PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – The Florida missing person cold case of Ronald Gilchrist, 42 years ago, has been closed after investigators identified a ‘John Doe’ murder victim as the missing man.
On Tuesday, June 13, 2023, detectives assigned to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit closed the missing person’s case of 29-year-old Ronald Gilchrist.
According to detectives, on October 28th, 1980, Gilchrist left a residence, located at 6933 Bonner Avenue in Clearwater, to travel to Miami.
In the news: Without A Trace: Gail Ann Russell, Loving Mother, Missing In Florida Since 1995
Gilchrist was driving a 1977 Ford 4-door vehicle and was scheduled to arrive at the Miami International Airport on November 3, 1980, to pick up his in-laws and bring them to Marco Island.
Detectives say Gilchrist called a family member on October 29, 1980, from a restaurant payphone in Mulberry, Florida. However, Gilchrist never arrived at the airport and has not been seen or heard from since.
Detectives obtained photographs of Gilchrist from 1980 and submitted them to investigators at the Miami-Dade Police Department and the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office.
Detectives learned the Miami-Dade Police Department investigated a homicide of a John Doe in November of 1980. Detectives learned the John Doe matched a similar description of Gilchrist.
In the news: Without A Trace: Florida Mom, Keyonna Cole, Missing Since 2019
On June 7, 2023, detectives received notification that the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office formally identified John Doe as Ronald Gilchrist.
Miami-Dade Police Department is continuing the homicide investigation of Gilchrist.
Android Users, Click To Download The Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter. Signup for our free newsletter.
We can’t do this without your help; visit our GiveSendGo page and donate any dollar amount; every penny helps.