“Victim of Serial Killer Larry Eyler Identified Decades Later”

Human remains found in 1983 at an abandoned Indiana farm have been identified as those of Keith Lavell Bibbs, a Chicago teenager and victim of serial killer Larry Eyler. Eyler confessed to at least 20 killings before dying in 1994 and described killing a Black male in July 1983 at the Newton County farm. Bibbs, who was 16 at the time of his death, is the last of four victims to be positively identified. The DNA Doe Project worked with authorities to identify Bibbs using degraded DNA. The Newton County Coroner’s Office is working to send Bibbs’ remains to his relatives for burial. RICK CALLAHAN reported

Human remains discovered in 1983 at an abandoned farm in Indiana have finally been identified as those of Keith Lavell Bibbs, a Chicago teenager who fell victim to serial killer Larry Eyler. Eyler, who confessed to at least 20 murders, was serving time on death row for the 1984 killing of Danny Bridges when he died in 1994. The remains of three other young men were found alongside Bibbs, all of whom were drugged and murdered by Eyler.

The identification of Bibbs comes nearly 40 years after his remains were discovered. The DNA Doe Project, in collaboration with the Newton County Coroner’s Office, Indiana State Police, and the Identify Indiana Initiative, worked tirelessly to create a workable DNA profile from highly degraded DNA. Investigators spent over two years unraveling Bibbs’ complex family tree to make the identification possible.

With Bibbs’ identification, all four victims found buried at the abandoned farm have been positively identified. Newton County Coroner Scott McCord is now working on the necessary paperwork to send Bibbs’ remains back to his family for burial. The family has requested privacy during this time of grief.

This identification is a significant step towards closure for the families of Eyler’s victims. It highlights the tireless efforts of forensic investigators and genetic genealogists in solving cold cases and bringing justice to the families affected by these heinous crimes. The DNA Doe Project’s success in unraveling Bibbs’ family tree demonstrates the power of genetic genealogy in identifying unidentified remains and providing answers to families who have been waiting for decades.

While Eyler may no longer be alive to face justice for his crimes, the identification of Bibbs and the other victims serves as a reminder that their lives mattered. It is a testament to the determination and dedication of law enforcement and forensic experts in pursuing justice and bringing closure to families affected by cold cases..

1. Larry Eyler serial killer
2. Keith Lavell Bibbs victim
3. Newton County farm murders.