A John Doe whose remains were found in a wooded area of DeBary in 1997 has been identified as Ryan L. Stone, thanks to advancements in forensic genetic genealogy testing.
Stone, who was 22 years old when he was last seen by his family in 1994, was identified by Othram Labs, a forensic genealogy company working with the Volusia Sheriff’s Office and Medical Examiner’s Office to solve cold cases.
READ :Pasco Sheriff’s Office Releases Victim Information In Zephyrhills Shooting
Othram began working on the case in February 2024 and, by July, had identified a potential father for the John Doe living in Seminole County. DNA testing confirmed the match, bringing closure to a family who had been searching for answers for nearly three decades.
Land surveyors discovered Stone’s skeletal remains in November 1997 off Fort Florida Road in DeBary. The cause and manner of his death remain undetermined, but there were no signs of foul play at the scene.
Detectives learned that Stone had gone through a difficult breakup in 1993-1994 and had left home to take some time for himself. His parents described him as a loving and caring person with no history of suicidal thoughts or substance abuse.
READ :Without A Trace: Florida Woman, Abby Lynn Patterson, Vanished In North Carolina In 2017
The Volusia Sheriff’s Office is encouraging anyone with information about Ryan Stone around the time of his death to contact the Major Case Unit at 386-245-1535 or email Detective Teske at dteske@volusiasheriff.gov.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
