NEW CASTLE, Ind. (AP) — A body found nearly 19 years ago behind an abandoned gas station in eastern Indiana has been identified as that of a Columbus man.
Daniel Diaz was 26 at the time his body was found Oct. 2, 2003, near I-70.
He died from a gunshot wound to the head, Henry County Coroner Stacey Guffey said.
When the body was found, it had no identification with it, and fingerprints, DNA and dental records were sent to agencies with no initial success, Guffey told The Courier-Times.
When the body was found, it had no identification with it, and fingerprints, DNA and dental records were sent to agencies with no initial success, Guffey said.
“In February, I was notified by the FBI that a fingerprint confirmation was made, Guffey said.
Contacting his next of kin “required a great deal of process and investigation,” he said.
“Hearing the news of his death, the family was very distraught and emotional,” Guffey said. “After further discussion, the family decided to leave Diaz’s remains in Henry County, and they plan to visit his gravesite this year.”
Guffey requested that anyone with information on Diaz contact him at 765-646-0908.
A marker on Diaz’s gravesite was donated by a New Castle woman and reads, “Here lays a young man that only God knows.”