A 40-year-old mystery involving a missing member of a legendary soul band has finally been solved.
Police say recent DNA analysis of human remains that were found in a trash bag in 1982 show the body parts belong to Frank "Frankie" Little, Jr., a member of the R&B group the O'Jays.
In the mid-1960s, Frank was a guitarist and songwriter for the O'Jays. The group is known for cultivating a unique sound known as Philadelphia Soul, infusing soul music with funk influences and lush instrumental arrangements. Their top hits include "Love Train," "For The Love Of Money," and "I Love Music."
"He came with us when we first ventured out of Cleveland and traveled to Los Angeles, but he also was in love with a woman in Cleveland that he missed so much that he soon returned back to Cleveland after a short amount of time," the band said in a statement to CNN.
After Little returned to Cleveland, the band said they never heard from him again.
Police say not much is known about Frank's disappearance or death. He lived in Cleveland, Ohio and was believed to be last alive in the mid-1970s.
In February 1982, human remains were found behind a now-closed business in Twinsburg, about 30 minutes outside of Cleveland. A worker found a skull in the snow behind the business, according to WEWS. Police then discovered additional body parts in a garbage bag.
The remains were that of an African-American male, 20- to 35-years-old, approximately 5'6" tall with adolescent kyphosis, a curvature of the spine. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.
The victim's identity would remain a mystery until a partnership with the DNA Doe Project. The organization provided names of potential relatives, who gave police Little's name and a DNA sample.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation Crime Lab analyzed the DNA sample, which was confirmed by the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office.
"It was clear that there was a match here, that we had finally been able to put a name to those remains," Dr. Lisa Kohler told WEWS.
Police say Frank had a daughter who passed away in 2012, and a son who has not yet been located or identified.
Investigators are now trying to determine who killed Little. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Eric Hendershott at 330-405-5679.
Related
Related
