CLEARWATER, Fla. – More than 31 years after his body was discovered near the Clearwater Pass bridge, an unidentified man known only as “Pinellas County John Doe 1993” has finally been identified. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Clearwater Police Department, the Pinellas County Medical Examiner’s Office, and Moxxy Forensic Investigations, the man has been identified as Edman Eric Gleed, who was 84 years old at the time of his death and had been reported missing from Fairfax County, Virginia.
Gleed’s body was found on November 29, 1993, near the east side of the bridge leading to Sand Key. A neatly folded pile of clothing was discovered on the nearby shoreline of Clearwater Beach, close to a lifeguard stand. However, no form of identification was found either with the clothing or on the body.
An initial autopsy was unable to determine the manner and cause of death, though authorities did not suspect foul play. The Medical Examiner’s Office at the time determined the deceased to be a white male between 60 and 80 years old, approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 118 pounds, with short gray hair and blue eyes.
READ: Without A Trace In Florida: 7-Year-Old Jennifer Sophia Marteliz, Where Are You?
For over three decades, the mystery of “Pinellas County John Doe 1993” remained unsolved. However, renewed efforts to identify the remains saw Clearwater Police detectives partner with the Medical Examiner’s Office and Moxxy Forensic Investigations, a company specializing in investigative genetic genealogy. Additional DNA samples from the unidentified man were submitted for advanced testing.
“Almost immediately, we observed that all of the DNA matches were either living in or recent immigrants from England, which was quite unexpected for a person found in Pinellas County, Florida,” explained Kaycee Connelly, the Moxxy team lead for the case. “Our team of volunteer genealogists uncovered numerous ancestors from various parts of England, stretching back to the mid-1700s, to connect the DNA matches with one another. Because of recent immigration and the estimated age range of the man at the time of his death, we were looking for very distant connections.”
The genealogical puzzle took several months to piece together, involving the dedication of nine volunteer genealogists. Their painstaking analysis eventually revealed connections to the unidentified man, including a couple from the mid-18th century residing in Bristol, England. This breakthrough allowed the team to develop a potential identity for the man.
READ :Without A Trace: Natanalie “Naty” Perez Vanished In Florida, June 1, 2012
Investigators then located a living relative, a 94-year-old son of the candidate, residing in North Carolina. A buccal swab was collected from the son and compared to the DNA profile of “Pinellas County John Doe 1993.” The results confirmed a parent-child relationship, definitively identifying the long-unidentified individual as Edman Eric Gleed.
Clearwater Police detectives spoke with Mr. Gleed’s son on Monday morning, finally bringing a resolution to a mystery that spanned over three decades.
“We are happy that we are able to provide the family some answers and some closure as to what happened with their loved one,” said Michael Walek, Deputy Chief for Clearwater Police. “And we’re grateful to the Medical Examiner’s Office and Moxxy Forensic Investigations for helping us get those answers.”
READ: Without A Trace: 18-Year-Old Colleen Perris Disappeared In Florida, September 2000
Ed Adams, the Moxxy team assistant for the case, echoed this sentiment, stating, “This case has been close to the hearts of everyone on the team. We are all honored to have played a part in returning Edman Gleed to his family.”
The identification of Edman Eric Gleed brings an end to a long chapter of uncertainty and underscores the power of collaborative efforts and advancements in forensic technology in resolving even the most enduring cold cases.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
