Embedded Files
If you are a relative and need information or assistance with reclaiming your loved one, please contact the DeKalb County Medical Examiners Office and report your information to:
Deputy Chief Investigator Kyle McGlamery or Deputy Chief Investigator Jess Dillard.
Santos-Velasco's Drivers License Photo
Guillermo Santos-Velasco
Guillermo Santos-Velasco
Identified April 4, 2025
Guillermo Santos-Velasco, previously unidentified, was discovered deceased in an empty lot on Reeves Street and Lu Jan Drive in Atlanta (Chamblee) on August 7, 2016. He was found wearing a black Rolling Stones t-shirt, black jeans, black shoes and a camouflage belt. A white and blue NY style baseball cap was also found near him.
The DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office performed an autopsy and ruled Santos-Velasco's death was a homicide.
Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as #UP60756.
NamUs contacted the Medical Examiner's Office to request higher quality photos of the victim's fingerprints and those fingerprints confirmed the remains were those of Guillermo Santos-Velasco, 26.
Anyone with information about Santos-Velasco's murder should contact Chamblee Police Department Sgt. L. Tran at 470-595-2349.
Artist Rendering
Eden's Drivers License Photo
Ernesto Eden
Ernesto Eden
Identified December 10, 2024
Ernesto Eden, previously unidentified, was discovered deceased behind a store on Columbia Drive in Decatur on February 6, 2022. He appeared to be unhoused and living behind the business. Eden did not have any identification and his fingerprints did not generate a match in the Automated Fingerprint Identification system, or AFIS.
Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as #UP103162.
The Task Force was able to locate two potential relatives in Georgia and another in Nevada. Using existing DNA profiles for two of the relatives and a new sample from the third, Othram, a private lab in The Woodlands, Texas, confirmed the remains were those of Ernesto Eden, 58.
Artist Rendering
Prater's Drivers License Photo
Terry Prater
Terry Prater
Identified December 10, 2024
Terry Prater, previously unidentified, was found deceased in a wooded area off Lawrenceville Highway in Tucker on November 12, 2021 by a survey team for the Georgia Department of Transportation. He was discovered with a pair of gray New Balance sneakers, dark pants, a tan and white striped shirt and a navy blue windbreaker.
Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as #UP101181.
Prater's mother had reported him missing on June 20, 2021. He has been dropped off at a bus station in Lexington, Ky. to come visit her in Savannah, Ga., but never arrived.
The Task Force submitted a DNA sample from Prater's mother to Othram, a private lab in The Woodlands, Texas, which confirmed the remains were those of Terry Prater, 26.
Artist Rendering
Lewis' Drivers License Photo
Harold Dean Lewis
Harold Dean Lewis
Identified October 30, 2024
Harold Dean Lewis, previously unidentified, was discovered in a wooded area off Wesley Chapel Road in May 2021. A man flying a drone lost control and it crashed. When he went to search for the drone, he found a human skull and called 911. Officers from the DeKalb County Police Department and staff from the DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office were able to locate more remains in the surrounding area.
Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as #UP101174.
In October 2024, investigators identified Lewis through a DNA match in the Combined DNA Index System, known as CODIS. Mr. Lewis was born in July 1955. His age at death is undetermined.
Ivey's Drivers License Photo
Gregory Ivey
Gregory Ivey
Identified October 23, 2024
On May 11, 2015, a skull was found in the rear of the A+ Auto Repair lot located at 7719 Covington Hwy in Lithonia. It was believed that the skull was most likely brought there by an animal. Law enforcement conducted a search of the immediate area, but no other evidence was located.
On August 8, 2015, investigators responded to 2699 Klondike Road in Lithonia. A landscaping crew was clearcutting the area of an abandoned house. The mower ran over the remains of a skeleton. A sergeant with the Lithonia Police Department on scene thought he may know who the person was as they had contact with him at the location in the past.
There was evidence that the man, identified as Gregory Ivey, 54, was sleeping on the concrete porch of the house. It appeared animal activity had resulted in moving Mr. Ivey's remains into the yard a few feet away from the porch. Some the remains were destroyed by the mower, so they were not able to recover all of them, notably the skull. Lithonia Police contacted Mr. Ivey's family who provided a DNA sample for comparison. The Medical Examiner's Office arranged for a DNA comparison of the remains to his suspected relatives utilizing the FBI Lab. Testing confirmed a familial relationship. Mr. Ivey's mother said she last saw her son in February 2015.
Through a CODIS search in 2024, the DeKalb County Cold Case Task Force was able to confirm that the skull found in May 2015 belonged to Mr. Ivey.
Artist Rendering
Armstrong's Drivers License Photo
Steve Armstrong
Steve Armstrong
Identified September 20, 2024
Steve Armstrong, previously unidentified, was transported to Atlanta Medical Center on September 24, 2018 after suffering an apparent cardiac arrest inside the restaurant at a Pilot Travel Center on Bouldercrest Road in Atlanta. He did not survive. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as #UP61155.
In 2024, the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram, a private lab in The Woodlands, Texas. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the forensic evidence and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown man. A reference sample was collected from a potential relative and compared to the DNA profile of the man. This investigation led to the positive identification of Steve Armstrong, 59, of Jackson, Tennessee.
Artist Rendering
Campbell's Drivers License Photo
Josiah Campbell
Josiah Campbell
Identified June 19, 2024
Josiah Campbell, previously unidentified, was found deceased in the woodline behind a business located at 3217 Lawrenceville Highway in Tucker, Georgia. He was found wearing blue jeans, a white sock, and a silver stone stud earring. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as #UP101168.
In 2024, the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram, a private lab in The Woodlands, Texas. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the forensic evidence and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown man. A reference sample was collected from a potential relative and compared to the DNA profile of the man. This investigation led to the positive identification of 18-year-old Josiah Campbell, who was missing from Snellville, Georgia. Campbell was last seen on September 25th, 2020.
If you have any information relating to the murder of Josiah Campbell, please contact Detective Crowe with the DeKalb County Police Department at (770) 724-7850 or click here to make an anonymous call to the DKDA Cold Case Tip Line at (404) 371-2444.
Stafford's Drivers License Photo
Jacqueline Stafford
Jacqueline Stafford
Identified August 23, 2023
Jacqueline Stafford, 69, previously unidentified, was found deceased near a gas station in Tucker, Georgia on May 4, 2022. She appeared to be living behind a fenced-off area next to the business.
In August 2023, investigators idenfied Stafford through a DNA match in the Combined DNA Index System, known as CODIS.
Her cause of death was undetermined.
If you have any information relating to the death of Jacqueline Stafford please click here to make a call to the DKDA Cold Case Tip Line at (404) 371-2444.
Artist Rendering
Carlos Alexi Castillo-Perez
Carlos Alexi Castillo-Perez
Identified March 13, 2023
On January 10, 2006, Carlos Alexi Castillo-Perez was attempting to cross I-85 near Shallowford Road when he was struck by a car and died. His death was determined to be an accident. Castillo-Perez was identified through fingerprint records.
Artist Rendering
Ore Pearson
Ore Pearson
Identified February 14, 2023
On October 6, 1989, Ore Pearson, previously unidentified, was crossing the street at the intersection of Oakview Drive and Second Avenue in Decatur when he was struck by a car. Pearson was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital, but died of his injuries.
He was identified using fingerprints in 2023.
Please contact the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office Cold Case Tip Line at (404) 371-2444 if you have any information on this case or click here to make the call anonymously.
Computer Rendering
Burke's Photo
Rebecca "Becky" Burke
Rebecca "Becky" Burke
Identified January 21, 2023
On September 17,1993, the remains of a Caucasian female were found in a wooded strip off of Northlake Parkway on the West side of Interstate 285. She was found clothed in a black T-shirt with a multi-colored monogram on the front that reads "WAIKOLOA," blue jeans, and white leather athletic shoes bearing the phrase "Cross Trainer."
Investigators identified the woman as Rebecca "Becky" Burke through an emerging investigative technique called Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG). The DeKalb County District Attorney's Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram, a private lab in The Woodlands, Texas. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the forensic evidence and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown woman. A reference sample was collected from a potential relative and compared to the DNA profile of the woman. This investigation led to the positive identification of Rebecca Burke.
If you have any information relating to the murder of Becky Burke please click here to make a call to the DKDA Cold Case Tip Line at (404) 371-2444.
Artist Rendering
Alvin Smith
Alvin Smith
Identified 2023
On June 10, 2013, a group of juveniles were playing at an abandoned apartment complex at 1539 Bouldercrest Road when they discovered a human skull inside one of the units. They realized the skull was real and called 911. An investigator with the DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office went out to the scene and found several items with the name Alvin Smith on them, though his identity could not be confirmed at the time.
Smith was positively identified in 2023 through traditional investigative means.
Smith's cause of death is undetermined.
If you have any information relating to the death of Alvin Smith please click here to make a call to the DKDA Cold Case Tip Line at (404) 371-2444.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse