FL FL - Mark Woodard, 19, Lakeland, 14 April 1975

SheWhoMustNotBeNamed

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Mark Duane Woodard

Endangered Missing from Lakeland, Florida since April 14, 1975

Age: 19 -- Height: 5'6"-5'7" -- Weight: 170-200 lbs -- Hair Color: Brown -- Eye Color: Blue

Mark may go by his middle name, Duane. He has a chipped front tooth.


Duane was last seen on April 14, 1975. On that day, he was supposed to have begun a week long trip to Texas with a friend. He was reportedly carrying between $2,500-$3,000 when he left. The friend later told Duane's family that Duane had found some other people to go on the trip with, and left without him. Duane's parents last saw him the night before his planned trip. He left with very little clothing. Some evidence in the case suggests Duane never left Lakeland. Foul play is suspected.


Doe Network

NamUs

Charley Project
 
http://www.theledger.com/article/20160706/NEWS/160709676

The remains were found in a wooded area by two people near County Road 467 and SE 145th Street in Summerfield, Marion County, on March 22, 1977. They weren't identified as Woodard's until June 23...

Officials said the remains showed Woodard had been shot, but wouldn't say where...

"This opens up an investigation that will make a very cold case very active," Robbins said.
 
http://www.fox13news.com/news/local-news/171702164-story
April 14, 1975, was the last time Woodard was seen in Lakeland. He was 19 years old, planning to travel to Texas with friends to buy marijuana. He had about $3,000 in his pockets.

"Diann told him this is not a good idea," said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. "He left with a fella. And we know who the fella is and the fella comes back and he didn't."
Forty years later, in 2015, the Polk County Sheriff's Office was reviewing missing persons cases. They decided to send DNA samples from Woodard's parents to the University of North Texas.

The lab confirmed it was a match with human remains found in 1977 in a wooded area of Marion County. It was a homicide case; the victim had been shot. But investigators were never able to identify who it was.

"It's amazing," Well said. "We could have found out two years later if we had the technology we have now, then."

The news brings closure. But closure is sometimes bittersweet

Other thread for this case..
http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...008&highlight=Mark+Duane+Woodard#post12677008
FL - Summerfield, WhtMale, 17-25, distinctive belt buckle, Mar'77 - Mark D. Woodard
 
So I guess this thread is the one we continue on for the homicide. Bringing over the links that still work.

Skeletal remains found in Marion County in 1977 identified

Snip:
A bone sample from the remains was shipped in 2009 to the University of North Texas for DNA samples to be extracted and placed into the Missing Persons Database.

No matches were found at the time, but while reviewing missing persons cases in 2015, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office sent DNA from Woodard’s parents to the school.

The University of North Texas said in June that it had received forensic DNA analysis confirming that the bones are 4.3 trillion times likely to be a positive match to the DNA samples submitted by Woodard’s parents.

Woodward’s death is being investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Marion County at 352-368-STOP
 
Two counties investigating so hopefully the collaboration will help.

Long-missing man's remains found - Orlando Sentinel

Snips:
Although the remains had very little clothing, detectives said one item that stuck out to deputies back then was a leather belt with a cowboy buckle with what looked like an Indian stone, the Ocala Star-Banner reports.

Officials said the remains showed Woodard had been shot, but wouldn't say where, according to the Star-Banner.

“After I spoke to [Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd] I felt more relieved,” she said. “Once I came to grips with it, it just is what it is.”

Judd said he grew up with Wells and Woodard, adding that their families were very close.

“This case is near and dear to me,” he said.

After years of wondering what happened to Woodard, Judd said it was the advancement of technology that finally brought an answer.

“Our investigation continues,” he said. “Someplace out there is a person who knows something.”

Both Judd and Wells agree the discovery brings a sense of closure, but also many questions. Wells isn't sure she wants the answers.

Robbins said both the Marion County and Polk County sheriff's offices are investigating the death.

In 2009, Dr. Barbara Wolf from the Fifth District Medical Examiner's Office and Dr. Michael Warren from the University of Florida C.A. Pound Lab sent a bone from the remains to the University of North Texas for DNA samples to be extracted and placed in the Missing Persons Database, Robbins said.
 
His sister has heard info that leads her to believe her brother's murderer was in turn murdered.

Posted Jul 6, 2016
Remains found in 1977 ID'd through DNA

Snips:
Lt. Donnie Winston, the detective now assigned to the case and a supervisor with the MCSO Major Crimes Unit, said the bones had been there for about two years when they were found. He said the death was ruled a homicide at the time, based on the Medical Examiner’s Office autopsy and examination of the remains. Woodard was shot, but authorities declined to provide details such as the location of the wound or wounds.

Winston, a veteran detective, said there was very little clothing on the remains but one item stuck out to deputies back then -- a leather belt with a cowboy buckle with what looked like what he called an “Indian stone.” The man’s shoes remained at the scene.

Wells said although she thinks her brother’s killer was killed himself because of, “things she has heard over time,” she wants anyone with information to come forward.

“Whatever they find out, I will accept it,” she said.

Winston said now that they know Woodard by name, the job is to find out who was with him in the last week or weeks of his life, why he was in Marion County, what he planned on doing here, and who was with him.
 
Is this crimen connected to Rosemary Herrera, the witch of Lakeland, or only Dennis Smith has been named as a suspect? I don't even know if Herrera is still alive,but she was the leader of the gang.
 

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