A set of human remains found along the Florida Turnpike stayed unidentified for nearly 10 years. Now, a shopper loyalty card has helped solve the cold case.
The remains were first discovered on the road in 2016, according to WESH, WFTV, and Orlando Sentinel. The only clue authorities had to identify the person was a keychain that included shopper rewards cards from Winn-Dixie and CVS.
Retired detective Michelle Grogan told reporters on Thursday, Aug. 14, that when she started the investigation, she submitted the remains to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System database (NamUS) and contacted Othram, a company that helps authorities solve cold cases, according to Orlando Sentinel.
Eighteen months later, the Winn-Dixie card matched a man named Lloyd Williams, who had been missing since 2013. Authorities contacted Williams’ son, and a DNA sample confirmed the remains belonged to Williams.
“He had been wondering what happened to his father since 2013,” Grogan said about Williams’ son. “For him to finally get some closure — he’s in his 70s and extremely grateful to the Ocoee Police Department, NamUS, and Othram for coming together and giving him his dad’s name back.”
Williams was reported missing on March 14, 2013, after his family and friends had not heard from him, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office website. He was last seen at a residence in Orlando, Fla., and he was 89 years old.
It is still unclear what happened to Williams. Some believe he may have been a victim of a burglary. After he went missing, Williams’ son went to Orlando and told authorities his home had been “ransacked,” according to WESH. Valuable items, including a television, were missing.
Williams’ case is marked “Resolved” on the sheriff’s office website, but the medical examiner listed his cause of death as suspicious, WFTV reported.
Grogan said it’s comforting to know Williams’ family has some answers. “As a wife and a mom, I can’t imagine not knowing where my person is,” she told Orlando Sentinel. “Just to hear the relief in their voice when you call them and say we think we have a lead — it’s heartwarming.”
Othram also recognized the breakthrough in Williams’ case, writing on X in part: “Everyone deserves their name back.”
