It has been over eight years since Hurricane Irma tore through the Florida Keys, leaving a trail of destruction that residents still remember vividly. For nearly a decade, one specific part of that tragedy remained a mystery. Search crews working through the wreckage back in 2017 found the remains of a man in a debris pile on Big Pine Key, but they had no idea who he was.
The storm and the elements had done too much damage, making it impossible to identify him at the time.
For years, he was known only as an unidentified victim of the storm. But now, thanks to some high-tech detective work, he finally has his name back. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) announced recently that the remains belong to James Donald Schlake, a 77-year-old resident of Key Largo.
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The road to this discovery was long and frustrating. The body was originally recovered on September 14, 2017, just days after Irma made landfall. The medical examiner determined that the man had drowned and ruled it an accidental death, but without a name, the case went cold. Investigators tried traditional methods to figure out who he was, but nothing worked. Even as late as December 2023, a sample sent to a crime lab came back with no leads.
That is when the investigators decided to try something new. In June 2025, officials sent DNA evidence to a specialized lab called Othram Inc. This company uses a method called forensic genetic genealogy. Instead of just looking for a direct match in a police database, they look for distant relatives to build a family tree that points back to the missing person.
It worked. By December 2025, the lab had found potential relatives. Investigators followed those leads, contacted the family, and were finally able to confirm that the man was indeed Mr. Schlake.
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Officials say this case proves that it is never too late to find answers. FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass said his team “turned over every stone” to make this happen.
He noted that these partnerships are critical for giving families the closure they deserve, no matter how much time has passed. Kristen Mittelman from Othram, the lab that handled the DNA, agreed. She pointed out that as long as there is DNA, modern technology can solve even the oldest, coldest cases.
For the community in the Keys and for James Schlake’s family, the eight-year wait is finally over. The case that started with a hurricane has ended with a name, proving that science can sometimes speak when the evidence falls silent.
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