Description
On March 7, 1992 workers removing gas service found human skeletal remains inside a vacant business under a set of metal school lockers in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. On the remains were a pair of Fruit of the Loom jockey shorts (size 30-32), a pair of red/white stripped shorts with “Yacht Club” logo, cotton blue jeans, and white socks. He had a white t-shirt in his pocket with a “Myrtle Beach” logo on the front and back (size small), next to the body were a dark blue or black zippered jacket, pink button-down shirt, a white tennis shoe (size 8 1/2-9) and a pair of black rubber boots (size 12C and estimated to be too large for our victim). Forensic investigators determined the remains were that of a 15-35 year old white male with a thin build, 5’8″ to 5’11” tall, weighing approximately 145 lbs. The young man had somewhat straight, short to medium length, blonde/brown hair. There was evidence of a healed fracture to his right forearm from an injury earlier in life. Authorities speculate the deceased died from stab wounds 1 to 3 years prior to being found.
NamUs ID: 7385
NCMEC ID: 1107687
Date Body Found: March 7, 1992
Race: White / Caucasian
Gender: Male
Estimated Age: 15-35
Estimated PMI: 1-3 Years
Location: St. Louis, MO
Agency of Jurisdiction
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department
Heather Sabin, Detective
314-444-5371
[email protected]
Link to More Information
https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/7385/
http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1781ummo.html
https://unidentified.wikia.org/wiki/St._Louis_John_Doe_(1992)
https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMU/1107687
Status: Identified
Human skeletal remains found in a vacant business in 1992 have been identified as Tymon Joseph Emily. Workers removing a gas service line found human skeletal remains inside a vacant business in March, 1992. Authorities at the time were unable to identify the man, who they believe died of stab wounds 1-3 years before he was found.
Over the years, detectives received many leads from the public. None matched dental records and other known details. In 2004, a DNA profile was developed which was later uploaded to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) used by law enforcement, but it did not generate any matches.
In 2012, the case was entered into the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children database (NCMEC), and Detective Heather Sabin began a 10-year campaign to solve it. DNA analysis and profiling had been done by several labs. In 2021, Detective Sabin brought the case to the DNA Doe Project. After a fresh DNA sample was sent for processing, a profile was uploaded to the public DNA databases GEDmatch and FTDNA. Investigative genetic genealogists began their work early this year and were able to identify Tymon Joseph Emily as the likely candidate within a week.
“We had a handful of 2nd-3rd cousin matches and once we built down his family tree to his potential grandparents, we were quickly able to find Tymon,” said DNA Doe Project investigative genealogist Tracie Boyle. “He had been reported missing in 1991 and there was a Find-A-Grave entry with the word ‘missing’ engraved on his headstone. He shared his grandfather’s name.”
The DNA Doe Project wishes to acknowledge the contributions of the groups and individuals who helped solve this case: the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, who entrusted the case to the DNA Doe Project; Lakehead University Paleo-DNA Lab for extraction of DNA from bone; HudsonAlpha Discovery for whole genome sequencing; Kevin Lord of Saber Investigations for bioinformatics; GEDmatch for providing their database; our generous donors who contributed to this case; and DDP’s dedicated teams of volunteer investigative genetic genealogists who work tirelessly to bring victims home.
Image Credit: NCMEC
Last Updated: February 12, 2024
