SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue to investigate a 29-year-old murder and are asking the public for help with information.
On the morning of October 29, 1994 while cleaning the ditches and tree row’s in the 5600 block of west 47th Street South, workers with the Kansas Gas and Electric Company came across human remains buried in a shallow grave, according to a media release from the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office.
Following an examination by the Sedgwick County Coroner’s Office and a Forensic Anthropologist the manner of death was determined to be homicide.
Until May of 2023 the identity of the victim has remained unknown to detectives, greatly hampering the investigation. In late 2022 Sgt. Michael Guthrie of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office submitted and was awarded a grant for DNA testing of the victim by Othram Inc.
In May of 2023 Othram was able to utilize DNA technology to identify a relative of the victim and through further investigation an identification was made. Harold “James” Crawford, date of birth January 11th, 1973 was identified as the unknown victim. James was 21 at the time of his death and lived in an apartment complex on the east side of Wichita.
If you knew James or have any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, you’re asked to contact the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office. You can call the Cold Case Hotline at (316)660-3799, Crime Stoppers at (316)267-2111 or Email [email protected].