This individual was recently confirmed to have been identified. Some details may change as more information is released publicly.
Donald "Don" Boardman was a man who disappeared from Atlanta, Georgia on November 23, 1985. His body was later found in Marion County, Tennessee that year and was identified in May 2022.
Case
Donald Boardman disappeared from a health fair at a convention center shortly after purchasing a new white 1985 Chevrolet Camaro with a gold trim. He disappeared with his jacket and credit cards. He was reported missing to the Chamblee Police Department. Weeks later, law enforcement discovered the Camaro, jacket, and credit cards in East Point, Tennessee with two men and a woman inside. One of the people was a known criminal who owned a body shop.
On December 16, 1985, a fisherman discovered partial skeletal remains in a creek near Interstate 24 in Marion County. The cause of death was homicide. Decades later, stay-at-home mother and Marion County resident Barbara King Ladd read an article about the murder victim. Out of curiosity, she began checking missing persons sites from Tennessee and neighboring states. When she saw Donald's case, she "just knew it was him. If you compare the forensic drawing that was done on the Marion County John Doe to Donald Boardman, it is striking."
King sent a message to the Chamblee Police Department's Facebook page, and crime analyst Lori Bradburn was the first to see and respond to the message. Bradburn tracked Donald's sister in Florida and received her DNA sample. From her sister's DNA, the victim was identified as Donald in May 2022.
Investigators believe Donald was killed in a botched carjacking. By the time of Donald's identification, the two men had since died, and investigators were looking to contact the woman for more information.
Characteristics
- Brown hair.
- Brown eyes.
Clothing and accessories
- 'Jordache' jeans.
- 'LL Bean' long-sleeved shirt.
- Blue 'Ivey's long-sleeved oxford shirt.
- Blue labelled briefs.
- Brown belt.
