09/02/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
After 62 Years, New Genetic Genealogy Investigation Seeks to Identify
Fort Bend County John Doe Fort Bend County, Texas,
More than six decades after the remains of an unidentified man were discovered along FM Road 359 in Richmond, Fort Bend County, investigators are taking a new step toward answering a question that has remained unresolved
since 1964: Who was this man?
Moxxy Forensic Investigations has partnered with the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office to conduct investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) in an effort to identify the man, who has remained known as “Stubby” in historical media coverage of the case.
On June 11, 1964, the decomposing torso of an unidentified man was discovered along the roadside of FM Road 359 in Richmond. He was initially estimated to be a White male between 40 and 60 years of age, approximately 6 feet tall and weighing approximately 175 pounds. His death was determined to be a homicide.
The circumstances surrounding the discovery made identification particularly difficult. The man's head, hands, and feet were never recovered, leaving investigators without many of the traditional identifying characteristics available in a missing-person investigation. After years without an identification, his remains were ultimately buried at San Gabriel Cemetery in Richmond in 1984.
In 2024, the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office exhumed the remains in an effort to obtain additional DNA suitable for modern forensic testing. The resulting DNA profile has now allowed the case to move into the next phase: investigative genetic genealogy.
A New Investigation Through Investigative Genetic Genealogy
Moxxy began investigative genetic genealogy following the completion of the public fundraising efforts necessary to support the laboratory and investigative genetic genealogy work. IGG combines forensic DNA analysis with traditional genealogical research to identify biological relatives of an unidentified individual and, ultimately, work toward determining the individual's
identity. As the research has progressed, Moxxy has identified genetic ancestry information and family-tree connections that may provide important clues about the identity of this man.
The genetic research indicates that the unidentified man has predominantly East Asian ancestry.
This information represents an important development in the investigation. Moxxy and the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office are releasing this information publicly in the hope that it may reach communities, families, or individuals who may recognize the circumstances and help investigators identify this man.
Surnames of Interest
As part of the genealogical research conducted to date, the following surnames have appeared among the family trees and genetic connections being investigated: Palacat, Auna, and Napeahi.
These surnames are being released as surnames of research interest only.
Their appearance in the ongoing genealogical research does not mean that the unidentified man necessarily carried any of these surnames, nor does it mean that a missing person must have one of these surnames to be relevant to this investigation. Surnames can enter a genealogical research path through numerous family relationships and generations, including maternal lines, marriage, adoption, and other familial connections.
The research is ongoing, and these are only some of the surnames that have emerged thus far.
Could This Be Someone You Remember?
Moxxy and the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office are asking the public to think back to the years surrounding 1964.
Investigators are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who may have known or remembered a man who:
● Was living in, traveling through, or connected to the Fort Bend County/Houston area;
● Was an adult male who would have been approximately 40–60 years old in 1964;
● Had predominantly East Asian ancestry;
● Disappeared or unexpectedly lost contact with family, friends, coworkers, or others;
● May have been reported missing—or may never have been formally reported missing; or
● Otherwise fits the known circumstances of this unidentified man.
A person does not need to have one of the surnames listed above to be relevant to this investigation.
Family members may also have information about a relative whose disappearance was never fully investigated or whose whereabouts became unknown decades ago. In 1964, families did not have access to the technology and databases available to investigators today, and records surrounding a person's disappearance may be incomplete. Even a seemingly insignificant memory may be important.
A name remembered from childhood.
A relative who suddenly disappeared.
A family story that never quite made sense.
A man who left home and was never heard from again.
After more than 60 years, investigators are asking the public to help bring those memories forward.
Help Us Give Him Back His Name
The goal of this investigation is not simply to put a name on an unidentified person. It is to determine who this man was, return his identity to him, and, if possible, provide answers to the family who may have spent decades wondering what happened to their loved one.
Anyone with information that may assist in identifying this individual is encouraged to contact:
Katie Thomas
Moxxy Forensic Investigations
[email protected]
Detective Eli Cisneros
Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office
[email protected]
Members of the public are encouraged to share information even if they are uncertain whether it is relevant. Investigators can determine whether a lead may assist the investigation.
Moxxy Forensic Investigations and the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office remain committed to identifying this man and bringing his family answers after more than six decades.
