Officials held a press conference to provide updates on two cold cases in the state.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost joined Mayor Tito Brown, Youngstown Police Chief Carl Davis, and Fayette County Sheriff Vernon P. Stanforth released new information on two separate Ohio cold cases reaching back to the 1980s. 

During a press conference, Youngstown Police Captain Jason Simon was able to release the identity of a Youngstown John Doe whose remains were found near Mount Hope Cemetery in Youngstown on September 10, 1987.

 In August of 2022, Youngstown Police, along with the Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Mahoning County Coroner's Office released the facial reconstructions of the John Doe, and believed him to be a black male between 30 and 44 years old. 

The John Doe was identified as Robert Earl Sanders, who was reported missing in August of 1976. The investigation into Sanders death is still ongoing, and the Mahoning County Coroners office will list his death as unknown until further notice. 

Fayette County Sheriff Vernon P. Stanforth was also able to release the identity of a Fayette County John Doe, whose body was found in 1981 in a creek in Fayette County. 

Through a tip from Youngstown officers to BCI, Fayette officers were able to identify him as 19-year old Theodore "Teddy" Long, who has been missing for 41 years. Fayette County is investigating Long's death as a homicide. 

During the conference, Captain Simon, Sheriff Vernon and Mayor Tito Brown thanked the efforts of BCI, Youngstown Police and Fayette County officers for their efforts in solving the cases.