Human Remains Found Near Turnpike Identified After 9 Years Thanks to Supermarket Loyalty Card
NEED TO KNOW
A set of human remains found nearly 10 years ago have finally been identified
The remains were first discovered in 2016 alongside the Florida Turnpike
A keychain that included shopper rewards cards from Winn-Dixie and CVS became the only clue
A set of human remains found alongside the Florida Turnpike went unidentified for nearly 10 years. Now, a shopper loyalty card has helped solve the cold case.
The remains were first discovered on the road in 2016, according to WESH, WFTV and Orlando Sentinel. The only clue that authorities had to identify the deceased was a keychain that included shopper rewards cards from Winn-Dixie and CVS.
Retired detective Michelle Grogan told reporters on Thursday, Aug. 14, that when she began investigating, she submitted the remains to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System database (NamUS) and contacted Othram, a company that helps authorities solve cold cases, per Orlando Sentinel.
Eighteen months later, the Winn-Dixie card ultimately matched with a man named Lloyd Williams, who had been missing since 2013. Authorities contacted Williams' son and his DNA sample confirmed that the remains belonged to Williams.
'He had been wondering what happened to his father since 2013,' Grogan said of Williams' son. 'For him to finally get some closure — he's in his 70s and he's just extremely grateful to the Ocoee Police Department, NamUs and Othram for coming together and giving him his dad's name back.'
Williams was reported missing on March 14, 2013, after his family and friends had not heard from him, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office website. Williams was last seen at a residence in Orlando, Fla. He was 89 years old.
It's still unclear what happened to Williams. There is speculation that he was a victim of a burglary. After he went missing, Williams' son went to Orlando and told authorities his home had been "ransacked," according to WESH. Valuable items such as a television were also missing.
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Williams' case has been marked "Resolved" on the sheriff's office website; however, the medical examiner has listed his cause of death as suspicious, WFTV reported.
Grogan said there is comfort in knowing Williams' family has some answers. 'As a wife and a mom, I can't imagine not knowing where my person is,' she told Orlando Sentinel. 'Just to be able to hear the relief in their voice when you call them and say we think we have a lead, it's heartwarming.'
Othram also acknowledged the break in Williams' case, writing in part via X, "Everyone deserves their name back."
PEOPLE reached out to the Ocoee Police Department and Orange County Sheriff's Office for comment.
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