In January 1991, skeletal remains were unearthed by a dog in a wooded area behind a home in Antioch, a neighborhood located approximately 12 miles southeast of downtown Nashville. The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) was alerted to the discovery when a homeowner directed authorities to a human skull. A thorough examination of the site yielded no additional remains, prompting investigators to send the skull to the University of Tennessee for anthropological analysis. The examination estimated that the individual was likely male, between 30 and 50 years of age, of either White or Hispanic descent.
Initially, forensic assessments misidentified the remains as belonging to an adult female, and the case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) under the label of UP1559. It wasn’t until subsequent DNA testing revealed that the remains belonged to a male that the case became known as Davidson County John Doe (1991).
In 2023, the MNPD engaged the services of Othram, a forensic DNA laboratory based in The Woodlands, Texas, seeking to employ advanced DNA analysis techniques to uncover the individual’s identity. Othram’s scientists successfully extracted a DNA profile from the skeletal remains through Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing, which allowed the agency’s in-house genetic genealogy team to develop new investigative leads.
These leads prompted a follow-up investigation, resulting in the identification of potential relatives of the deceased. DNA samples collected from a relative were subsequently matched with the unidentified man’s DNA profile. This process culminated in the positive identification of the individual as Phillip Daniel Sydnor, who was born on June 21, 1950.
While the case of Phillip Sydnor has progressed significantly, the circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation. MNPD encourages anyone with relevant information to reach out by calling 615-416-7803 and referencing agency case number UT91-1F.
The funding for Othram’s advanced forensic work in this case was partially sourced through a DNASolves crowdfunding campaign, which emphasizes community involvement in solving long-standing cold cases. Additionally, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) supports NamUs, the national program dedicated to aiding investigations and resolutions of missing and unidentified person cases across the United States.
As part of ongoing efforts to enhance forensic investigations, individuals who have undergone consumer DNA tests are encouraged to join the PLACEHOLDER87944a12150de565. By expanding the pool of available DNA profiles, the probability of successful identifications increases significantly, aiding in reuniting families with their missing loved ones and providing closure in unresolved cases. With this recent development, Sydnor’s case marks the 28th instance in Tennessee where Othram’s advanced genetic technologies have facilitated vital progress. Additional details on other cases can be explored on PLACEHOLDER756344afa3b3cfdb.
For families grappling with the loss of a loved one, the ongoing advancements in forensic science offer a beacon of hope, providing pathways to answers for cases that have remained dormant for decades.
