A man whose headless and handless body was found on the side of the road in 1970 has finally been identified as 35-year-old Clyde Coppage.
Discovery and Initial Investigation
On March 12, 2026, the New York State Police announced that the remains found on March 20, 1970, had been identified as Coppage. His body was discovered along a rural road in Allegany County, New York, and investigators initially suspected it was the result of a gangland killing. At the time, the man was known as Allegany County John Doe because he had no identification, and his disappearance had never been reported.
Exhumation and DNA Testing
In June 2022, police exhumed the body to collect DNA for further analysis. The breakthrough came in 2023 when investigators partnered with Texas-based DNA lab Othram, which used advanced identity inference technology. This technology allows for the identification of victims without a known reference sample. Through this process, the FBI was able to track down potential relatives and confirm that the remains belonged to Coppage.
Cause of Death and Investigation Status
Trooper James O’Callaghan stated that the evidence suggested Coppage was killed and dismembered elsewhere before being placed along the road where his body was found. As of now, the identity of his killer remains unknown.
The investigation into Coppage’s death is still ongoing, and authorities continue to search for answers regarding this decades-old case.
