Human remains found in DeBary in 1997 identified as man missing for 30 years
Human remains found by surveyors in DeBary 27 years ago identified as Florida man missing for 30 years.
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After 27 years, Volusia County John Doe (1997) is Identified
Volusia County Sheriff's & Medical Examiner's Offices Team with Othram to Identify a 1997 John Doe
Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP723. Despite investigators’ efforts, the man could not be identified and his identity was a mystery for almost 30 years.''
In 2024, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, working with the county's District 7 Medical Examiner's Office, submitted forensic evidence to Othram’s laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas in hopes that advanced DNA testing could lead to the identification of the man.''
''These leads sparked a follow-up investigation that led to potential relatives of the man. During the course of the investigation, an individual who was believed to be a relative of the man provided a DNA sample. The relative’s DNA profile was compared to the John Doe’s DNA profile using Othram’s KinSNP® Rapid Relationship Testing. This comparison confirmed the identity of the man as Ryan Stone. Stone was last seen toward the end of 1994 when he told family that he was going to spend some time away from central Florida and go for a trip to New York, which he had never done before. Ryan was never heard from again and his remains were located in Debary, Florida. It is believed Ryan never went to New York.''
