TN TN- Floating in the Wolf River, Shelby County John Doe #UP5252, May 1991, DNA- Stonewall Willett, born June 1, 1945, 2025.

[dotr]

Shelby County John Doe (1991) is Identified

University of Tennessee Health Science Center Teams with Othram to Identify a 1991 John Doe

dnasolves.com

''In May 1991, the remains of an identified individual were found floating in the Wolf River in Shelby County, Tennessee. Shelby County is the westernmost county of Tennessee and the county seat is Memphis. The man was found with a key ring that had three keys, several scraps of paper and two dimes. He was was wearing a t-shirt, a shirt, a denim jacket, pants, briefs, socks and a pair of hiking boots. Despite extensive efforts by investigators, the man could not be identified and became known as Shelby County John Doe.

Attempts to identify the man continued over the years, and in 2012, the University of Tennessee Forensic Anthropology Center submitted a sample of his remains to the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification (UNTCHI). A DNA profile was developed and entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, as UP5252, in hopes that the man would eventually be identified. However, there were no matches.

In 2022, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the man.''

''Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the man. Reference DNA samples were collected from the potential relatives and compared to the DNA profile of the unknown man. This investigation led to the positive identification of the man, who is now known to be Stonewall Willett, born on June 1, 1945.''

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Not finding much on him. His last known address was in Memphis. Based on census records, I believe this is the same house he grew up in. His half brother, JT, died in the late 90s.