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Chilling Discovery Made in Galax, Va. After 20-Year Investigation

GALAX, Va. – In a shocking development that has sent ripples through the community, a chilling discovery has been made after a painstaking 20-year investigation. The truth, long sought after, may finally provide closure and the possibility of justice in this case, according to Dr. Kristen Mittelman, Chief Development Officer at Othram, a renowned forensic genealogy company.

For decades, justice eluded the authorities, but now, a breakthrough seems imminent. “The truth allows you to turn the page to that next chapter. Maybe getting justice in this case,” Dr. Mittelman stated.

The case in question revolves around the mysterious disappearance of five-year-old Logan Bowman back in January 2003 in Grayson County, Virginia. The investigation had hit a dead end until last year when Logan’s remains were unexpectedly discovered in the woods off of Iron Ridge Road in Galax, a shocking turn of events that left Carroll County Sheriff Kevin Kemp astounded.

“These are very rare circumstances that do not happen very often, so we understand the importance and the rarity of this circumstance. So to say I’m not in shock with the outcome I think would be understating it a little bit,” Sheriff Kemp said.

The discovery was made when a man from out of town purchased the property and stumbled upon the remains, which were concealed in a trash bag. Upon making the grim find, he immediately alerted the authorities, triggering a renewed investigation into Logan’s disappearance.

The case caught the attention of Othram, a leading forensic genealogy company based in Texas. Driven by their commitment to justice, Chief Development Officer Dr. Kristen Mittelman and her team embarked on a challenging task to identify the remains and bring closure to the case.

“We used forensics genome sequencing on the boy’s remains that were found. And they were found decades later, so you can imagine how much degradation was there,” Dr. Mittelman explained.

The process of extracting and analyzing DNA from degraded remains is complex and time-consuming. However, despite the significant challenges, Dr. Mittelman and her team were successful in tracing the DNA back to Logan. This breakthrough provides hope that further prosecution may be possible.

“It’s hard to prosecute a murder if you don’t have a body because there’s always that doubt brought in,” Dr. Mittelman emphasized.

While it is still too early to determine the specific charges, Sheriff Kemp expressed his amazement at the progress made so far. “I want people to know that we don’t give up. And you may not know every little thing going on, it may be quiet for a little while, but this is proof that just because you don’t hear something every single week, it doesn’t mean there’s not work being done,” Sheriff Kemp stated.

This latest development signifies that Logan’s case is far from over. In 2003, Logan’s mother, Cynthia Davis, and her then-boyfriend Dennis Schermerhorn were charged by Grayson County in connection with Logan’s disappearance. Davis was sentenced to 15 years for second-degree murder, while Schermerhorn’s charge of felony murder was dismissed in 2004 due to a lack of evidence.

Sheriff Kemp assured the public that all necessary steps will be taken to ensure justice is served. “We’ll do everything we can to press whatever charges need to be pressed,” he asserted.

This significant breakthrough in the Logan Bowman case has reignited hopes for justice and closure, providing a glimmer of light after two decades of darkness and uncertainty.

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