Rutherford County detectives run new DNA test to find family of man set on fire in La Vergne – WKRN News 2

One cold case solved, as anotherbecomes more mysterious.

A rare DNA match last monthidentifiedremainsfound in Florida more than 40 years ago. The remains were those of James Sanders from Tennessee. A man last seen by relatives in 1978.

But for years, there were questions of whether Sanders remains belonged to a John Doe found burning at a Middle Tennessee campground in La Vergne in 1978.

[After a]press release in 2014, we received a phone call. A man thinking that the John Doe in our casemaybe hisbrother, saidRutherford County Sheriffs OfficeDetective Richard Brinkley,whois investigating the case.

A DNA test showed John Does remains were not Sanders. Something hard to believe for both family and detectives until recently.

Subsequently, years later, Florida isworkinga John Doe homicide case, and they submit some items for testing to get DNA results. And those resultsidentifiedJames Sanders,Brinkley said.

Begging the question: who was the man discovered so brutally murdered in La Vergne?

The John Doe in our case was found at Pool Knobs Campground in August of 1978.Hes the victim of a homicide. Hehadbeen shot, was set on fire,and left there,Brinkley said.

Forty-three years later,detectives are making yet another attempt to identify him.

We are working with a company calledOthramout of Texas thats working on some DNA for us, Brinkley said. They have extracted DNA and were able to develop a profile and are now working to find potential family members.

With how far DNA technology has come along with the other cold case recently solved, Detective Brinkley has a renewed hopeingetting justice for John Doe and reuniting him with his loved ones.

Theres no statute of limitations on a homicide, and we work them until weve exhausted everything. And this ones not solved. But, were going to keep pushing forward, he said.

The Rutherford County Sheriffs Office stressed they are looking for anyonewho couldpossibly berelated to this John Doe. Anyone who may have a relative who went missing around thattime is asked to contactBrinkley at rbrinkley@rcsotn.orgor at 615-904-3045.

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Rutherford County detectives run new DNA test to find family of man set on fire in La Vergne - WKRN News 2