This individual was recently confirmed to have been identified. Some details may change as more information is released publicly.
Stephen Shawn "Steve" Austin (born September 22, 1979) was a teenager whose remains were found in Madison County, Mississippi, in 2018.
He was identified by Othram in November 2024.
Case[]
On August 19, 1997, Austin was seen walking to school in El Paso, Texas, but did not arrive. He had recently been in legal trouble and had disappeared the day before his first meeting with his parole officer. One of his cousins reportedly saw him in 1999, but this has not been confirmed.
In 2018, Austin's remains were found in Madison County, Mississippi.
Identification[]
On May 23, 2024, Othram had launched Project 525, which aims to resolve the cases of 525 unidentified juveniles. That June, the Mississippi state medical examiner submitted evidence to Othram, who were able to identify a possible relative of the decedent. After comparing their DNA with the decedent, the remains were confirmed to belong to Austin.
Characteristics[]
- Black hair.
- Brown eyes.
- Scars on both sides of neck and nose.
- Pierced right ear.
- History of alcohol abuse.
- Acne.
- Heart and sinus problems.
Clothing and accessories[]
- White T-shirt.
- Dark blue or brown pants or possibly jeans.
- White sneakers.
- Round gold earring in right ear.
Gallery[]
Sources[]
- DNASolves
- NCMEC (archived)
- Steve Austin at the Charley Project