Remains of Miami Man Missing Since 1988 Identified in Key Largo

DNA testing solves 38-year-old cold case, but mystery remains around Alfonso James Spikes' disappearance and death.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 10:04pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a weathered, rusted metal object found at a crime scene, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic.A forensic investigation into decades-old evidence uncovers new clues in a long-unsolved Florida Keys murder mystery.Key Largo Today

After nearly four decades, Monroe County detectives have identified human remains found in North Key Largo in 1988 as those of Alfonso James Spikes, a 61-year-old Miami man who went missing in April of that year. The breakthrough came through renewed efforts to re-test old evidence using modern forensic tools, including advanced genetic genealogy and DNA sequencing. However, investigators still do not know how Spikes ended up in the Keys or the circumstances around his death, which was ruled a probable homicide.

Why it matters

This case highlights the power of new forensic technologies to crack long-stalled cold cases, providing closure for families and potentially reviving dormant investigations. It also underscores the persistent challenges law enforcement faces in solving mysterious disappearances and homicides, especially those that occurred decades ago.

The details

The remains were discovered on May 4, 1988, off County Road 905 in North Key Largo, covered in trash and wrapped in bedsheets with a shirt pulled over the head. The medical examiner described the remains as being in 'advanced decomposition with partial skeletonization' and ruled the cause and manner of death undetermined but a 'probable homicide'. Detectives say the breakthrough came from renewed efforts to re-test old evidence using modern forensic tools, including advanced genetic genealogy and DNA sequencing techniques that have started to pay off in several long-stalled cases around Florida.

  • The remains were discovered on May 4, 1988, in North Key Largo.
  • Alfonso James Spikes was last seen in April 1988 in Miami, after leaving his home to meet someone.
  • DNA samples submitted in 2023 and 2025 produced a match in March 2026 that led to Spikes' identification.

The players

Alfonso James Spikes

A 61-year-old Miami man whose remains were identified in 2026 after being found in North Key Largo in 1988.

Monroe County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit

The law enforcement agency that investigated the case and worked with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office to identify the remains.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement

The state agency that assisted Monroe County detectives in using advanced forensic tools, including genetic genealogy and DNA sequencing, to identify the remains.

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What’s next

Monroe County detectives say the case remains very much active and are asking anyone with information to contact the Major Crimes Unit at (305) 289-2410.

The takeaway

The identification of Alfonso James Spikes' remains after nearly four decades demonstrates the importance of persistence and the continued advancement of forensic science in solving even the most challenging cold cases. This development provides some closure for Spikes' family, but also raises new questions about the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death.