AR AR - Barfield Landing, Mississippi County John Doe,#UP2849, skeletal remains, June 1990, DNA- Charles Benjamin Rhoades, born July 9, 1940, 2025.

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After 35 Years, Mississippi County John Doe is Identified

Mississippi County Sheriff's Office & Arkansas Attorney General's Cold Case Unit Team with Othram to Identify a 1990 John Doe

dnasolves.com

''In June 1990, the skeletal remains of an unidentified individual were found by a fisherman three miles north of Barfield Landing on the west side of the Mississippi River bank. The Mississippi County Sheriff's Office responded and began collecting evidence and investigating. The remains were determined to belong to a White adult man, who stood about 5'9" tall and was between the ages of 45 and 65. The remains were found with a pair of blue jeans, a black belt and a blue-and-white checkered shirt. Investigators also found a pair of blue Protech brand shoes with rubber soles-size 9 and 1/2.

Despite a lengthy investigation, the man could not be identified and became known as Mississippi County John Doe. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP2849.

''In 2025, the Arkansas Attorney General's Office Cold Case Unit and the Mississippi County Sheriff's Office submitted forensic evidence to ''Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the man. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the man. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the profile in a genetic genealogy search to develop new investigative leads that were returned to law enforcement.

Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the man. Reference DNA samples were collected from a relative and compared to the DNA profile of the unidentified man. This investigation led to the positive identification of the man, who is now known to be Charles Benjamin Rhoades, born July 9, 1940. Rhoades had been missing for nearly 35 years.''

On June 23, 1990, the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Office reported finding a male body on the banks of the Mississippi River. Due to the stage of decomposition, the identity of the body could not be determined at the time.

 

[dotr]

AG Tim Griffin issues statement in regard to body identified after 35-year disappearance

In a breakthrough for a decades-old mystery, Attorney General Tim Griffin announced that the identity of a body found on the banks of the Mississippi River in 1

katv.com

''The Mississippi County Sheriff's Office, with the help of Griffin's Cold Case Unit and advanced DNA testing from Othram Labs, reopened the case.

Sheriff Cook provided a statement in response to the update.

“The investigation into Mr. Rhoades’ death continues. Anyone with any information about Mr. Rhoades, his disappearance, or his death are encouraged to contact the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Office at (870) 658-2242 or our tip line at (870) 658-7024," said Cook.''