A man who drowned almost 50 years ago in a lake in southern Arizona has now been identified as a Canadian citizen from Ontario, local police say. Earlier this month, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office announced that the skeletal remains that were found on April 28, 1978 at Patagonia Lake State Park in Santa Cruz County are those of David Alan McInroy. Undersheriff Gerardo Castillo told CP24 on Tuesday that they do not know exactly where McInroy was from in Ontario, as that information is with the forensic team and the medical examiner. Police have, however, revealed that McInroy was born on Oct. 13, 1952, making him 26 years old when he died. At the time of the gruesome discovery, investigators determined the body was that of a young adult male, somewhere between the ages of 18 and 24. A pair of denim cut-off shorts with a “Made in Canada” tag, white Jockey-brand shorts, dark-colored socks, and ankle-high walking boots were also recovered then. “The individual also had no identification on them whatsoever,” Castillo said, adding that the poor condition of the remains ultimately made it impossible to identify the man, who became known as Santa Cruz County John Doe (1978). Case was cold for almost five decades For 48 years, the case remained unsolved. Two years ago, the local Sheriff’s Office, working with Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office, submitted the deceased’s man’s DNA to a Texas-based forensic genetic genealogy firm. Genome sequencing was performed, resulting in the creation of a comprehensive DNA profile, which ultimately led to the identification of potential relatives through a law-enforcement approved genetic database. This information was then shared with Canadian authorities, who obtained further DNA from the victim’s brother, confirming McInroy’s identity. ‘Closure to the family’ Castillo said McInroy’s family had not been in touch with him since before he came to Arizona, and had no idea he was there or if he was even alive. Nonetheless, Castillo said it’s a good thing the remains have been identified so that those who knew and loved him finally have some answers. “It gives closure to the family,” he said, noting that this is not a case of foul play. The undersheriff went on to say that there are other cold cases that DNA testing could help solve in his jurisdiction and he hopes to work with other agencies in the future to solve them.
