This individual was recently confirmed to have been identified. Some details may change as more information is released publicly.
Kenneth Robert McCarthy (born 1961) was a man whose skeletal remains were found in a sleeping bag in a wooded area behind a Walmart in Charlotte, North Carolina, on January 29, 2016.
He was identified with assistance from Othram and Ramapo College in November 2025.
Background[]
McCarthy was originally from New Jersey and worked in the IT industry, but was living in North Carolina when he was last heard from in 2013.
Case[]
Because of the location where he was found, McCarthy was suspected of experiencing homelessness when he died. No cause of death could be ascertained. Possessions found with his body included a yearbook. However, it was too degraded to provide any useful information.
A bone sample was provided to Othram in 2022 to create a DNA profile. Genetic genealogical research conducted by Ramapo College found that he was of Irish descent and may have had ancestors who lived in New York City.
Clothing and accessories[]
- Long-sleeved blue T-shirt with "NYPD" emblem.
- Light blue Stafford shirt.
- Red thermal shirt.
- Degraded yearbook - no information could be gleaned from the yearbook in its state.