Remains found in Alabama nearly 30 years ago identified as missing Georgia man
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- Remains found near Interstate 65 in Alabama in 1997 identified as Georgia man Jimmy Monroe Pitts using advanced DNA testing.
- Sheriff's office concludes investigation with no evidence of foul play; family finally receives answers after nearly 30 years.
Human remains discovered near Interstate 65 in Atmore, Alabama, nearly 30 years ago have been identified as a Georgia man who had been reported missing from West Point.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday, Nov. 12, that the remains have been identified as Jimmy Monroe Pitts, who was born Feb. 21, 1953.
The skeletal remains were discovered on May 18, 1997, near Interstate 65 in Atmore. Despite investigative efforts over the years, authorities were unable to determine the individual’s identity due to the condition of the remains and the limitations of forensic technology at the time.
The case received renewed attention in 2020 when Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigator Lindsey Miles began efforts to identify the individual. Miles coordinated with several forensic organizations in an attempt to obtain advanced DNA testing.
After multiple unsuccessful attempts, DNA Labs International successfully extracted and sequenced DNA from the remains in 2025, allowing forensic genetic genealogy research to move forward.
In August 2026, Moxxy Forensic Investigations identified Pitts as a potential match.
Investigators with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office then traveled to Georgia to collect a DNA reference sample from Pitts’ sister. DNA Labs International conducted the comparison, providing the scientific evidence needed to confirm his identity.
Sheriff Heath Jackson credited several individuals and organizations for their contributions to the nearly three-decade investigation, including Olivia McCarter, the Cold Case Coalition, Dr. Kenneth Woodward of Brewton Dental, DNA Labs International and Moxxy Forensic Investigations.
Jackson said the identification highlights the importance of persistence in cold cases and the advancements in forensic technology that can help bring answers to families years after someone disappears.
“Most importantly, after nearly three decades, Jimmy Monroe Pitts has his name back, and his family can finally receive answers,” Jackson said.
The sheriff’s office confirmed the investigation has concluded, with no evidence indicating foul play.
The identification brings an end to nearly 30 years of uncertainty surrounding the remains discovered in Atmore and provides answers to a family in West Point, Georgia.
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