Skeletal remains found in a wooded area in Galax, Virginia, in September 2022 have been identified as those of Logan Nathaniel Bowman, a five-year-old boy who went missing in 2003, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office announced on December 21, 2023.

Logan Nathaniel Bowman disappeared from Grayson County, Virginia, in January 2003. Nearly two decades later, a man who had recently purchased property in Galax discovered human remains in a trash bag, prompting a detailed investigation. 

The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the Texas-based forensic genetics company Othram Inc., played a pivotal role in identifying the remains.

Othram Inc., renowned for its expertise in forensic-grade genome sequencing and forensic genetic genealogy, developed a full DNA profile of the remains. This breakthrough helped in the identification of the remains as belonging to Bowman.

The case of Logan’s disappearance initially saw charges against his biological mother, Cynthia Davis, and her then-boyfriend Dennis Schermerhorn. 

Davis was convicted of secondary murder and sentenced to 15 years in prison. However, charges against Schermerhorn were dismissed in 2004 due to insufficient evidence. Despite the conviction of Davis, the location and fate of Logan had remained a mystery until the recent discovery.

Sheriff Kevin Kemp of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office described the case as an extremely rare and significant occurrence. The sheriff’s office has indicated that new charges are anticipated in the ongoing investigation, although specific details have not been disclosed.

The identification of Logan Nathaniel Bowman’s remains marks a significant advancement in a case that has lingered unresolved for two decades.