WEAVER, Ala. — A mysterious 1992 case involving a body found in a burning boat in a Weaver, Alabama, field has been solved, thanks to advances in DNA technology and forensic genealogy. More than 30 years after a passerby discovered the charred remains, identified as those of Utah resident Kevin Lynn Capps, Alabama and Utah authorities are closer to understanding what led to his untimely death.
On that spring day in 1992, Weaver deputies arrived to find a boat engulfed in flames, with an unrecognizable body inside. The investigation went cold after initial identification efforts, including dental records and DNA comparison, yielded no matches. But a recent push to leverage modern DNA techniques for unsolved cases led the Weber County Sheriff’s Office in Utah, Capps’ home state, to revisit his file.
Partnering with Othram Inc., a Texas-based forensic lab specializing in genetic genealogy, detectives created a DNA profile that allowed them to map family connections, ultimately leading to the identification of Capps. The technology combines DNA analysis with traditional genealogy, allowing scientists to trace family lines and identify victims decades after their deaths.
Capps’ daughter, Chelsea LaRoe, who was only 4 years old when her father disappeared, said the discovery has brought her a sense of closure she never expected. Now, authorities in Alabama and Utah are working together to piece together what happened in Weaver all those years ago.
With more cases now being solved through advanced DNA technology, law enforcement officials in Alabama are hopeful this will provide answers for other cold cases across the state. As the investigation into Capps’ death continues, Alabama authorities are asking anyone with information to come forward, hoping this breakthrough could lead to more insights into Alabama’s unsolved mysteries.