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Forrest

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"Forrest" was a man whose skeletal remains were discovered between newly planted trees at a rest area off Interstate 10 in Columbia County, Florida, in 1978. 

Case[]

On November 24, 1978, a man discovered skeletal remains near a rest area off Interstate 10 West in Columbia County while searching for a deer struck by his truck. The remains were found in freshly planted pines on the rest area property, covered in approximately three inches of dirt and pine needles.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Columbia County Sheriff's Office investigated the scene, yet a complete recovery of the remains proved unsuccessful.

Following an initial investigation, the case was shelved for several years until 1996 - when Deputy Robert Johnson of the Columbia County Sheriff's Office located a box of bones associated with the 1978 incident. Collaborating with forensic artists from the FBI and Anne Coy of the Seminole County Sheriff's Office, a composite sketch and clay bust of the John Doe, nicknamed "Forrest," was created.

Deputy Johnson also developed an IdentiKit sketch and extracted mitochondrial DNA from the bones for potential identification. "Forrest" was uploaded to NamUs in 2008 by Florida's District 4 Medical Examiner's Office.

In 2019, Anthony Redgrave of Redgrave Research Forensic Services with Jason Futch, an independent researcher, facilitated the update of "Forrest's" facial reconstruction after two decades. Their efforts prompted the CCSO to approve the new facial approximation to generate fresh leads. In May 2019, the CCSO issued a statement on Facebook alongside Redgrave's reconstruction, stating there was no foul play in the case.

Characteristics[]

  • Healed fracture of the left foot, possibly turning outward while walking, perhaps with a noticeable limp.
  • Arthritis in the spine and severe arthritis in the left hip
  • Possibly left hip injury.
  • Several healed unspecified facial fractures.
  • Healed fracture to the nose.
  • Numerous amalgam fillings and one porcelain filling.
  • Severe periodontal disease.

Exclusions[]

Gallery[]

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