lived in one of these areas before moving to Florida.

“(John Doe’s) identified common ancestors are still very distant (1750s) after 18 months of research and related DNA testing,” said VCSO. “In memory of Volusia County residents and murder victims Dean and Tina Linn Clouse, Genealogy For Justice is sponsoring a reference DNA testing program of the descendants of those distant ancestors to help identify him.”

For more information, including how to contribute a DNA sample, visit the Genealogy for Justice’s 1982 Volusia County John Doe webpage.

If anyone has information about this John Doe that could help investigators, please contact the VCSO Cold Case Unit via email at: ColdCaseUnitTips@volusiasheriff.gov.