BREAKING: Family confirms identity of mystery man

The identity of the man whose remains were found in a wooded area near Dover almost two years ago has been confirmed by his family.

The man has been positively identified as Ian Michael Withrow, 33, said Dover Police Department spokesman Cpl. Mark Hoffman.

The family, of Felton, came into Dover Police headquarters on July 12 after recognizing the facial reconstruction done by a Texas forensic artist. Based on that information, as well as information about tattoos and data that was not released to the public, police were able to confirm the remains as Withrow’s, Offman said.

“They saw the pictures posted online and the restored tattoos and thought it might be him,” Hoffman said.

Withrow’s remains were found in November 2012 by a hiker, behind the Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse in north Dover. There was no identification on the body, which police estimated had been there for approximately three months.

Withrow was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having achieved the rank of machinists mate while serving aboard the U.S.S. John C. Stennis. He also worked for the Northeast Plumbing Supply Company.

A copy of Withrow’s skull was sent to Denton County, Texas, deputy sheriff Leslie Willingham, who created a forensic model; photos of the reconstruction were provided to the media by Dover Police and the Office of Chief Medical Examiner.

“The combined effort of getting the word out to newspapers and television really helped,” Hoffman said. “Had it not been for that cooperation, we probably would not have resolved this.”