The body of a man who disappeared from Dover in 2017 was identified this week more than four years after his remains were found near a Stark County oil well.
Ohio Attorney General David Yost and Stark County officials Thursday morning at a press conference announced those remains were recently identified through new, advanced DNA testing as Michael Leach. His last known address was in Dover and he was around 61 years old when he went missing.
Stark County Sheriff George Maier said they are investigating Leach’s death as a possible homicide, although the cause is undetermined at this time.
“An initial assessment estimated that he had been deceased since approximately 2018. Forensic analysis indicated he suffered a skull and shoulder fracture at the time of his death.”
Officials said relatives helped create a DNA profile to identify Leach. Maier made a promise to those family members.
“On behalf of myself and the men and women of the Stark County Sheriff’s Office, We offer our condolences for your loss. We also offer our commitment. Our commitment to continuously and relentlessly pursue those who may be responsible for his death.”
Dover Police Chief Paul Bantum says the department conducted a welfare check on Leach back in 2017 but didn’t find him or anything out of the ordinary. He says his department hasn’t been involved in the case since then.
A police report from Aug. 4, 2017, says a female caller requested the welfare check on an older male neighbor named Mike in an apartment at 312 East Third Street, just a couple of blocks down from the Police Station. The report says Leach had not been seen in weeks.
Police found the windows open and a fan and TV on. No one answered the door, and no odor was detected, the report says. It also says police were unable to contact the landlord at the time.
Bantum says Leach just disappeared. Investigators in Stark County say a missing person report was never filed.
Bantum says before moving to Dover, Leach had spent time at the homeless shelter in New Philadelphia. He says prior to that welfare check police had been called to that residence for some minor complaints.
Stark County inspector Bill Jones said Leach lived a rough life and only talked to relatives once every few years. He said he had a criminal history of misdemeanor offenses.
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