YOU NEED TO KNOW
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Skeletal remains found by a Georgia property owner in 2021 have been identified as belonging to Thomas Joe Kratzer, who was last seen in 2013.
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A zip tie and two abandoned cars were also found nearby
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An investigation into what happened is still ongoing
Skeletal remains found on a property in Georgia have been identified as a man who disappeared more than a decade ago.
The remains were found in September 2021 “by a property owner in rural Dallas, Georgia,” according to a news release from Othram, a forensic laboratory that specializes in human identification from degraded or limited samples.
“Upon further investigation, officers discovered a zip tie along with the debris that appeared to have been used,” as well as two abandoned vehicles about 100 years away, according to Othram.
“One of the vehicles has been identified and is not involved and the other vehicle is registered to a known gang member,” they added adding that “it is believed that the remains may be related to that vehicle.”
Although initially the investigators were able to determine that the remains belonged to a White man between 24 and 60 years old, the officers could not identify the man and “with little cause for the investigators to follow, the case remained cold”.
Two years later, in 2023, the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) submitted forensic evidence from the remains to Othram, who then developed a DNA profile of the man that was used to “develop new lines of inquiry that were returned to law enforcement.”
Investigators were then led to “potential relatives of the man,” and collected samples from one relative to match the profile of the unidentified individual.
Eventually, the remains were identified as belonging to Thomas Joe Kratzer, who was reported missing in February 2014.
Kratzer was last seen four months earlier on October 17, 2013, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs).
When deputies did a welfare check at his last known address on Seals Road in Dallas, “the home was empty and according to the report everything of value appeared to be gone,” according to NamUs.
Sheriff Ashley Henson said the identification of these remains “brings long-awaited answers to the Kratzer family,” according to FOX affiliate WAGA-TV and ABC affiliate WSB-TV.
“It also shows the unwavering dedication of our Code Case Unit and our commitment to use every resource and technology available to bring closure to families and justice to those lost,” added Henson.
The PCSO did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
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Othram said, an investigation into Kratzer’s death is ongoing. His identification is the 27th case in Georgia “where officials have publicly identified an individual using the technology developed by Othram,” they added.
Anyone with information that may assist in the investigation is asked to contact the PCSO at 770-443-3010 and reference case 2021-09220092, or NamUs ID UP89733.
Read the original article on People