William "Bill" Comeans was a 14-year-old boy from Columbus, Ohio, whose mysterious death on January 7, 1980, remains unsolved to this day. On the evening of his death, William had been helping his father with a family car and then went out to get his sister from a birthday party. He was reported missing shortly after, and his body was found a short distance from his home, along the railroad tracks at the dead end of Buena Vista Avenue.
He had been strangled with his own scarf, which was tied so tightly that his brother had to cut it off with a pocket knife. Despite initial thoughts that it may have been accidental, the autopsy revealed that William had died due to strangulation, with signs like petechial hemorrhaging that indicated asphyxia. The cause of death was ultimately ruled a homicide, but the case has since remained a cold case, with no suspect ever identified or arrested.
William had experienced violence before his death. On two occasions in the months leading up to his murder, he was attacked by two unknown males. In both attacks, he was strangled but managed to survive. During the first attack, a plastic bag was put over his head, and a bicycle tire inner tube was wrapped around his neck, leaving him unconscious for several hours before he managed to return home. In the second instance, two men jumped out of a car, tied a rope around his neck, and left him for dead under a tree. These assaults, occurring so close to his eventual death, raise questions about a potential link, suggesting that William might have been targeted by someone familiar with him and his surroundings.
Following William's death, the investigation was plagued with challenges. There were no signs of a struggle at the scene, and no items of value were stolen from him, leading some early investigators to theorize that his death may have been accidental or even the result of a self-inflicted act. However, this theory was contradicted by the coroner's findings. Further complicating the case, the scene was heavily disturbed by first responders and family members trying to save his life, which may have compromised crucial evidence.
The scarf, a beer bottle, and a knife found near his body were all sent to a crime lab for DNA testing, but these tests have yet to yield definitive results. Over the years, new technologies have promised to offer more insights, but delays have continued to hold back further testing. The lack of closure has led William's family to campaign for renewed attention to the case, with his sister using social media to spread awareness and gather any potential information that might lead to a breakthrough.
Despite multiple investigations, the case has never been solved. Speculation around William's death has varied from targeted attacks to potential connections to known criminals or serial offenders. However, no concrete suspects or motives have ever been established, and his death remains a tragic mystery. The Franklin County Sheriff's Office continues to treat it as an open case, hoping that advances in forensic technology might one day provide answers.
