Authorities Confirm Remains Found in Wooded Area Belong to Missing 5-Year-Old Boy

Human remains discovered in the woods of Galax, Virginia last year have been positively identified as belonging to a 5-year-old boy who went missing over two decades ago, according to authorities.

The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office made the unsettling discovery in September 2022 and stated in a recent news release that the remains had been present in the wooded area for an “extended period of time.” After meticulous investigation, the office has now confirmed that the remains are those of Logan Nathaniel Bowman, who mysteriously disappeared in January 2003.

In their efforts to identify the remains, authorities sought assistance from a reputable Texas-based company specializing in forensic-grade genome sequencing and genetic genealogy. Utilizing advanced technology, the company successfully developed a comprehensive DNA profile of the remains. By comparing this profile with DNA samples from the child’s family members, they conclusively determined that the remains indeed belong to Logan.

Tragically, Logan’s biological mother, Cynthia Davis, and her then-boyfriend, Dennis Schermerhorn, were implicated in connection with the young boy’s disappearance. According to the sheriff’s office, Davis faced two felony charges of child neglect and one felony charge of homicide. In April 2004, she entered a plea deal and was sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by 15 years on probation, as per court documents from Grayson County.

CNN has attempted to contact Davis’s attorney for comment but has not received an immediate response.

Schermerhorn, on the other hand, was charged with one felony count of simple child neglect and received a one-year jail sentence in 2004. Court documents reveal that a murder charge and a neglect charge against him were dismissed by a judge. CNN has also reached out to attorneys listed for Schermerhorn for their perspective on the recent identification of Logan’s remains.

While the identification of Logan’s remains marks a significant breakthrough in the case, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office emphasizes that the investigation is ongoing. They anticipate bringing forth new charges as they continue to delve deeper into this heart-wrenching tragedy.