Sketch Released in Case of Unidentified Latino Man Found in Lancaster County

Authorities hope public can help identify remains discovered in 2024

Mar. 21, 2026 at 12:14pm

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Lancaster County authorities have released a computer-generated sketch of a young Latino man whose skeletal remains were found in a wooded area in November 2024. Investigators are asking the public for any information that could help identify the man, whose age and height are estimated based on forensic analysis.

Why it matters

The case has remained a mystery since the remains were discovered over two years ago, and officials are hoping the new sketch will generate leads that could finally provide answers about the man's identity and how he died.

The details

A utility worker found the human bones in a wooded area off Bethel Road east of the Catawba River on November 13, 2024. Forensic analysis indicates the remains belong to a Latino male around 25 years old and approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall, though officials caution the age and height are only estimates. Authorities have not matched the remains to any missing person reports, and the cause of death is still unknown.

  • The remains were discovered on November 13, 2024.
  • The sketch was released by authorities on March 21, 2026.

The players

Karla Knight-Deese

The Lancaster County coroner who had the bones analyzed by a forensic anthropologist and genetics company before the composite image was produced.

Barry Faile

The Lancaster County sheriff who said the remains appeared to have been exposed to the elements for years.

Doug Barfield

A spokesman for the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office who stated that "nothing has told us yet how he died."

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What they’re saying

“Nothing has told us yet how he died.”

— Doug Barfield, Spokesman, Lancaster County Sheriff's Office

What’s next

Investigators are asking anyone with information about the man or the area where the bones were found to call the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office tip line at 803-283-3388 or Midlands Crime Stoppers at 888-CRIME-SC.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in identifying unidentified remains, even with the help of advanced forensic techniques like genetic genealogy and DNA phenotyping. The public's assistance is crucial in providing leads that could finally solve this long-standing mystery.