KINGMAN – A Texas-based laboratory has identified a homicide victim whose remains were discovered outside Kingman more than 27 years ago. Previous investigation determined the remains were those of an unidentified black male adult who was shot in the head.
Two men hunting for rocks while walking their dogs came upon the shallow gravesite on Jan. 22, 1996, according to Mohave County Sheriff’s office public information assistant Jody Schanaman. She said the remains were recovered near a large rock formation and under a juniper tree north of Stockton Hill Road about three miles outside the city limits.
Local authorities engaged the same Othram, Inc. lab that has determined the identities of multiple decedants for the sheriff’s office.
“Using advanced DNA testing, Forensic Genome Sequencing and forensic genetic genealogy, they were able to identify the victim as Sherman George from Los Angeles County, California,” Schanaman said. She said George had been known to frequent the desert in southern California and Mohave County with his former Army friends.
“He was estranged from his family, so he was never reported missing,” Schanaman said of George. “He was last seen by them in late 1994.”
Anyone with information regarding the case or George’s military and post-military activity is encouraged to contact the sheriff’s office (928-753-0753, ext. 4288.)
“The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to Othram Inc. for their continued assistance in identifying the John/Jane Doe victims in Mohave County,” Schanaman said.
