FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Police released images of new facial reconstructions from skeletal remains discovered 12 years ago in Fort Myers.
“Identifying the victim is the first and most crucial piece of the investigation,” said Chief Derrick Diggs, Fort Myers Police Department.
The Fort Myers Police Department revealed the images from their "bones case" during a press conference Monday.
“Our hope is that somebody out in the public will recognize a friend or a loved one, or someone they grew up with and reach out to law enforcement and let us know so we can identify these people,” said Samantha Steinberg, Forensic Artist, Miami-Dade Police Department.
Back in March of 2007, eight sets of remains were discovered in the eastern part of the city and the facial structures were modeled by a forensic sculptor. Three victims were identified.
Investigators say the men were murdered between 1987 and 2001 and are between the ages of 18 to 49.
“ Their DNA has been in the system for over a decade now, and so it would’ve hit if it would’ve compared to other DNA that’s in the system and it just hasn’t,” said Maalisa Langton, Homicide Detective, Fort Myes Police Department.
Detective Langton believes the five victims were never reported as missing persons.
The Lee County Medical Examiner's Office requested new facial reconstructions of the remaining skulls which they hope may lead to additional identifications.
