Bones found in 1997 identified as 22-year-old who vanished after breakup, Florida cops say

A 22-year-old left home to get some space in 1994 after a tough breakup, then he disappeared, according to Florida authorities.

Bones found by land surveyors in 1997 have now been identified as his, the Volusia Sheriff’s Office announced Feb. 13.

Ryan Stone, described by his family as “a loving and caring person,” hadn’t been seen in about 30 years, deputies said.

“Detectives determined Stone had gone through a difficult breakup in 1993-94 and had left home to take some time for himself,” deputies wrote in a news release. “There were no indications of suicidal thoughts or substance abuse.”

Land surveyors were working in a wooded area of DeBary the morning of Nov. 17, 1997, when they came across skeletal remains, according to investigators. Law enforcement said they found a red shirt, shorts, socks and sneakers along with the remains, and a medical examiner determined the man had died one to three years before the bones were found.

The victim was classified as a John Doe, then forensic genealogy company Othram Labs began working the cold case along with the sheriff’s office in February 2024, deputies said.

Scientists used genetic genealogy to identify possible relatives of the person, and they landed on a match that they believed to be John Doe’s father, according to the sheriff’s office.

Stone’s dad provided a DNA sample that confirmed the John Doe was his son, Ryan, deputies said.

According to investigators, there was no evidence of foul play where Stone was found, but his cause and manner of death haven’t been determined. The investigation is ongoing.

DeBary is about a 25-mile drive northeast from Orlando.

This story was originally published February 13, 2025 at 12:54 PM with the headline "Bones found in 1997 identified as 22-year-old who vanished after breakup, Florida cops say."