The Brief
- The identity of a man found dead in a Scottsdale canal in May 2005 remains unknown, but advanced genetic testing is providing new leads.
- New DNA testing technology revealed the victim is over 90 percent Indigenous, a major breakthrough in the two-decade-old cold case.
- Investigators believe the man may be from the nearby Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, and are urging the public to come forward with information.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Advancements in genetic testing are creating new leads for a John Doe case of more than two decades, and investigators are hoping that cutting-edge technology and a unique piece of jewelry the victim was wearing will breathe new life into the search for this man’s identity.
The backstory:
On May 20, 2005, the body of a man was found in a canal near the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community wearing a wooden cross necklace.…