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A Porchlight Project Exclusive: 1988 Paris Township John Doe Identified as David Kaziateck

By Carolyn Berardino After 35 years, The Portage County Sheriff’s Office, with help from Ohio’s BCI, has identified a John Doe, whose remains were found partially buried in a shallow grave in Paris Township in 1988. In August 2023, detectives … Continue reading “A Porchlight Project Exclusive: 1988 Paris Township John Doe Identified as David Kaziateck”

Val Bogart, Lead Genealogist for the Porchlight Project, Awarded by Youngstown PD.

Congratulations to Lead Genealogist for the Porchlight Project, Val Bogart, who received a special reward for service from the Youngstown Police Department at their annual awards ceremony. Earlier this year Val successfully identified an unknown homicide victim from a 46 … Continue reading “Val Bogart, Lead Genealogist for the Porchlight Project, Awarded by Youngstown PD.”

The Porchlight Project Solves John Doe Case for Youngstown P.D.

The Porchlight Project’s own genetic genealogist, Val Bogart, tracked a DNA profile from a 1976 Youngstown John Doe to a specific family tree, and identified Robert “Earl” Sanders as the victim. This is the first solve for our in-house genealogist … Continue reading “The Porchlight Project Solves John Doe Case for Youngstown P.D.”

Porchlight Board Member Yvonne Pointer Writes Personal Op-Ed for Cleveland.com

Gloria Pointer will forever be 14, says her mother, Yvonne, a Porchlight Project board member and victims advocate. Gloria was murdered in 1984. In 2013, DNA from the crime was matched to convicted rapist Hernandez Warren. Says Yvonne: “It was … Continue reading “Porchlight Board Member Yvonne Pointer Writes Personal Op-Ed for Cleveland.com”