This story is free to read.

Dental records match clears two local cold cases

Investigators with the East Ridge police and fire departments talk Friday, Dec. 27, 2013, at the remains of the former Hungry Fisherman restaurant which burned early Christmas morning. Authorities said that human remains were found in the ashes of the fire. Investigators with the East Ridge police and fire departments talk Friday, Dec. 27, 2013, at the remains of the former Hungry Fisherman restaurant which burned early Christmas morning. Authorities said that human remains were found in the ashes of the fire.

By Emmett Gienapp June 7, 2017 2 min read

Dental records show that human remains found in the aftermath of a 2013 fire on the 6700 block of Ringgold Road were those of a missing man.

The match cleared two cold cases after an investigator with the Hamilton County District Attorney’s Office began reviewing the cases on a hunch in April, according to a news release. The District Attorney’s Office said East Ridge Police Department was responsible for investigating the cases prior to them being handled by the Cold Case Unit.

On Christmas Day 2013, East Ridge firefighters responded to an extensive fire in the building that used to house the Hungry Fisherman restaurant on Ringgold Road. The building had been used frequently as a shelter by homeless people, and investigators were unable to determine what caused the fire.

Joshua Zipperer

Human remains were found inside, but the victim’s race and gender could not be determined because of the severity of the burns. An autopsy revealed he was a white male likely aged 30-40 who died of an acute alcohol overdose before the fire.

An anthropologist from the University of Tennessee also examined the remains and determined the victim had been between 5 feet, 4 inches and 5 feet, 7 inches in height.