Homicide victim found decomposed in shallow grave almost 3 years ago is identified
06/21/2023 11:27 am PDT
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (TCD) -- Officials have identified a homicide victim whose body was found in a shallow grave north of Flagstaff in 2020.
According to a news release from the Coconino County Sheriff's Office, authorities recovered the body off Highway 180 near the Lava Caves, but they were unable to identify the victim at the time due to "advanced stages of decomposition." However, the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office was able to rule the victim's death a homicide.
In May 2021, officials sent a DNA sample to a private forensic genealogy lab. Analysis of the sample connected the victim to a family tree in January of this year, but investigators were unable to locate one of the family members within the tree, later identified as David Wilkinson. The Sheriff's Office said Wilkinson was "known to frequent the Phoenix and Prescott areas in 2019 and 2020."
The Sheriff's Office posted a missing person flyer in April for Wilkinson, saying he was likely traveling with one or two dogs in a 1997 Toyota Paseo. Investigators believe he was camping near Forest Service Road 245 during the summer of 2020.
According to the Sheriff's Office, investigators analyzed additional DNA shortly after the missing person flyer was published and "confirmed David Clark Wilkinson was the homicide victim in this case."
The investigation is ongoing, and the Sheriff's Office has asked anyone with information about the case to come forward. Officials did not specify whether they have identified any possible suspects.
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