Assistance Sought In Identifying Boy Whose Body Was Found In Yard

CLEVELAND, OH -- Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas P. Gilson and the Cleveland Police Department are asking for the public and media's help in identifying a four-year-old boy whose body was found in the back yard at 12902 Longmead Avenue Sept. 20. The house is in the Puritas-Longmead neighborhood of the West Side, just west of Tiedeman Road and north of I-480. As of now, the identity of the boy has gone unsolved as a cold case, according to Dr. Gilson.

"Our residents and local media have been critical resources in solving an unidentified cold case already this year," Gilson said in a press release, "and I have confidence they will help us identify this young child."

The Cuyahoga County Regional Forensic Science Laboratory developed a DNA profile which determined the decedent's sex. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office and the Cleveland Police Department's Homicide Unit said in the press release that even if you have not reported a family member as "missing," you should consider contacting them if this boy fits the description of someone you are related to or someone you have not seen recently.

DNA submitted by family members for identification purposes will only be used for identification. DNA submitted for identification will not be used in investigation other than identification.

Call the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office at 216-721-5610 or the Cleveland Police Homicide Unit at 216-623-5464.

Image Via Shutterstock

Sketches Courtesy Of The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office