CLEARWATER, FL – The quiet surf of Clearwater Beach held a mystery for over three decades, one that haunted a family far from Florida’s shores. On November 29, 1993, the body of an unidentified man, aged between 60 and 80, was discovered along the coastline. Without identification, he became known as Pinellas County John Doe, a name that persisted for 31 long years.
The case took a pivotal turn when Casey Conley, an Illinois resident, stumbled upon the case while sifting through a database of missing and unidentified individuals. “There was something about the photo,” Conley said, reflecting on the moment she felt a connection to the unknown figure. Conley, who co-founded Moxy Forensic Investigations, a nonprofit organization, has dedicated herself to using genetic genealogy to unravel cold cases.
In June of the previous year, Conley reached out to the Clearwater Police Department. The authorities, in possession of bone dust from the unidentified man, agreed to send it for DNA analysis. The results, derived from a minuscule vial of DNA, offered a breakthrough.
Months of meticulous analysis led to the identification of the man as Edmund Eric Gleed, who was 84 years old at the time of his disappearance. Originally from Fairfax, Virginia, Gleed’s mystery began when he vanished the day after Thanksgiving in 1993. His son, now 94 and residing in North Carolina, had been living with the questions of his father’s fate lingering in his heart.
The emotions were palpable when Clearwater police reached out to Gleed’s son. “It was heart-wrenching,” a detective recounted, noting the raw emotion that surfaced despite the passage of time. For over three decades, Gleed’s son wondered about his father’s wellbeing, unaware that his journey had ended just two days after his disappearance.
It was revealed that Gleed might have been in the early stages of dementia when he left his Fairfax home. Despite his son filing a missing persons report and searching tirelessly, the distance and lack of information kept them apart.
Edmund Gleed was remembered as a dedicated provider, a hat manufacturer who worked diligently until he no longer could. He was cherished as a father and grandfather, leaving a legacy of love and care.
While the full narrative of how Gleed ended up in Florida may never be uncovered, the resolution of this case has provided a long-awaited sense of closure. A John Doe now has his name back, and a father has been returned to his son, bringing an end to a chapter of uncertainty and heartache.