Police Identify Victim of 1988 Colorado Cold Case 33 Years Later

After 33 years, Colorado authorities now know the identity of a 1988 cold case victim.

According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the case began in August of that year, when officers from the Sheridan Police Department (SPD) found the body of an unresponsive male on West Oxford Ave. After finding no identification at the scene, police listed the man as a John Doe.

READ: Colorado Woman Identified as Victim in 44-Year-Old Cold Case

Until now.

Denver7 reports that, on Wednesday (Oct. 27), SPD Detective Bryan Penry identified the victim as Akram Bada'an, who was 36 years old at the time of his death.

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Authorities discovered his identity through the power of genetic genealogy, which helped investigators to find Bada'an's surviving family in Israel.

"The most important thing in this case, aside from giving the victim justice, is giving Akram Bada'an his name back," said Det. Penry in a news conference published by the station. "I would like to extend my gratitude to the agencies that helped to assist in identifying Bada'an and for the extraordinary dedication from the Sheridan Police Department over the last 33 years."

LOOK: Arrest Made in 1981 Cold Case Involving Murder of Colorado Woman

Although Bada'an is no longer a John Doe, his case still remains unsolved.

Police do not yet know who killed him or why they did it. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Denver Metro Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-STOP (7867). Tipsters are eligible for a $2,000 reward.

There are currently more than 30 unsolved cold cases in Larimer and Weld counties alone. Find out more about these cases in the gallery below.