GRANT COUNTY, Ky. (WKRC) - Thirty-one years have come and gone with no answers, but Kentucky State Police want to know who the man with no hands is. The unidentified man was found dead with his hands cut off in a tobacco barn near Dry Ridge in 1989.
Back in 2017, his body was exhumed.
“He deserves to go back home. His family deserves to know where he is. He was buried in a pauper's grave with no headstone,” said Trooper Joseph Filiatreau in 2017.
Back in 2017, DNA was taken and entered into a federal database, but since then, genealogy sites like 23andMe and Ancestry have emerged. That's why KSP is taking a closer look.
“Technology has come so far, and it makes our job easier. Bottom of the line is we want to solve these cases and bring justice where justice is served,” said KSP Trooper Cory Elliott.
The DNA Doe Project will now build a family tree in hopes of tracking down relatives of the John Doe.
“It is a very peculiar case and just an odd case. Just the whole circumstances around it, and that's why it's been so difficult for us to make headway,” said Elliott.
Police have previously thought this case may be connected to the mob. Besides a digitally enhanced picture, police don't have much to go on since the hands were removed. That’s why they're hoping new DNA technology will be the break they need in the case.
“It seems like as we get technological advances, some of these old cases -- we may, in fact, solve more of these,” said Elliott.
The John Doe is described as being 25 years old to 30-something, about 6-feet-5-inches and 220 pounds. The man also had extensive dental work. Police also say he has a unique head since the back of his head is very flat.
If you have any information that might help identify him, call Kentucky State Police at
859-428-1212.
I agree, he looks eerily similar to my thumbnail! From their chins, foreheads, and hairlines to their “crooked” noses! Very strong resemblance. I have not seen Ernest before now so thank you for mentioning him. 
