A nearly seven-year investigation into the identity of human remains found in eastern Lyon County has concluded.
Lyon County Detective Sgt. Travis Mishler says the investigation started in late April 2017 after a skull was found along the banks of the Neosho River in the 2000 block of Road 145 on the west side of Neosho Rapids, as well as more remains and a digital watch inside a trash bag nearby. Later that year, case details were submitted into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. Authorities then followed that step by submitting the case to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, for DNA analysis.
More work followed in 2022 as the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office began working with Othram, a company specializing in solving cold cases. That partnership developed new leads for law enforcement to follow, and Lyon County detectives contacted a possible relative of the man, who has now been identified as Randy Bruce Clayton.
Deputies are not releasing additional information with this case still being actively investigated. Residents with information can email sheriff@lyoncounty.org.
Deputies are thanking, the FBI, NamUS, Othram/DNASolves.com and the Lyon County Attorney’s Office for their work in this case.
