The Haunting Secret: Unraveling the Enigma of a Vanished Rape Suspect 25 Years On

Described as charming by the FBI, Roger Dale Parham was known for his various roles, including odd-job man, antiques peddler, and a potential interest in photography. However, he faced serious allegations in late 1998 when he was arrested on a charge of raping a minor in Arkansas. Despite being released on bond, the 52-year-old was scheduled to stand trial on multiple criminal charges.

The laborer, who had previously preferred cash payments, disappeared and was believed to have fled the area to avoid being prosecuted, according to the police. A warrant for Parham's arrest was issued by the state court, with the FBI later charging him with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. During the early stages of the fugitive hunt, a separate pursuit began two states away, near a lake known for its wildlife and outdoor activities.

Just like the search for Parham, solving this quest would rely on law enforcement. It would also require patience and perseverance, as well as uncovering new questions that may take years to answer. None of this was evident on the Thursday in May 1999 when two fishermen in Kentucky made a startling discovery.

And it was a strange one.

May have traveled to Mexico

The body was clearly intended to be submerged in Lake Barkley, as it had been "wrapped in heavy tire chains," according to state police. Adding to the gruesome scene, the body was also "anchored with a hydraulic jack."

Investigators at the turn of the new century had only traditional investigative techniques at their disposal, which were insufficient to identify the remains. They secured the anonymous body and continued with their police work.

Law enforcement in Sebastian County, Arkansas, including the Fort Smith seat and the FBI's Little Rock field office, continued the search for Roger Dale Parham. The FBI suggested in its "Wanted" poster that he may have fled to Mexico. The poster included a circa-1997 photo of the fugitive, described as a white man with brown hair, parted severely on the left, and blue eyes behind aviator-style frames.

The FBI sought the public's help in finding Parham.

FBI

The bureau advised anyone with information about Parham to contact a local FBI office "or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate."

New details offer critical clues

- The individual is wanted for "Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution - Rape, Failure to Appear." Additional information about the missing man includes: 5-foot-10; 225 pounds; National Crime Information Center ID W950143040.

Parham remained untraceable for over ten years. However, during that period, there was a growing possibility of a breakthrough in the case of another missing person. With access to DNA technology, dental examinations, forensic pathology, and other advanced forensic testing, Kentucky law enforcement officers decided to exhume the body recovered from Lake Barkley in 2016. The state police expressed hope that further examinations would aid in the identification process.

However, none of those methods were successful, according to their statement. "(T)he victim's identity remained unknown."

In early 2017, authorities also made a new advancement by entering a profile for the remains into the National Missing and Unidentified Person System, under case #UP75. The one-page report provided additional details about the victim who was found "floating in Lake Barkley."

He sported gold crowns and a permanent bridge, donning an oversized T-shirt featuring a "No Fear Sports Bar" logo, a Dallas Cowboys windbreaker, and 10 1/2 wide Voit tennis shoes. Additionally, he had brown hair and was estimated to fall between the ages of 35 and 50. Described as standing between 5-foot-6 and 6-foot-1, he weighed in at 235 to 255 pounds.

One mystery solved. A new one emerges

Still, nobody could find Parham.

Earlier this year, the Kentucky State Police enlisted the services of a private laboratory specializing in forensic genealogy. This innovative approach combines DNA evidence with traditional genealogy techniques, including the use of public documents to construct family trees and identify biological connections among individuals.

This method has been successfully used to link perpetrators to crimes, such as in the case of the Happy Face Killer, who killed eight women, and the Golden State Killer, who is suspected of a dozen murders and over 50 rapes. It has also been employed to bring closure to individuals, like a woman who spent her whole life wondering about her mother's disappearance when she was just 1 year old.

Connie Christensen and her daughter Misty LaBean

Courtesy Misty LaBean

Her mother vanished when she was 1. Some 40 years later, a phone call from a stranger helped her understand why

The private lab, Othram Inc., and the National Missing and Unidentified Person System conducted advanced DNA testing on the Lake Barkley remains, which led to a connection with a relative of the unidentified body, according to police.

After connecting the genealogical dots, investigators were able to successfully "identify the remains," they reported.

The body belonged to Roger Dale Parham.

A little more research led investigators back to Arkansas to learn Parham had been awaiting trial, they said.

The manhunt, finally, was over.

Parham's cause of death is still unknown, according to police. The condition in which his body was discovered has led to a new mystery surrounding the case, which is now twenty-five years old. "Because of the suspicious nature of the discovery of the remains," police stated, "this case is being treated as a homicide and is under investigation."

CNNs Amanda Jackson contributed to this report.