Mystery Solved: Michael Benjamin Davis Identified 31 Years After Greenwood Remains Found in Suspected Homicide

Authorities have finally identified the human remains found 31 years ago in Greenwood, Indiana. 

They belong to Michael Benjamin Davis, a young man originally from South Carolina.

The Johnson County Coroner's Office confirmed this breakthrough, bringing closure to a case that had baffled investigators and left a family searching for answers for decades.

Michael Benjamin Davis was born on December 16, 1965, in Richland County, South Carolina. 

His family lost contact with him in the late 1980s, and he seemed to vanish without a trace. 

For years, they had no idea what had happened to him, until now.

The discovery of his remains in April 1993 was both shocking and tragic. 

Children playing in a field near Interstate 65 in Greenwood, Indiana, stumbled upon skeletal remains. 

The location, which is now a golf course, was a quiet area just south of Indianapolis, Indiana's capital city. 

The grim discovery prompted an immediate response from the Greenwood Police Department. 

The remains were carefully collected and transported to the University of North Texas, where forensic experts began the painstaking process of trying to identify the individual.

The initial examination revealed that the remains belonged to a male, likely between the ages of 14 and 30 years old, and standing between 4’10” and 5’4” tall. 

Despite these findings, the identity of the deceased remained elusive. 

Forensic experts, along with law enforcement, conducted thorough investigations, scouring missing persons databases and reaching out to the public for any leads. 

However, no matches were found, and with time, the case grew cold, becoming yet another unsolved mystery.

In May 2008, the case details were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) under the designation UP1828. 

This provided a central repository for information on the unidentified remains, but still, no leads emerged that could crack the case.

Years passed with no progress, but the case was never forgotten. 

In 2023, hope was reignited when the Johnson County Coroner's Office, in collaboration with the Greenwood Police Department, the University of Indiana, and the Indiana State Police, decided to take advantage of new advancements in forensic science. 

They partnered with Othram, a cutting-edge DNA testing laboratory based in The Woodlands, Texas, renowned for their work in solving cold cases.

Forensic evidence was sent to Othram's lab, where scientists utilized Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing®.

This is an advanced method of analyzing DNA that can provide a detailed genetic profile even from degraded samples. 

Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used this profile to conduct extensive genealogy research, seeking out potential relatives who could help identify the remains.

The costs for this complex and meticulous work were generously covered by Audiochuck, a company that supports efforts to solve cold cases. 

After months of analysis, Othram’s scientists were able to create a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown man. 

This breakthrough led to the identification of potential relatives.

Investigators followed these new leads and eventually tracked down a relative of the unidentified man. 

DNA samples were collected from this relative and compared to the DNA profile generated by Othram. 

The results confirmed the identity of the remains as those of Michael Benjamin Davis. 

He would have been in his mid-20s at the time of his death.

The identification of Davis was a bittersweet moment for his family, who had spent years wondering what had happened to him. 

It also marked a significant achievement for law enforcement and forensic scientists who had worked tirelessly on the case. 

However, many questions remain unanswered, including the circumstances of Davis’s death. 

Although there have been long-standing suspicions that Davis was the victim of a homicide, the exact cause and manner of his death have been ruled undetermined due to the lack of conclusive evidence. 

The case remains open, with investigators continuing to seek information that could shed light on how Davis died.

As the investigation into Michael Benjamin Davis’s death continues, his family plans to travel to Indiana to collect his remains and bring him back home. 

They are also expected to speak to the media about their experience and the long journey to finally knowing what happened to their loved one.

The identification of Davis brings a measure of closure to a case that has lingered for more than three decades.

However, it also opens new avenues of investigation as authorities seek to uncover the truth behind his untimely death.

In another breakthrough with DNA, human remains found along a roadside in Jackson County, Mississippi, in 2001 have just been identified. 

Click here for more details on the case that sparked a decade-long quest for answers.