Identified! KY - Ashland, EastPark John Doe, UncMale Adult, UP73223, gunshot wound, shallow grave, Jul'20 - Zachary Taylor Pearson
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YaYa_521
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No photo. No exclusions.
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
NamUs #UP73223
ME/C Case Number MEC-20-0498
Male, Uncertain
Date Body Found July 18, 2020
NamUs Case Created September 2, 2020
Location Found Ashland, Kentucky
Inventory of Remains--
Condition of Remains Not recognizable - Decomposing/putrefaction
Estimated Year of Death--
Estimated PMI--
Estimated Age Range--
Estimated Age Group Adult
Height 5' 8"(68 inches) , Measured
Weight 95 lbs, Estimated
Hair Color Brown
Eye Color Missing Eye
Clothing - Haynes boxer briefs Fragments of dark stained fabric around body - On the Body
Circumstances of Recovery - Partially skeletonized body found in shallow grave on leased property
Kentucky State Police
Address 5975 US-60 Post 14 Ashland, Kentucky 41102
County Boyd County
Main Phone (606) 928-6421
General Email--
Website URL http://kentuckystatepolice.org/post-locations/post-14/
Agency Case Number--
Date Reported July 18, 2020
Boyd County Coroner's Office
Address 12219 Anthony Drive Ashland, Kentucky 41101
County Boyd County
Main Phone (606) 388-2265
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
NamUs #UP73223
ME/C Case Number MEC-20-0498
Male, Uncertain
Date Body Found July 18, 2020
NamUs Case Created September 2, 2020
Location Found Ashland, Kentucky
Inventory of Remains--
Condition of Remains Not recognizable - Decomposing/putrefaction
Estimated Year of Death--
Estimated PMI--
Estimated Age Range--
Estimated Age Group Adult
Height 5' 8"(68 inches) , Measured
Weight 95 lbs, Estimated
Hair Color Brown
Eye Color Missing Eye
Clothing - Haynes boxer briefs Fragments of dark stained fabric around body - On the Body
Circumstances of Recovery - Partially skeletonized body found in shallow grave on leased property
Kentucky State Police
Address 5975 US-60 Post 14 Ashland, Kentucky 41102
County Boyd County
Main Phone (606) 928-6421
General Email--
Website URL http://kentuckystatepolice.org/post-locations/post-14/
Agency Case Number--
Date Reported July 18, 2020
Boyd County Coroner's Office
Address 12219 Anthony Drive Ashland, Kentucky 41101
County Boyd County
Main Phone (606) 388-2265
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EastPark John Doe (2020) is now Identified
Kentucky State Police, Medical Examiner's Office, and Boyd County Coroner's Office Team with Othram to Identify EastPark John Doe
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Great news!
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EastPark John Doe (2020) is now Identified
Kentucky State Police, Medical Examiner's Office, and Boyd County Coroner's Office Team with Othram to Identify EastPark John Doe
YaYa_521
Retired WS Staff
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FYI @othram
Jordan Nathaniel Leonard went missing from Huntington, WV which is only about 15-18 miles (22-27 mins) away from Ashland, KY. I wonder if his DNA is on file. MOO
Circumstances of Disappearance - Jordan was a college student living with a roommate. In 2019, he was to go abroad after graduation, with the roommate, to teach English overseas. it is unknown if he ever left the country as the landlord mentioned that he and the roommate had a falling out. Jordan has not been in contact with any family member for over a year.
ETA - Link to Google Maps - Ashland, KY to Huntington, WV
Jordan Nathaniel Leonard went missing from Huntington, WV which is only about 15-18 miles (22-27 mins) away from Ashland, KY. I wonder if his DNA is on file. MOO
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.
www.namus.gov
Circumstances of Disappearance - Jordan was a college student living with a roommate. In 2019, he was to go abroad after graduation, with the roommate, to teach English overseas. it is unknown if he ever left the country as the landlord mentioned that he and the roommate had a falling out. Jordan has not been in contact with any family member for over a year.
ETA - Link to Google Maps - Ashland, KY to Huntington, WV
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EastPark John Doe (2020) is now Identified
Kentucky State Police, Medical Examiner's Office, and Boyd County Coroner's Office Team with Othram to Identify EastPark John Doe
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EastPark John Doe (2020) is now Identified
Kentucky State Police, Medical Examiner's Office, and Boyd County Coroner's Office Team with Othram to Identify EastPark John Doednasolves.com
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Identified
"A young man found in 2020, in a shallow grave, has now been identified as Zachary Taylor Pearson from Saint Albans, West Virginia."
dnasolves.com
"A young man found in 2020, in a shallow grave, has now been identified as Zachary Taylor Pearson from Saint Albans, West Virginia."
EastPark John Doe (2020) is now Identified
Kentucky State Police, Medical Examiner's Office, and Boyd County Coroner's Office Team with Othram to Identify EastPark John Doe
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SOLVED:
dnasolves.com
EastPark John Doe (2020) is now Identified
Kentucky State Police, Medical Examiner's Office, and Boyd County Coroner's Office Team with Othram to Identify EastPark John Doe
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rbbm
dnasolves.com
''There is a small road near where EastPark John Doe was found, leading to a secluded lot where locals go for tailgate parties and truckers seek sleep before heading back to the highway.
Law enforcement worked diligently to identify the young man but eventually all leads were exhausted. Traditional forensic DNA testing also did not reveal an identity for the young man, either. The case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP73223.
In 2021, the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office and Kentucky State Police sent forensic evidence to Othram in the The Woodlands, Texas. The costs associated with forensic DNA testing and research for this case were generously funded through a DNASolves® crowdfund. We are grateful to everyone that provided the support necessary to work this case.
Othram scientists developed a DNA extract from the evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the murdered young man. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the DNA profile in a genetic genealogy search to identify genetic relatives of the young man and to produce investigative leads that were returned to law enforcement investigators.
With leads in hand, the Kentucky State Police continued the investigation. Discussions with family and follow up DNA testing enabled investigators to confirm the identity of the young man as Zachary Taylor Pearson, born February 26, 1997. Pearson was originally from Saint Albans, West Virginia and he had no known association to Kentucky. His body was found about 50 miles from Saint Albans.
Investigators are now working to identify the person or persons responsible for Pearson's murder. If you have information that could aid this investigation, please contact Detective David Boarman at the Kentucky State Police Post 14 at +1 606-928-6421. The police agency case number for this case is 14-20-0358.''
EastPark John Doe (2020) is now Identified
Kentucky State Police, Medical Examiner's Office, and Boyd County Coroner's Office Team with Othram to Identify EastPark John Doe
''There is a small road near where EastPark John Doe was found, leading to a secluded lot where locals go for tailgate parties and truckers seek sleep before heading back to the highway.
Law enforcement worked diligently to identify the young man but eventually all leads were exhausted. Traditional forensic DNA testing also did not reveal an identity for the young man, either. The case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP73223.
In 2021, the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office and Kentucky State Police sent forensic evidence to Othram in the The Woodlands, Texas. The costs associated with forensic DNA testing and research for this case were generously funded through a DNASolves® crowdfund. We are grateful to everyone that provided the support necessary to work this case.
Othram scientists developed a DNA extract from the evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the murdered young man. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the DNA profile in a genetic genealogy search to identify genetic relatives of the young man and to produce investigative leads that were returned to law enforcement investigators.
With leads in hand, the Kentucky State Police continued the investigation. Discussions with family and follow up DNA testing enabled investigators to confirm the identity of the young man as Zachary Taylor Pearson, born February 26, 1997. Pearson was originally from Saint Albans, West Virginia and he had no known association to Kentucky. His body was found about 50 miles from Saint Albans.
Investigators are now working to identify the person or persons responsible for Pearson's murder. If you have information that could aid this investigation, please contact Detective David Boarman at the Kentucky State Police Post 14 at +1 606-928-6421. The police agency case number for this case is 14-20-0358.''
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Great news!SOLVED:
EastPark John Doe (2020) is now Identified
Kentucky State Police, Medical Examiner's Office, and Boyd County Coroner's Office Team with Othram to Identify EastPark John Doe
Two charged after drive-by shooting, police pursuit near St. Albans
Did anyone find this? He was arrested for a drive-by shooting in 2016.
Did anyone find this? He was arrested for a drive-by shooting in 2016.
I thought his ID photo was a mugshot. A shame.
I couldn’t find a follow up but I assume he got some sort of plea deal due to the other guy being a bit older.
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Zachary Taylor Pearson
In July 2020, a man was found in a shallow grave in Ashland, lying face-down on hunting land. He had been shot to death and was mostly skeletonized.In 2021, the Kentucky Office of the Medical Examiner and KSP sent evidence to Othram, and funds were raised to do forensic genealogy. In September 2024, the man was identified as 26-year-old Zachary Taylor Pearson. He was from Saint Albans, West Virginia — about 50 miles away from where his body was found, according to Othram.
No arrests have been made in his killing. Anyone with any information regarding the case is encouraged to call a KSP detective at 606-928-6421.
Kentucky cold cases: 9 bodies, 2 killers identified using DNA, family trees
Kentucky officials have several identified homicide victims and suspects by matching their DNA to potential relatives.
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