Kansas finally identifies teen murder victim missing for over 50 years
- Advanced DNA testing recently identified a cold case victim as Jimmy Allen Dollison.
- His remains were discovered in Kansas in 1973, and he had been reported missing in late 1972.
- The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are seeking further information about Dollison's death.
In Kansas, decades of mystery surrounding unidentified remains have ended, as advanced DNA testing has led to the identification of a murder victim. The remains were discovered on April 18, 1973, three miles southeast of Garnett, Kansas. Authorities found that the victim was a young man, approximately 16 years old, who had been reported missing by his family in late 1972. Despite repeated attempts by officials to identify the remains through the years, efforts were unsuccessful until recently when the Kansas Bureau of Investigation collaborated with the forensic company Othram. In 2024, DNA from the remains was extracted for forensic genetic genealogy testing, marking a pivotal moment in this cold case. Othram specializes in using genealogy to help solve unresolved murders, and this case was part of their Project 525 initiative, aimed at resolving numerous juvenile cases listed as missing or unidentified. In early 2025, Othram reported that they had identified a match with the siblings of the deceased after tracing genetic information back to them. Jimmy Allen Dollison was confirmed to be the unidentified boy, and he went missing approximately six months before the discovery of his remains. Family members reported his disappearance to authorities, but they had never received answers regarding his fate until now. Officials noted that Dollison had been living in Kansas City, Kansas prior to his disappearance, which occurred around October or November in 1972. At the time remains were found, coroner reports indicated signs of trauma leading to the ruling of a homicide. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation, in conjunction with the Anderson County Sheriff's Office, continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding Dollison's death to ascertain what happened during the crucial time leading to his disappearance. They have called for anyone with information to come forward to assist in piecing together the events from the past. The identification of Dollison is significant not only for his family, who endured years of uncertainty and grief but also reflects the advancements in forensic technology that allow for cold cases to be revisited and solved decades later.