New York Police Identify Remains of 1970 Homicide Victim

DNA testing links victim to Clyde A. Coppage, a Pennsylvania man who disappeared over 50 years ago

Mar. 16, 2026 at 3:30pm

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More than five decades after a man's mutilated body was found on a rural New York roadside, investigators have finally identified the victim as Clyde A. Coppage, a 35-year-old Pennsylvania resident who disappeared in 1970. Coppage's remains were exhumed in 2022 and modern DNA analysis was used to match the body to Coppage, though authorities have not disclosed a cause of death. Police believe Coppage was killed and dismembered in another location before his body was dumped in New York.

Why it matters

This case highlights the power of modern forensic technology to solve even decades-old cold cases, providing closure for victims' families and potentially leading to new investigative leads. It also underscores the challenges law enforcement faces when dealing with cases involving dismemberment, which was a tactic historically used to impede victim identification.

The details

Clyde A. Coppage's mutilated body was discovered on March 20, 1970 along Davis Hill Road in the town of Andover, New York. His head and hands were missing when the body was found. Coppage was never reported missing at the time. In June 2022, Coppage's remains were exhumed and modern DNA analysis was used by the FBI to match the body to Coppage, who was living in Genesee, Pennsylvania when he disappeared over 50 years ago. Authorities believe Coppage was killed and dismembered in another location before his body was dumped in New York, a tactic sometimes used by perpetrators to impede victim identification.

  • Clyde A. Coppage's body was discovered on March 20, 1970.
  • Coppage's remains were exhumed in June 2022.
  • DNA analysis was used to identify Coppage in 2022, over 50 years after his disappearance.

The players

Clyde A. Coppage

A 35-year-old Pennsylvania resident whose remains were identified in 2022, over 50 years after his body was discovered in New York.

New York State Police

The law enforcement agency investigating Coppage's 1970 homicide and leading the effort to identify his remains using modern DNA analysis.

FBI

Assisted the New York State Police in using DNA testing to identify Coppage's remains.

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What they’re saying

“This case highlights the power of modern forensic technology to solve even decades-old cold cases, providing closure for victims' families and potentially leading to new investigative leads.”

— New York State Police

What’s next

New York State Police are asking the public to come forward with any information about Clyde A. Coppage's life and the circumstances surrounding his death, in hopes of advancing the investigation.

The takeaway

This case demonstrates the importance of continued investigative efforts and advancements in forensic science, even for cold cases that are decades old. It provides hope that other unsolved homicides from the past may one day be cracked through the use of modern DNA analysis and other emerging technologies.