DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – An exhumation has reopened a 1972 cold case homicide investigation in Volusia County.
The first exhumation order of "John Doe" in 15 years, which was ordered after after no documents showing the victim's fingerprints or identification attempts were found, allowed deputies to open the grave site at Cedar Hill Cemetery.
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Deputies said the victim's body was found May 3, 1972 in a pond near Indian Lake Road, Daytona Beach with several stab wounds.
Investigators exhumed the grave site on Nov. 13 and found the victim may have been younger than originally thought, according to VCSO. It was believed that the victim was in his late teens or early twenties. However, evidence was found that the victim may have actually been in his early teens.
More DNA testing will be done in Texas in hopes of extracting new evidence from the remains. A facial reconstruction will also be done with a CT scan of the victim's skull.
It will likely take a few months to complete the new investigation, deputies said.