After more than three decades, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office has identified a previously unidentified homicide victim found in 1988 as Pamela Leigh Walton.
On September 25, 1988, deputies discovered the remains of a deceased individual approximately 30 feet off the side of CR 474 in a rural, heavily wooded area. The victim had been deceased for two to four weeks and was initially believed to be female. However, in 2015, DNA testing revealed the victim was biologically male. The victim, known as “Julie Doe,” was found wearing a skirt and had breast implants, with evidence suggesting they may have been undergoing hormone therapy.
With the assistance of Dr. Barbara Wolf, the District Medical Examiner for Districts 5 and 24, the case was taken on by the DNA Doe Project, a nonprofit specializing in investigative genetic genealogy. After extensive research, genealogists identified possible relatives of “Julie Doe,” who were contacted by investigators. DNA samples submitted by these relatives confirmed the victim’s identity as Pamela Leigh Walton.
Walton was born biologically male in Kentucky and put up for adoption, later being named Lee Allen Walton. As an adult, Walton changed their name to Pamela Leigh Walton and was transitioning from male to female.
It remains unclear how Walton ended up in Florida, and their manner of death has been classified as undetermined. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding Walton’s death and is seeking additional information.
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