On October 30, 1984, Arkansas Department of Transportation workers discovered a man's body while mowing grass along Interstate 40, approximately 4.5 miles west of Carlisle in Lonoke Count.
The autopsy, conducted at the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory, determined the cause of death as strangulation, classifying it as a homicide. Initially, the victim remained unidentified, and the case entered the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP 2823, known as Lonoke County John Doe.
For 40 years, the investigation remained stagnant, with no viable leads to pursue. However, in March 2024, the Arkansas State Police (ASP) Cold Case Unit, formed in 2020, began reviewing the case to ensure it maintained a contemporary status.
The unit, composed of Special Agents and retired law enforcement officers, focuses on homicides and long-term missing person cases unsolved for two years or more, with no unexplored investigatory leads Arkansas State Police Cold Cases.
In September 2024, the ASP Cold Case Unit submitted the remains to Othram Labs, a Texas-based facility specializing in forensic DNA and genealogy testing. Othram's advanced techniques, including forensic genetic genealogy, provided a tentative identification on January 27, 2025, naming the victim as Earl James McDaniel, aged 53, originally from Kansas City, Missouri.
To confirm, investigators identified a potential relative in Washington state and, with assistance from the Washington State Attorney General's Office Cold Case Unit, located McDaniel's daughter. Her DNA sample, submitted in early February 2025, was analyzed by Othram Labs, and on February 24, 2025, McDaniel's identity was officially confirmed Arkansas State Police identify 1984 homicide victim.
Investigation into McDaniel's background revealed a complex history. He had been incarcerated in Washington state during the 1960s, was paroled in Oklahoma in the early 1980s, and had numerous arrests throughout the United States.
His last known contact with law enforcement occurred on September 11, 1984, when the Oskaloosa, Iowa, Police Department arrested him for operating a vehicle while intoxicated
This arrest, less than two months before his death, provides a potential timeline for his movements, suggesting he may have been traveling through the Midwest at the time of his murder.
Efforts to uncover specific details about his prison records in Washington or subsequent arrests were limited by the availability of online historical data. However, it is clear that McDaniel's criminal history, including his time in prison and multiple arrests, may have contributed to the circumstances leading to his death, though the exact connections remain under investigation.
As of March 6, 2025, the ASP Cold Case Unit continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding McDaniel's death, seeking to uncover new leads. The unit's efforts are part of a broader mission to provide closure to families, with 117 unsolved murder cases under their purview as of mid-2024.
information by contacting ColdCase@asp.arkansas.gov, emphasizing the importance of community involvement in resolving cold cases.
The identification of McDaniel aligns with other recent cold case successes, such as the 1981 murders of siblings Gordon and Karen Ann Alexander in Texarkana, solved with the help of DNA advancements.
