[UPDATE] Ode to Doe: Laytwan Thefis Brown Identified as "Etowah County John Doe"

Update: The young man previously known as Etowah County John Doe has been identified as Laytwan Thefis Brown from Zion Illinois. He was 6ft tall, handsome, and 20 years old and those who knew him called him "Twan". He attended North Chicago Community High School where he has been described as free-spirited, and popular. He always drew laughs. His sister would also say he "was trying to change his life". Twan was Laytia's big brother by only 17 months. The pair were always incredibly close. "We knew each other's secrets, we shared everything." He had moved a few miles away from his Illinois home to Kenosha, Wisconsin shortly before he disappeared. When his body was examined, he was assumed to have been deceased for months to a year. He had in truth died only 18 days since he was last seen. The last time he was seen he had gone to visit a cousin's house and was picked up from there. Who picked him up and where they went is unknown. His disappearance would go unreported for six months, and even still his family would no nothing of his whereabouts for the next 20 years. It was during a 2016 audit of police records by Sgt. Kehrli that his file resurfaced and was entered into the NAMUS database. He also contacted Laytwan's family and asked them for DNA samples. The DNA was tested against the young man that had been at the Forensic Anthropology Center at the University of Tennessee since 1998 and his identity was confirmed. In an unfortunate turn of events, it would turn out that a death certificate had never been created when Twan's body was discovered, meaning he couldn't yet be moved. It took over a year to get a response from Etowah County District Attorney Jody Willoughby. The death certificate brings some extra closure to the family, now able to arrange a proper burial for Twan. Unfortunately, this case is still NOT SOLVED. His killer is still unknown. For more information, read below.

A photograph of Laytwan Brown. Credit: facebook.com/laytwan.brown

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Original:

A composite photo of John Doe distributed by NCMEC. Credit: The Doe Netwokr

On May 29, 1998, the skeleton remains of a black male were found by fishermen in the Coosa River in Gadsden, Etowah County, Alabama. He was aged between seventeen and twenty-one at the time of death and had been 5'6" to five 5'8" tall. Forensic reconstruction of the skull was performed to aid identification, however, the jawline is only an approximation as the victim's lower jaw has never been found. The remaining upper teeth showed no evidence of fillings, possibly indicating a lack of dental care when alive. Additionally, some of the teeth had been fractured before death. Likely by using them as a tool, such as to open a bottle. No clothes, jewelry, or belongings were found on his person. Multiple bullet wounds to the skull, and stab wounds to the sacrum and right hipbone as well as evidence of burning lead to the assumption of foul play. The composite featured above was created by an NCMEC Forensic Artist and is a facial reconstruction of what the victim may have looked like prior to his death.

• Agency Case Number: UT99-11F; NCMEC: 1184067

• NCIC Case Number: U920020921

• NamUs Case Number: UP #2758

• Former Hot Case Number: 1331

Anyone with any information regarding the identity of the young man, or anything pertaining to the case, is encouraged to contact the Gadsden Police Department at 1-256-549-4500. Or email mailto:mglad23@comcast.net.

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To view my sources and reference material, click here.