John Doe found in Wisconsin grave in 1988 now identified

KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) — The body of a John Doe homicide victim found in a shallow grave in southeastern Wisconsin more than 30 years ago now has a name.

Kenosha County authorities announced on Wednesday that the man has been identified as Robert Lyle Schwartz.

Schwartz was born in 1944. His body was found in a shallow grave in Pleasant Prairie by a highway survey crew in 1988, but he was only recently identified, thanks to state-of-the-art fingerprint technology.

The Kenosha News reports authorities believe Schwartz flew to Chicago O’Hare International Airport and was strangled in one of the airport’s parking structures.

Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth says Schwartz had a criminal past that included running a scam selling worthless shares of silver bullion.

Beth says a suspect in Schwartz’s death is now dead.