On July 23, 2006, the skeletal remains of Gregory L. Griffin, a 47-year-old Black male from Youngstown, Ohio, were discovered in a swampy area near Mosquito Lake State Park in Cortland, Ohio. The remains were found unclothed and devoid of skin tissue, with only some small bones intact. A gold earring was located near the left side of the skull, but no other identifiable personal items were recovered.
At the time of discovery, the identity of the remains was unknown.
In 2010, the FBI constructed a facial reconstruction bust to aid in identification, but it did not yield any leads. It wasn't until February 2017 that Bazetta police received a tip prompting them to submit DNA from the remains to a crime lab. A match was confirmed approximately two weeks later, conclusively identifying the remains as those of Gregory L. Griffin.
The Trumbull County Coroner, Dr. Humphrey Germaniuk, ruled the death a homicide, although the exact cause of death could not be determined due to the condition of the remains. The case remains open and unsolved, with no arrests or identified suspects reported.
Gregory L. Griffin's case is listed among unsolved homicides by the Ohio Attorney General's Office, and authorities continue to seek information that could lead to a resolution.
