30-Year Mystery Solved: Florida Homicide Victim Identified

The remains of John Richard Moulis, missing for nearly 30 years, have been positively identified as the victim of a homicide in Florida. Moulis, then 37, was reported missing from the Orlando area on January 21, 1997. His skeletal remains were discovered two months later in a wooded area in Sanford, Florida.

Initial findings indicated sharp-force injuries to the head, and the death was ruled a homicide. For decades, Moulis's family had no information about his whereabouts or the discovery of his remains. Investigators pursued DNA testing in 2023, but a profile entered into CODIS yielded no matches.

In 2025, grant funding enabled advanced forensic genetic genealogy testing. This process, conducted by Othram, a Texas-based laboratory, led to the identification of a potential relative in July 2026, ultimately confirming the remains belonged to Moulis. The identification was a significant moment for his family, providing answers after 29 years of uncertainty.

Moulis, originally from Wisconsin, had moved to the Orlando area in the late 1980s. His abandoned vehicle was found at a Greyhound bus station. Investigators are now focused on uncovering the circumstances of his death and identifying the perpetrator. They are appealing to anyone who knew Moulis or lived in his apartment complex in the mid-1990s to come forward with information.