May 18, 2026
Just days after exhuming remains from Evergreen Cemetery, the Opelika Police Department released a major forensic update in a 35-year-old cold case: new analysis suggests the unidentified homicide victim found in a creek bed off Anderson Road in September 1990 was likely a teenager between 15 and 18 years old — not a young adult as originally believed based on the 1990 autopsy. The revised age profile reopens missing persons cases that were previously excluded.
“We are now cross-referencing this new teenage profile with missing person cases from 1990 and earlier,” investigators said. “We are looking directly at cases that may have been mistakenly excluded in the past simply because of the original age and height estimates.”
The victim was discovered wearing a white St. Louis Cardinals jersey, Jordache jeans, and black Ellesse shoes with multiple pairs of socks — suggesting the shoes may not have been his. A bone sample has been collected for advanced DNA testing. A $5,000 reward is now offered for information leading to identification.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Detective Division at (334) 705-5220 or the Secret Witness Hotline at (334) 745-8665. Tips can also be submitted through the Opelika Police mobile app.
Source: WRBL News 3 / Opelika Observer / Opelika Police Department, May 18, 2026
From the Opelika Weekly News Digest — May 18–24, 2026 | Compiled by Viktor AI for Opelika Daily News
Could this be Nathaniel Reed from Detroit, Michigan?
Interesting, Reed disappeared in 1988, I believe. How did you reach out to the Opelika Police Department? Contact the Detective Division at (334) 705-5220 or the Secret Witness Hotline at (334) 745-8665. If you don’t want to , I’d be glad to ask the question for you.