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#Post#: 8783--------------------------------------------------
ALACHUA JOHN DOE: WM, 30s, found in Alachua, FL - February 1979
- noose found nearby *Ralph Tufano*
By: Akoya Date: September 1, 2020, 10:02 am
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HTML https://i.imgur.com/0xr959z.jpg
ACSO discovered unidentified human remains on February 12, 1979
under a tree in the woods off State Road 236.
#Post#: 8784--------------------------------------------------
Re: ALACHUA JOHN DOE: WM, 30s, found in Alachua, FL - February 1
979 - noose found nearby
By: Akoya Date: September 1, 2020, 10:06 am
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HTML https://identifyus.org/en/cases/5286
Case Information
Status Unidentified
Case number ME78-79
Date found February 13, 1979 00:00
Date created June 02, 2009 08:52
Date last modified April 22, 2016 12:36
Investigating agency
date QA reviewed June 03, 2009 04:52
Local Contact (ME/C or Other)
Agency District 8 Medical Examiner's Office
Phone 352-273-9292
Case Manager
Name Catherine Weldon
Phone 352.273.9292
Exclusions
The following people have been ruled out as being this decedent:
First Name Last Name Year of Birth State LKA
Bobby Clyatt 1942 Florida
#Post#: 8785--------------------------------------------------
Re: ALACHUA JOHN DOE: WM, 30s, found in Alachua, FL - February 1
979 - noose found nearby
By: Akoya Date: September 1, 2020, 10:14 am
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HTML https://identifyus.org/en/cases/5286
NamUs UP # 5286
ME/C Case Number: ME78-79
Alachua County, Florida
22 to 40 year old White Male
Case Report - NamUs UP # 5286
Case Information
Status Unidentified
Case number ME78-79
Date found February 13, 1979 00:00
Date created June 02, 2009 08:52
Date last modified April 22, 2016 12:36
Investigating agency
date QA reviewed June 03, 2009 04:52
Local Contact (ME/C or Other)
Agency District 8 Medical Examiner's Office
Phone 352-273-9292
Case Manager
Name Catherine Weldon
Phone 352.273.9292
Demographics
Estimated age Adult - Pre 40
Minimum age 22 years
Maximum age 40 years
Race White
Ethnicity
Sex Male
Weight (pounds) , Cannot Estimate
Height (inches) 66, Estimated
Body Parts Inventory (Check all that apply)
All parts recovered
Head not recovered
Torso not recovered
One or more limbs not recovered
One or both hands not recovered
Body conditions
Not recognizable - Partial skeletal parts only
Probable year of death 1978 to 1979
Estimated postmortem interval 6 Months
Circumstances
Location Found
GPS coordinates
Address 1
Address 2
City
State Florida
Zip code
County Alachua
Fingerprints
Status: No fingerprint information is currently available
Clothing and Accessories
No clothing or accessories
Clothing and accessories are described below
Dental
Status: Dental information / charting is available and entered
DNA
Status: Sample submitted - Tests complete
#Post#: 8786--------------------------------------------------
Re: ALACHUA JOHN DOE: WM, 30s, found in Alachua, FL - February 1
979 - noose found nearby
By: Akoya Date: September 1, 2020, 10:17 am
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HTML https://identifyus.org/en/cases/5286
HTML https://i.imgur.com/0xr959z.jpg
HTML https://i.imgur.com/Rea6apz.jpg
#Post#: 8787--------------------------------------------------
Re: ALACHUA JOHN DOE: WM, 30s, found in Alachua, FL - February 1
979 - noose found nearby
By: Akoya Date: September 1, 2020, 10:20 am
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HTML https://i.imgur.com/6fkLuIc.gif
#Post#: 8788--------------------------------------------------
Re: ALACHUA JOHN DOE: WM, 30s, found in Alachua, FL - February 1
979 - noose found nearby
By: Akoya Date: September 1, 2020, 10:24 am
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HTML http://www.news4jax.com/news/florida/alachua-county/alachua-deputies-seek-information-on-cold-case
ALACHUA COUNTY
Alachua deputies seek information on cold case
Skeleton found under tree in 1979
By Stacey Readout - Executive producer of digital strategy
Posted: 2:37 PM, February 12, 2016
ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. - The Alachua County Sheriff's Office is
seeking information on a 37-year-old cold case.
ACSO discovered unidentified human remains on February 12, 1979
under a tree in the woods off State Road 236.
HTML http://media.news4jax.com/photo/2016/02/12/02-12%20ALACHUA%20COLD%20CASE_1455305660053_2183418_ver1.0_640_360.jpg
A small rope with a noose on it was found adjacent to the
remains.
The remains appeared to have been there for 6-12 months.
The remains belong to a white male in his early to mid-30s. He
was wearing brown lace-up shoes, brown pants, light-colored
short sleeve shirt and a light blue windbreaker jacket.
HTML http://media.news4jax.com/photo/2016/02/12/02-12%20ALACHUA%20COLD%20CASE2_1455305707713_2183419_ver1.0_640_360.jpg
Dr. William Maples, author of "Dead Men Do Tell Tales,"
conducted an analysis of the skeleton.
He determined the man was just under 5'6" with a muscular build,
light complexion and blonde or reddish hair.
HTML http://media.news4jax.com/photo/2016/02/12/02-12%20ALACHUA%20COLD%20CASE3_1455305734768_2183420_ver1.0_640_360.jpg
If you have any information on this case or any other cold case,
please contact Detective Kevin Allen at 352-384-3323.
Copyright 2016 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.
#Post#: 8789--------------------------------------------------
Re: ALACHUA JOHN DOE: WM, 30s, found in Alachua, FL - February 1
979 - noose found nearby
By: Akoya Date: September 1, 2020, 10:26 am
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HTML https://i.imgur.com/xPDWLDf.gif
#Post#: 10130--------------------------------------------------
Re: ALACHUA JOHN DOE: WM, 30s, found in Alachua, FL - February 1
979 - noose found nearby
By: Scorpio Date: December 12, 2022, 6:55 pm
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Alachua John Doe has been identified as 35-year-old Ralph Tufano
of New York.
HTML https://i.imgur.com/gsehlYv.png
#Post#: 10131--------------------------------------------------
Re: ALACHUA JOHN DOE: WM, 30s, found in Alachua, FL - February 1
979 - noose found nearby
By: Scorpio Date: December 12, 2022, 6:57 pm
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HTML https://www.wuft.org/news/2022/11/02/43-year-old-high-springs-cold-case-reopened-after-body-is-identified/
43-year-old High Springs cold case reopened after body is
identified
By Ivey Young
November 2, 2022
Although investigators finally have a name to go with the
remains of a man found more than 40 years ago, they have plenty
of questions about how Ralph Tufano’s body ended up in the woods
near High Springs.
In the winter of 1979, James Prince, a Florida Division of
Forestry employee, found a skeleton off County Road 236 in High
Springs while conducting a controlled burn.
Due to the limited technology at the time, the body remained
nameless for decades as the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office
continued the investigation to identify the victim.
Kevin Allen, the cold case detective for the sheriff’s
department, decided in 2021 to try methods that had been used to
identify the Golden State Killer. Allen sent the unidentified
remains to a Texas forensic lab which was able to use genome
sequencing to build a comprehensive DNA profile for a
genealogical database search through sites like Ancestry and
23andme.
“Someone had a great idea. Maybe we could find relatives of the
person that was responsible for those sexual batteries and
homicides,” said Allen, referring to the California case. “They
were the first ones to break (the Golden State Killer) case. I
remember seeing that on the national news and my first thought
that came to mind was, ‘Wow, I could use that for our
unidentified remains cases.’ And that’s exactly what we did with
our 1979 John Doe case.”
Allen said he sent the DNA samples to Othram, a lab in Texas,
which was able to find the best possible genetic sequencing.
With the help of volunteer genealogy expert Misty Nall and
Alachua County Sheriff’s Capt. Kaley Behl, a connection was made
between the DNA and a distant relative of Tufano.
Behl served as the liaison between the sheriff’s department and
Tufano’s family in New York and made the original call to
Tufano’s sister and Tufano’s two daughters that their missing
family member had been identified in Alachua County.
Both Allen and Behl said that their priority with this case, and
other cases, is to keep open communication and be as transparent
as possible.
“You put yourself in their shoes and you think, ‘Can you imagine
going 43 years and not knowing whatever happened to your dad, or
your brother?’” Behl said. “I can’t imagine having that unknown
for so long.”
Tufano’s sister, Theresa Tufano Narbut, said she was very
appreciative of how much effort was being put into solving this
case over the years.
“They’ve been keeping us in touch in every way, every step of
the way,” she said. “Every doubt, every positive. They’ve been
amazing. We’re ever so grateful.”
HTML https://www.wuft.org/news/files/2022/11/Ralph-Tufano-with-daughter-1-243x300.jpg
Ralph Tufano with his daughter, Maria. (Courtesy Alachua County
Sheriff’s Office)
She and the family thought at first that a random call from a
sheriff’s department in Florida, telling them they had found her
missing brother, was sure to be a hoax.
“We were just shocked,” she said. “It was very surreal.”
Now that Tufano has been identified, the sheriff’s department is
trying to figure out what brought him to Gainesville.
Tufano was a successful accountant with a family, but he
struggled with his mental health, Tufano’s family said. He had
no connection to Alachua County.
The sheriff’s department and the Tufano family are asking anyone
with information about Ralph Tufano’s last whereabouts to
contact the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.
“If you know anything, of his being there, of why he was there,
who he was with, could you please come forward?” Narbut pleaded.
“To have a little bit more closure would be even better for the
family.”
Anyone with information about Ralph Tufano is asked to contact
Cold Case Examiner Kevin Allen at kallen@alachuasheriff.org or
call (352) 384-3323.
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