Decades after the discovery of a man’s body entangled in heavy tire chains and secured with a hydraulic jack in a Kentucky lake, authorities have officially confirmed the identity of the deceased. Roger Dale Parham, a former FBI fugitive, is the subject of the investigation, but law enforcement is still piecing together the puzzle of his murder and the circumstances leading to his presence at Lake Barkley.
Kentucky State Police utilized advanced genealogy DNA testing to establish Parham’s identity, overcoming previous unsuccessful attempts. The body was initially found on May 6, 1999, by fishermen in Lyon County. Traditional investigative methods proved insufficient to determine the victim’s identity at that time. In 2016, the body was exhumed for comprehensive testing, including DNA technology, dental examinations, forensic pathology, and other advanced forensic techniques. Unfortunately, no matches were found during this round of testing.
In a recent development, the state police collaborated with the National Missing and Unidentified Person System and Othram Inc., a private forensic lab specializing in forensic genealogy. Through this partnership, investigators successfully identified the remains as those of Roger Dale Parham by locating a relative of the unidentified person.
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Despite the breakthrough in identification, the circumstances surrounding Parham’s death remain mysterious, and the state police have officially classified it as a homicide. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities actively seeking information that could shed light on the events leading to Parham’s demise. Anyone with relevant details is encouraged to contact Kentucky State Police Post 1- Mayfield at 270-856-3721 or visit the Kentucky State Police website at www.kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov/tip.