FBI Identifies Remains of Fugitive Who Vanished 25 Years Ago

This report is for our amateur crime sleuths who like to dip into cold cases.

About 25 years ago, local fishermen found a body that was "wrapped in heavy tire chains and anchored with a hydraulic jack.”

At the time the body was found, technology and science were not available to identify the body, but thanks to advances, authorities have now been able to identify the body.

Cold Case Closed

The body found in Lake Barkley has been identified as Roger Parham.

Parham was sought on charges related to the rape of a minor in Arkansas. His FBI profile listed him as being “very charming” and looking to pick up “odd jobs so that he can get paid in cash.”

When Parham disappeared from Arkansas, the FBI believed that he may have fled to Mexico, and he has been listed as missing ever since.

The FBI explained, "On November 21, 1998, Roger Parham was arrested for rape involving a minor. He was subsequently released on bond with conditions, by the Circuit Court of Sebastian County, Arkansas, Fort Smith District.

“Parham's bond was revoked after he failed to appear on the charge of rape.

"On June 3, 1999, a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. A federal arrest warrant was issued by the United States District Court, Western District of Arkansas, Fort Smith, Arkansas, on September 10, 1999, after Parham was charged federally with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.”

When the body was found in 1999, it was unidentifiable. Police explained, "In 2016, the body of the victim was exhumed in hopes that further examinations would help make an identification.

"Despite extensive efforts using DNA technology, dental examinations, forensic pathology, and other advanced forensic testing, the victim remained unidentified."

Kentucky State Police added, "A partnership with [the] National Missing and Unidentified Persons System and Othram Inc. allowed for advanced genealogy DNA testing of the remains. Through this testing, a relative of the unidentified person was located, which allowed investigators to identify the remains as Roger Parham.”

Due to the nature of how authorities originally found the body, Parham’s death is now being investigated as a homicide. So, police go from one cold case being solved to opening up what will likely be another cold case to solve the mystery of Parham’s death.