Accident – death – Obituary News :

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Identifies Victim Found Submerged in Lake in Decades-Old Cold Case

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has recently made a significant breakthrough in a long-standing cold case, identifying the victim found submerged in a lake nearly four decades ago. The unidentified body, weighted down by two cement blocks and shot multiple times, was discovered on August 3, 1986, in Crater Lake, located in the Conroe area.

Responding to the incident, deputies from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the scene at approximately 5:00 p.m. after receiving reports of a human body partially submerged in the water. Upon recovery, it was revealed that the victim had been intentionally weighed down by two cement cinder blocks, attached to an electrical cord. An autopsy later confirmed that the victim had sustained multiple gunshot wounds.

The identity of the victim has now been positively established as Clarence Lynn Wilson, born on February 8, 1952, with a last known address in Texas City, Texas. This breakthrough marks a crucial step forward in the cold case, finally providing closure to the victim’s identity after almost forty years.

Originally described as a white male, aged between 20 and 30, standing at approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall, and weighing around 133 pounds, the victim possessed distinct physical features. Notably, he had collar-length reddish-brown hair, decaying teeth, and several unique tattoos. These tattoos included a small devil with a painted tail on his left lower arm, the name “Liz” on his left upper arm, and the words “Baby Dawn” on his right upper arm. Additionally, the victim had a pierced left earlobe. At the time of the incident, he was wearing a brown short-sleeve shirt, white athletic socks, and blue denim jeans (size 30 waist, 31 length).

Despite previous efforts in 2015 to identify the victim through DNA extraction and entry into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), the case remained unsolved. However, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Detectives, in collaboration with advancements in DNA technology, achieved a breakthrough in May 2023.

Further exhumation of the remains allowed for the extraction of DNA specifically for Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG). The genetic material obtained was subsequently analyzed at Othram Lab in The Woodlands, where a genealogy assessment was conducted. This assessment successfully identified a potential family member residing in California, leading to targeted DNA testing.

In October 2023, Othram Lab confirmed a familial match between the unknown remains and the identified family member in California, solidifying Clarence Lynn Wilson’s identity.

The investigation into Clarence Lynn Wilson’s homicide is currently ongoing, with authorities urging anyone with information concerning Clarence or the circumstances surrounding his death to come forward. Individuals can contact the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Squad at 936-760-5820 or Multi-County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-392-STOP [7867].

This breakthrough serves as a testament to the relentless pursuit of justice, as investigators continue to piece together the events leading to Clarence Lynn Wilson’s tragic demise.

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