Man Drowns on Alabama Coast: Identity Remains Unknown

With the drowning deaths of three young men from Alabama in the news, the dangers of ocean swimming have been in the spotlight. Dangerous rip currents, that occur often off the beaches of Alabama and the Florida panhandle, kill dozens of people each decade. That was the case almost 20 years ago, when it's believed that a rip current claimed the life of a young man in Gulf Shores. Sadly, his identity remains unknown. Renewed interest in the case, however, may finally help find the man's identity.

Photo byComposite of photos by Freepik.com

In 2005, the southern coast of the U.S. was brutally pounded by Hurricane Katrina. In the wake of the destruction, thousands of workers from North and South America flocked to the southern U.S. to find jobs in construction or clean-up efforts. Authorities believe that's what brought a young man, possibly from Mexico or South America, all the way to the coast of Alabama. He was probably there to work or help rebuild in the heavily damaged Gulf Shores area.

Less than a month after Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita slammed the already damaged southern U.S. coast. In the days leading up to Hurricane Rita, dangerous waves and rip currents formed off the coast of Alabama. In the wake of these dangerous conditions, a young man's lifeless body was found on a public beach at Gulf Shores on September 24, 2005. Authorities speculated that he had just drowned within minutes of his body being found. They also believed he was at the beach alone that day.

There was no identification on the young man, believed to be only 20 to 25 years old and of Latino descent. There were also no tattoos. The only marks on his body were a few permanent scars. He had a one-inch scar on his left knee and several on his right knee. On the left side of his abdomen, he had a one and a half-inch scar. He had black hair, a mustache and small goatee. He was approximately 5'6" and weighed 125 to 148 lbs. Because of the young man's Latino descent, authorities of Gulf Shores named him Dante Doe.

In March 2024, genealogy analyst Olivia McCarter with Moxxy Forensic Investigations became interested in the case. With the help of Lt. Nate Harris of the Gulf Shores Police Department, she conducted a DNA analysis on the man. Although she was unable to find any relatives, the DNA analysis did provide some clues that might help with his identity. She found that he was likely from Oxacala, Mexico. According to a LinkedIn article by Moxxy Forensic Investigations,

Genealogical analysis shows that the man may have had one parent who had ancestry in Northern Central America, countries of interest including Guatemala and Venezuela, and the other parent having ancestry in Southern Mexico, with likely ties to Oaxaca.

Armed with new DNA analysis, forensic artist Carl Koppelman produced a new composite of what the man might have looked like. This is the first artistic rendering of the man released since his death.

"Dante Doe" unsolved drowning victim in Gulf Shores, Alabama, 2005Photo byArtist Carl Koppelman (as shared by Moxxy Forensic Investigations)

Lt. Harris of the Gulf Shores PD says they won't give up on finding the young man's identity. He stressed that the case is not a criminal case, so anyone who comes forward will not be in any kind of trouble. The young man's death was determined to be an accidental drowning. Lt. Harris told Fox10TV in a 2024 interview,

“Everybody matters and this man is somebody’s brother or son and I just want to bring peace to somebody who has been wondering where he has been all these years.”

If you think you may have known this young man, be related to him, or have any information at all, please contact Lt. Harris of the Gulf Shores Police Department at (251) 968- 9836 or message Moxxy Forensic Investigations via their Facebook Page. Moxxy Forensics also encourages anyone with ancestral ties to Northern Central America and specifically Guatemala and Venezuela, to upload their DNA profile to Gedmatch.com. You could help solve this mystery.

Click "follow" for more articles about the great state of Alabama! I'm a native and resident of the Shoals area, sharing events and unique stories about the places and people across our state. Have a story to tell? Email me: april.newsbreak@gmail.com