Identity Uncovered: 24-Year-Old Mystery of Body in Kentucky Lake Solved

Roger Dale Parham's remains were positively identified by Kentucky State Police about 25 years ago.Photo byKentucky State Police

Decades after a man was discovered wrapped in chains in a Kentucky lake, police have finally identified him as Roger Dale Parham, a fugitive wanted by the FBI. Despite this breakthrough, authorities continue to seek answers about his death and the circumstances surrounding how he ended up at Lake Barkley.

Parham, who was evading Arkansas authorities on rape charges in the late 1990s, disappeared after skipping a court appearance. His body was found by a fisherman in May 1999, but traditional investigative methods failed to identify him. Even after various forensic tests in 2016, no matches were made.

Recent advancements in genealogy DNA testing, conducted by the state police in collaboration with the National Missing and Unidentified Person System and Othram Inc., led to the breakthrough identification of Parham's remains.

Although the cause of his death remains unknown, authorities are treating it as a homicide and have an ongoing investigation. Individuals with information about Parham's death are urged to contact the Kentucky State Police for assistance.