Cold Case Of Missing NJ Man, 'Walmart John Doe,' Solved By North Jersey Students

NORTH JERSEY ? Students and professors in a college genealogy program have helped identify the remains of a missing New Jersey man who was found behind a Walmart nine years ago, said college representatives Tuesday.

Back on Jan. 29, 2016, the skeletal remains of "Walmart John Doe" were found in a sleeping bag in woods behind a Walmart in Charlotte, N.C., said a spokesperson for Ramapo College's Investigative Genetic Genealogy Program.

Students, professors, and volunteers involved in the program at the Mahwah-based college have helped law enforcement solve dozens of other cold cases in recent years. READ MORE: Skull And Remains Found At Jersey Shore Linked To Shipwreck By NJ Students

Back in 2016, police brought the remains to the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner?s Office, where investigators determined the man's gender. But they could not find out the cause and manner of death, said the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County police in a statement.

"There were no obvious signs of foul play," police said on Monday. "Detectives worked to identify the victim using conventional means but were unsuccessful."

In 2022, the remains were sent to Othram laboratory in Texas for advanced DNA testing.

Early in 2025, investigators in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Cold Case Unit partnered with the Ramapo College IGG Center, based in Mahwah, to further investigate.

College Investigates

The students and professors set to work, joined by volunteers.

"It was believed that this individual was unhoused and had been living in the woods where his remains were discovered," said a college representative on Tuesday.

IGG program members were able to develop a DNA type. Detectives in North Carolina asked possible relatives in New Jersey for DNA as well.

Once detectives were able to acquire a sample, they were able to confirm that the man was Kenneth Robert McCarthy, born in 1961, they said.

"McCarthy, who would have been around 52 years old at the time of his death, was loved and dearly missed by his family who had never stopped searching for him," said an IGG Program representative.

'Expressed Their Gratitude'

The family told police that he was originally from the Garden State but had been living in Charlotte when they had last spoken with him.

"According to his family, he worked in the IT field for various major corporations," said police in North Carolina. "Mr. McCarthy?s family ... expressed their gratitude for the many team members who worked to identify him."

Lisa Ambrose, a spokesperson for the program, told Patch Wednesday that no further details were available about McCarthy's New Jersey home or his family, but she will release more information when available.

The IGG program is still working on more than a dozen cases and has been consulted in more than 90. See links to past stories about cases they've solved recently:

• Man Found On Arizona Sidewalk Is Identified Thanks To North Jersey Students
• Missing Mom Walked Away From Pennsylvania Home. Now Her Kids Have Answers.
• Female Artist, A Hitchhiker, Was Killed 50 Years Ago. NJ Students Cracked The Case.
• Jawbone In Boy's Rock Collection ID's As That Of Dead Marine By NJ Students

For more information about Ramapo College, the IGG Center and its offerings, visit ramapo.edu/igg.

Got Information On This Case?

"The investigation into this case is active and ongoing," said police on Monday. "As additional information develops, it will be released by the CMPD's Public Affairs Division."

Anyone with information about the McCarthy case is asked to call 704-432-8477 (TIPS) and speak directly to a Homicide Unit detective. Detective Hefner is the lead detective assigned to the case, police said. The public can also leave information anonymously by calling Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600, using the Charlotte Crime Stoppers P3 Tips Mobile App or by visiting the Charlotte Crime Stoppers website.

Police in Mecklenburg County said that they are still working on eight other cold cases dating back to 1932.