18-03-2025
Man whose remains were found in 2001 identified as missing Michigan man
CANTON, Ohio (WJW) – With the help of advanced DNA technology, a man whose remains were found in Canton more than two decades ago has been formally identified.
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During a press conference Tuesday afternoon at the Stark County Sheriff's Office, the man, known previously as 'Stark County John Doe' was identified as Anthony Gulley of Pontiac, Michigan.
Stark County Sheriff Eric Weisburn said Gulley was 24-years-old when he was shot and killed in Michigan. His body was then moved to Trump Road SE in Canton Township where skeletal remains were found in December of 2001.
It's a case, Weisburn said, that has 'been weighing very heavily on the hearts and minds of this office for more than 20 years.'
Gulley, who was a father of two, had last been seen by his sister on Sept. 3, 1994. He failed to show up to work on Sept. 5, authorities said, and was declared a missing person by the Pontiac Police Department on Sept. 11.
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In September of 2023, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Stark County Sheriff's Office released a clay facial reconstruction in hopes of gaining tips from the public. While a few new leads were generated, Weisburn said they did not help lead to an identification.
The Stark County Sheriff's Office worked in conjunction with the DNA Doe Project which is a nonprofit that provides genetic genealogy research to law enforcement, medical examiners and coroners.
Through different forms of DNA testing and research, the organization was able to identify Anthony Gulley as a possible match which was ultimately confirmed.
'Our hearts go out to his family and friends at this time. May his memory be a source of solace and blessing for his family and everyone who knew him,' said Traci Onders with the DNA Doe Project.
BCI Criminal Intelligence Analyst Samantha Reeb said Gulley's identification was a result of persistent work at the hands of teams of dedicated people.
'Though these cases can sometimes go unsolved for decades, there's countless individuals who dedicate their careers to trying to solve these cold cases,' Reeb said.
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Additionally, Stark County authorities identified George Frederick Washington, also known as Ricky Washington, as the suspect in Gulley's death.
Washington, who had ties to the Akron area, engaged in a shootout with the FBI and Akron Police in 1994 and suffered multiple gunshot wounds before he took his own life, Sgt. Bryan Johnson with the Stark County Sheriff's Office said.
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