ORLANDO, FL — The Orlando Police Department has identified two men whose identities remained unknown for decades, including a teenager found dead in downtown Orlando more than 40 years ago.
According to the Orlando Police Department, detectives with its Cold Case Unit used advances in DNA analysis and forensic genetic genealogy to identify the men in cases dating back to 1982 and 1996.
On June 8, 1982, a man’s body was discovered at a construction site in downtown Orlando. Police said there were no apparent signs of foul play, but despite an extensive investigation, authorities were unable to identify him.
More than four decades later, investigators used forensic genetic genealogy and DNA reference testing from family members to identify him as Vincent Todd Peterson, who was 16 years old when he died.
The identification was made through collaboration between Orlando Police, the District Nine Medical Examiner’s Office and Othram, Inc.
In the second case, witnesses discovered a man lying face down in a field on Middlebrook Road on Sept. 15, 1996. Investigators found no apparent signs of trauma, and his death was determined to be from natural causes. However, authorities were unable to determine his identity.
Nearly 30 years later, advanced DNA testing led investigators to the family of 49-year-old Keith Lloyd Landis. His identity was confirmed through a DNA comparison with his sister, who told investigators she had not heard from him since the mid-1990s.
“Because of the hard work of everyone involved in this cold case, we finally received the answers and peace we had longed for after 30 years of questions, worries, and uncertainty,” Landis’ sister, Laura Landis, said. “Our family now has a sense of relief, closure, and gratitude that we will be forever grateful for.”
Orlando Police said the cases demonstrate how advances in forensic science can help investigators resolve cases that have remained unanswered for decades.
“Every unidentified person deserves to have their name restored,” detectives with the Cold Case Unit said. “These cases demonstrate that no matter how much time has passed, we remain committed to seeking the truth, utilizing the latest forensic technology, and providing answers to families who have waited decades for closure.”
The department credited the District Nine Medical Examiner’s Office, Othram, Inc., the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the University of Central Florida’s Anthropology Department and family members for assisting with the investigations.
SOURCE: ORLANDO POLICE DEPARTMENT
