NC MECKLENBURG JOHN DOE: WM, 18-30, found on Dixie River Road in Charlotte, NC - 24 Dec 2008 *JOSE ESPINOZA*

On December 24, 2008 partial skeletal human remains were found in a heavily wooded area on Dixie River Road in Charlotte, North Carolina. Forensic investigators determined the deceased to be a White/Caucasian male, 18-30 years old, and 5’5” to 5’11” tall. According to NamUs, the still unidentified young man had died approximately three years prior to being found. No information has been disclosed as to the cause and manner of death. However, the case is being treated as a homicide.

DNA Doe Project Status: Research in Progress

Mecklenburg John Doe 2008 | DNA Doe Project

dnadoeproject.org

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

Skeletonized partial remains were discovered at 5239 Dixie River Road in Charlotte in a heavily wooded area.

Sex: Male
Race / Ethnicity: White / Caucasian
Estimated Age Group: Adult - Pre 30
Estimated Age Range (Years): 18-30
Height: 5' 5"-5' 11"(65-71 inches) , Estimated

 

[Summer_Breeze]

NAMUS profile has been removed.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Mecklenburg John Doe 2008 | DNA Doe Project

dnadoeproject.org

The DNA Doe Project and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department have confirmed the identity of a man found December 24, 2008 as Jose Espinoza, who had been reported missing in May, 2003.

When investigators located the partial skeletal remains in 2008, they estimated that the man had died about three years earlier, and that he was Caucasian. Unable to identify him through traditional techniques, the case went cold until they reached out to the DNA Doe Project in 2020 to try investigative genetic genealogy to make an identification. The case required multiple attempts to produce a workable DNA Profile, and shortly after the DNA Doe Project’s team of volunteer investigative genetic genealogists began their research, it became clear that the man’s ancestry pointed to Central America.

“My team is so proud to be able to aid in the identification of Mr. Espinoza,” said team leader Gwen Knapp. “This case had challenging genealogy due to endogamy, adoptions and record availability.”

A routine review of missing persons in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUS) by DNA Doe Project investigators located the record for Jose Espinosa, who had not been ruled out in the initial investigation. “The team was able to use clues the DNA provided to re-evaluate reported missing persons for potential identities,” Knapp shared. “DDP suggested Mr. Espinoza as a candidate and the agency was able to confirm that 2008 Mecklenburg County John Doe was indeed Mr. Jose Espinoza. This was truly a collaborative effort between the agency and DDP.”