Authorities have revealed the identity of a man discovered burning in an abandoned boat in a field, a case that remained unsolved for thirty years, as announced by the Weber County Sheriff’s Office in a video released on Monday, Nov. 4.
Authorities have confirmed the identity of a man who tragically lost his life under questionable circumstances on April 16, 1992, in a field adjacent to I-15 in Ogden, Utah. The individual has been named as Kevin Lynn Capps, aged 30. Located just 40 miles north of Salt Lake City, Ogden is a notable destination.
Upon arrival in 1992, officials were met with a fiery landscape, where a boat was also caught in the inferno. A man’s body was discovered in the boat, but it was described as “unrecognizable,” and there were no personal belongings present to assist in identifying the individual.
An autopsy subsequently disclosed that the deceased was a male estimated to be in the age range of 30 to 45 years. Despite efforts by authorities to match the victim’s dental records and DNA, he remained unidentified for more than three decades, with only his sex and age estimated.
Following a lengthy period of inactivity spanning 32 years, the WCSO established the Weber Metro Cold Case Task Force to introduce fresh viewpoints and understanding to cases that have long evaded resolution.
The Utah Department of Public Safety has provided funding for detectives to collaborate with Othram Inc., a company specializing in forensic genetic genealogy, to utilize cutting-edge DNA testing techniques.
David Mittelman, the CEO and founder of Othram Inc., shares with PEOPLE that forensic genome sequencing was employed in Capps’ case. The sequencing enables a thorough examination of evidence that has traditionally been deemed insufficient for testing, as explained by Mittelman.
This technology generates DNA profiles for the purpose of identifying individuals. Typically, 20 DNA markers are identified on human remains. In conjunction with forensic genome sequencing for Capps’ remains, CODIS identified approximately 500,000 DNA markers.
Othram Inc. obtained the skeletal remains, and approximately four to six weeks later, the DNA profile was established. The team then utilized the DNA markers to identify relatives and advance the investigation.
“It just took weeks for us to come to an answer because there were decent matches in the genealogy databases,” he says. “That’s why you have a case … that already has an answer.”
The investigative team discovered that Capps was survived by his young daughter, Chelsea LaRoe, who was just 4 years old at the time. On August 12, 2024, she received information that she described as a day that “changed everything.”
At 36, LaRoe has always thought that her father had “abandoned” her.
“It made me sad, angry and filled with questions,” she said in the WCSO’s video. She explained learning of her father’s death gave her some closure.
“The day after I found out about Kevin, my mom and I went to the cemetery in Ogden, where he was buried in an unmarked grave,” she said, adding that she “will forever be grateful for the detectives who helped in this case.”
Individuals who possess any details regarding the case and the events surrounding Capps’ passing are encouraged to reach out to the deputies at 801-778-6646.