A teen boy discovered useless on a Southern California road 44 years in the past has been recognized as runaway whose disappearance was by no means reported, police stated.
The physique was found in a residential neighborhood of Long Beach on June 3, 1978. Investigators have been unable to determine the teenager and he was dubbed “John Doe 1978,” the Long Beach Police Department stated in an announcement Wednesday. The murder case ultimately went chilly.
Police stated current advances in DNA expertise allowed authorities to lastly determine the boy as Kenneth Nevada Williams, who was 15 years outdated when he ran away from his house in La Puente, east of Los Angeles, in 1978.
“Williams was never reported missing. Homicide detectives were successfully able to locate and contact Williams’ family members and subsequently confirm his identity,” the police assertion stated.
No explanation for dying was given.
Donald Alway, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s LA Field Office, stated his company and police have resumed investigating the teenager’s dying.
“Justice delayed doesn’t have to be justice denied in this case. Kenneth Nevada Williams is now a known victim and identifying his killer is the next step in solving this case,” Alway stated in an announcement.
The Hacienda La Puente Unified School District Police offered faculty data that confirmed Williams final attended Sierra Vista Middle School in 1977 and was enrolled in Fairgrove Academy on Oct.18, 1977. His final attended faculty day was on Oct. 27, 1977.
“Without the assistance of investigative genealogy, Kenneth Williams may have never been identified, however, his story is far from over. The person(s) responsible for his murder are still outstanding and must be identified to be held accountable for their crimes so that Kenneth Williams and his family will get the justice they have long deserved,” the Long Beach Police Department stated.
Anyone with details about the 1978 homicide or Williams’ whereabouts from Oct. 27, 1977, to June 3, 1978, is requested to contact the LBPD Homicide Detail, Missing Persons Section at (562) 570-7246.