Buried Without a Name Found Through DNA: The Story of Danny Lee Mitchell

Advanced DNA Testing Brings Closure in Cleveland Missing Person Case

Cleveland, Ohio — April 2025

After 45 long years, authorities have finally identified the remains of Danny Lee Mitchell, a 20-year-old Cleveland man who went missing in 1980. 

This breakthrough is thanks to advanced DNA technology and the collaboration between multiple agencies, including the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).

Mitchell was last seen on April 2, 1980, at a house on Euclid Avenue in Cleveland. 

Weeks later, skeletal remains were found in an abandoned nearby residence. 

Due to the limitations of forensic science at the time, the remains went unidentified and were buried in Potter’s Field.

Decades passed without answers. 

In 2017, Mitchell’s family submitted DNA samples after seeing a clay facial reconstruction they believed resembled Danny. 

Though that case was unrelated, it reignited efforts to find him. 

His profile was entered into NamUs, a national database for missing persons.

In 2020, the 1980 remains were also entered into NamUs, sparking a match. 

Unfortunately, the only DNA sample available was degraded scalp hair without roots, which yielded no results initially. 

It wasn’t until 2023 that mitochondrial DNA analysis offered a possible maternal link to the Mitchell family.

The real breakthrough came in 2024, when NCMEC’s Children’s Justice Project funded additional forensic testing. 

Astrea Forensics was able to extract a full DNA profile from the degraded hair. 

Using GEDmatchPro, a match was made to Mitchell’s siblings, conclusively identifying the remains as Danny Lee Mitchell.

“This is why we never give up,” said Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. “Everyone counts. Everybody matters. And thanks to modern science, Danny Mitchell has finally come home.”

This case marks the first successful identification funded by the Children’s Justice Project, which aims to bring closure in long-standing cold cases involving unidentified children and young adults.

Astrea Forensics is a privately held biotechnology company, not a government agency. 

Founded in 2019 by paleogeneticists, the company specializes in applying ancient DNA techniques and direct genome sequencing to challenging forensic casework, particularly involving highly degraded human remains like rootless hair. Their proprietary methods enable the recovery of genetic profiles from samples that often fail traditional forensic DNA testing, aiding law enforcement and genetic genealogy investigators in solving cold cases.

GEDmatch PRO is a specialized forensic genetic genealogy platform designed to assist law enforcement and forensic professionals in solving cold cases and identifying unknown individuals through DNA analysis. 

It is a secure, dedicated portal that operates separately from GEDmatch's public genealogy tools, ensuring that investigative activities are distinct from standard genealogical research.