MI - Blissfield, Lenawee Co JD, HispMale 20-40, UP8975, "Roberto from Texas?", no head/hands, Nov'97 *arrests in 2023*

Roberto shown in a sketch from the Michigan State Police dated Nov. 8, 2016. NamUs said this was based on a witness interview. Michigan authorities now say that Richardo and Michael Sepulveda murdered him. (Image: NamUs)

“Roberto” is shown in a sketch from the Michigan State Police dated Nov. 8, 2016. NamUs said this was based on a witness interview. Michigan authorities now say that Richardo and Michael Sepulveda murdered him

Authorities have a sketch of “Roberto” from Texas, with a possible age of between 20 and 40. The body was found on Nov. 19, 1997, in Blissfield Township, Michigan, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). Blissfield Township is about 75 miles southwest of Detroit.

The body, described as a light-skinned Hispanic, was found off a highway partially covered in snow. Both hands and head were missing. It had no scars or tattoos.

A witness provided a possible name, “Roberto.” That witness, according to NameUs, said he was married with children and had a house where he raised chickens between McAllen and Weslaco, Texas. When “Roberto” left home, he was supposed to be traveling only to Chicago and then back, the website said.
 
On Nov.19, 1997, police were dispatched to Blissfield Twp. in response to the discovery of human remains in a cornfield owned and farmed by the caller. When police arrived to examine the remains, they observed the body of an unidentified, unclothed male that was missing the head and both hands. The hands appeared to have been cut from just above the wrist. Officers also observed what appeared to be saw striations on the ends of the bones.

In September 1999, a DNA profile of the victim was developed, but it has not led to an identification of the victim, so far. Detective Sgt. Larry Rothman of the Michigan State Police First District’s Cold-Case Unit said the DNA profile has been uploaded to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, as well as genealogy websites.

“We’re constantly getting information back,” Rothman told The Daily Telegram. “So far, we haven’t had a positive identification, but hopefully we’ll be able to identify the victim sooner or later, especially now that we’ve arrested a couple of people in the case.”

The Michigan State Police First District Cold-Case Unit worked with other local and federal agencies and prosecutors to gather evidence, establish a timeline of events, and locate the defendants. The investigation is still ongoing, if anyone has information related to this investigation, please contact Michigan State Police D/Sgt. Larry Rothman at 313-407-9379.

The brothers are being extradited on the following charges:

  • Count 1 - First Degree Premediated Murder, a felony that carries a life sentence without the possibility of parole;
  • Count 2 - Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Premediated Murder, a felony that carries a life sentence without the possibility of parole;
  • Count 3 - Assault with Intent to Maim, a ten-year felony;
  • Count 4 - Conspiracy to commit Assault with Intent to Maim, a 10-year felony;
  • Count 5 - Tampering with Evidence, a ten-year felony; and,
  • Count 6 - Conspiracy to Commit Tampering with Evidence, a 10-year felony.
Republished courtesy of Michigan AG.
 
Rick is supposed to be the one who physically killed him (according to his brother). He owed Roberto from a drug deal and he must have not been unable to pay. I don't understand why they overreacted the way they did.

And you know what else - that "witness" who helped do the sketch was none other than Michael!

 
Rick is supposed to be the one who physically killed him (according to his brother). He owed Roberto from a drug deal and he must have not been unable to pay. I don't understand why they overreacted the way they did.

And you know what else - that "witness" who helped do the sketch was none other than Michael!

if Michael started to testify, I hope he will give the law enforcement Roberto's real name
 
A little more than 25 years ago, a farmer found the remains of a body in a cornfield near Blissfield. The man’s head and hands had been cut off, making identifying the victim difficult.

On Tuesday, Michigan authorities announced that two Ohio men have been arrested and charged with the man’s murder. But the victim’s identity remains a mystery.

Richardo Sepulveda, 51, of Cincinnati and Michael Sepulveda, 49, of Toledo were arrested Tuesday by the U.S. Marshals Service after being charged with the 1997 cold case homicide of “John Doe,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced.

The two men are being extradited to Lenawee County on the following charges: first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, assault with intent to main, conspiracy to commit assault with intent to main, tampering with evidence and conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence. The murder charge is punishable by up to life in prison without parole. The other charges have maximum penalties of 10 years in prison.

Michael Sepulveda has waived extradition, and Richardo Sepulveda has a hearing Wednesday, the attorney general’s office said.

An autopsy determined that the body is that of a man between 20 and 40 years old. He stood between 5 feet, 5 inches and 5 feet, 10 inches tall and was of medium build

Police searched the cornfield and surrounding area but did not find the body parts, lending credence to a theory that the man was killed elsewhere before being dumped in the county. Many local residents felt the man was killed in Toledo during a drug deal gone bad.

Michigan State Police Detective Hugh Welsh, the original investigator in the case, sifted through missing persons reports from the region and eliminated a majority of them.

In September 1999, a DNA profile of the victim was developed, but it has not led to an identification of the victim, so far. Detective Sgt. Larry Rothman of the Michigan State Police First District’s Cold-Case Unit said the DNA profile has been uploaded to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System as well as genealogy websites.
 

Two Ohio men accused of killing a man in Michigan and cutting off his head and hands are going to trial.

Richardo Sepulveda, 51, of Cincinnati, and Michael Sepulveda, 49 of Toledo, were bound over for trial Thursday, Aug. 3, on six felony charges in connection with a the slaying of an unidentified man found decapitated and maimed in a Blissfield cornfield in Lenawee County, according to the Michigan Attorney Generals Office.

To date, the victim has yet to be identified, but he is believed to be a 32-year-old man from the Corpus Christie, Texas area, officials said.
 
I think the investigators really need to start back at square one in this case. From what I could gather the witness statements regarding his description and ties to Texas were FROM the people arrested. Roberto may not be close to his real name. I think this is a case that could really benefit from a phenotype reconstruction from Parabon.
 
I came here to post this exact thought. Everything fits, except the witness statement, but there's probably no way to know if that's accurate. Was there any follow up on this?
 

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