CANTON, Ohio — Stark County officials, along with investigators from the Ohio Attorney General's office have revealed the identity of a man who was found dead in 2020.
Through advanced DNA testing, investigators have identified the man as Michael Leach, who was born in 1957 and last lived in Dover. In addition, they say Leach had a criminal history and spent most of his time in Tuscarawas County.
"Identifying Michael Leach after so many years brings a sense of closure to his family and the community," said Stark County Sheriff George Maier. "This achievement underscores the importance of collaboration and the relentless pursuit of justice by our dedicated team and community partners. Our investigation continues, and we urge anyone with information to come forward."
The full press conference can be watched below:
The identification comes after the Stark County Sheriff’s Office took the case to the DNA Doe Project in order to investigate genetic genealogy.
Officials believe that Leach was around 61 years old at the time of his death. The cause of his death remains unknown.
The following individuals spoke at the press conference:
- Stark County Sheriff George T. Maier
- Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost
- BCI Criminal Intelligence Analyst Samantha Molnar
“When an unknown person is identified, dignity is restored, and there is a renewal of hope for justice,” Yost said. “I commend the efforts of BCI and Sheriff Maier for restoring Michael Leach’s identity. Those who loved and knew him can now grieve their friend.”
In Aug. 2021, officials and investigators gathered to unveil a forensic facial reconstruction of the then-unidentified man.
According to Sheriff Maier, the remains of the unidentified "John Doe" were found on March 31, 2020, in the 5200 block of Sandy Avenue SE in Canton. The male was located next to an oil well site about 20 yards from the street. The remains were completely skeletal, and the male was estimated to have been deceased at least two years.
In 2021, the Attorney General's Office previously said that the victim was believed to be somewhere between the age of 30-50, with a height range of between 5'1" to 5'9". When found, he was wearing a striped t-shirt with navy blue, yellow, and white colors. He also had black shorts and athletic shoes on.
In addition, the victim likely did not have any teeth and may have previously suffered rib fractures that had healed.
At this time, the investigation into Leach’s death is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Stark County Sheriff's Office at 330-430-3800.