Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office determines potential year of death for unidentified remains found 13 years ago
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Investigators with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office have identified the time frame of death and potential birth year for human remains of a young boy found in in Dixon, Missouri.
The skull of John Dixon Doe was found in October 2013 along Highway 28.
Recently, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children released a facial recognition photo of what they believe the boy could look like.
It was estimated he had been dead at least one year prior to the recovery, but its unknown how long the skull had been there. Now, Pulaski County detective Melinda French said through forensic testing on two of his on two teeth they have determined the boy to have died between 1967 and 1972.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children said the boy is believed to have been between 8-13 years old.
Testing determined the birth year of the boy to be sometime between the autumn of 1957 and the summer of 1960, according to the French.
French said the tests done to determine the boys possible age analyzed what she called “organic materials.” The department measured the remaining amount of Carbon-14, which is a radioactive isotope of carbon.
After DNA testing, the boy was deemed to be of Asian ancestry with a possible connection to India, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Pakistan.
French explained the specific tests utilized as Autosomal DNA testing and Mitochondrial DNA testing. Forensic scientists use autosomal testing to analyze someone’s overall mixed ancestry from both parents, and mitochondrial DNA traces their direct maternal lineage.
French said knowledge of the boy’s ancestry leaves the investigation with more information, but does not entirely help get closer to the answers.
“Knowing the Asian ancestry, I don’t think either helps nor, hurts the possibility of identifying him, but it does make it more of a mystery,” French said. “It’s so frustrating at the same time because it’s like, well, where did he come from?”
In May of 2026, French said a family tree DNA request was submitted to help understand more of who the boy is, and where he came from, but the department is still waiting on results.
“Hopefully, you know, if we can receive some results from Family Tree DNA, we’ll be able to get a little bit more in depth with that.” French said.
The family tree DNA request could take up to “months,” French said. She said it has been months, and the department is still waiting on that information.
Since the announcement of what the boy could look like, French said the department has not received any tips that have been substantiated.
French said she has an upcoming collaboration with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to go over the genealogy research to make a plan on how to move forward with the information.
The department is still hoping someone can identify the boy or give any information as to who or where he may have came from.
“If anyone has any information regarding this child’s death, please let us know so we can identify him and take him home,” French said.
In 2013, the sheriff’s office told ABC 17 “there are no current missing adolescent cases in the country that match the time frame of these remains.”
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