The remains of an eastern Kentucky man allegedly killed by his wife and a former eastern Kentucky sheriff’s deputy have at last been identified using Rapid DNA Analysis.
Tyler North, 27, was reported missing by family on June 25, 2018, after he failed to show up for work after leaving a family member’s house near the Leslie/Harlan county line. His burned out truck was located in July 2018 in Warbranch, a small town about 10 miles north of Harlan. There was no sign of North.
Then, only eight days later, what was believed to be North’s remains were found near Glady Branch Road and Little Stinnett Road, a rural area about 15 miles east of Manchester and 20 miles north of Harlan.
The remains were transported to the state Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort for examination and identification.
On Wednesday, Kentucky State Police received information that Rapid DNA Analysis confirmed the remains to be North.
“When the human remains were first located, KSP was unable to obtain a DNA profile,” state police said. “Without the Rapid DNA Analysis, it could have potentially taken many years before identification could have been made.”
Lewis and Lena North’s murder trial is scheduled for later this year.
(Headline photo: Jeremy Lewis, Lena North)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
