After 31 years, Orange County John Doe (1993) is identified

Summary

In October 1993, two hunters came across the partial skeletal remains of an unidentified individual on a former vacant lot that had been used as a vegetable farm in Orlando, Florida. The remains were provided to the Orange County Sheriff's Office, who conducted a search of the area the next day in an attempt to recover additional remains. Upon examination, the remains were determined to be that of a white male who was between 45 and 55 years old at the time of this death. Due to limited information and the condition of the man's remains, no further identifying characteristics could be determined. The manner of the man's death was determined to be a homicide.

Details of the case have been entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) under the number UP553. Despite the efforts of law enforcement, the man's identity remained unknown for more than three decades. Eager to finally identify the man, the Orange County Sheriff's Office Cold Case Unit contacted Othram in hopes that advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy could help generate new tracks and identify the man.

In 2023, the Orange County Sheriff's Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the forensic evidence and used forensic-grade genome sequencing to establish a comprehensive DNA profile of the unknown homicide victim. Once the profile was successfully established, Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team produced new investigative leads that were provided to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

With these new leads, the Orange County Sheriff's Office pursued a follow-up investigation that led them to the man's genetic relatives. A reference sample was taken from a potential relative and compared to the man's DNA profile. This comparison confirmed the identity of John Doe of Orange County as 48-year-old Richard Wick. Wick moved from New York to Florida and was reported missing by his family, with whom he was in regular contact, after failing to contact them for an extended period of time.

If you knew Richard Wick or have any information about his life or the circumstances leading to his tragic death, you are asked to contact the Orange County Sheriff's Office Cold Case Unit at 407-836-4357, or call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS.