A man killed in Des Moines more than 30-years ago, has just now been identified, thanks to improved fingerprint technology.
Des Moines Police and the Polk County Medical Examiner's Office say when the man's largely decomposed body was found, near East 24th and Scott Streets, just one thumbprint was available and his identify remained unsolved for decades.
In 2008, the information was entered into the national unidentified persons database, additional information was added over the years, and multiple leads were investigated.
In 2009, investigators began a renewed effort to identify the victim. The Polk County Medical Examiner's Office began a lengthy effort to identify the victim, gathering files including information on tattoos in hopes of identifying the man.
The FBI upgraded its national fingerprint database a few years ago, which has led to 178 positive identifications, including the body found in Des Moines, February 28th, 1984.
This week, the Polk County Medical Examiner's Office was told there had been a positive match, and the man has been identified as 39-year old John Clifton Downey.
The Polk County Medical Examiner's Office located next of kin, in another state, using multiple search m methods, and the family has now been notified of the death and has confirmed distinctive tattoos.
Police continue to investigate Downey's murder.