Skeletal remains found earlier this year near McCullough Creek in the Southwest part of St. Johns County have been positively identified through DNA testing as a 78-year-old man reported missing over a decade ago.
Leigh Hobart Able Jr. was 78 years-old when he was reported missing from Volusia County in December 2001. A press release from the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office says that following the positive DNA match, District Medical Examiner Dr. Bulic ruled Able's death as a homicide.
The attached picture you see is a marker purchased by the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office which is placed where Abel's remains were located in February of this year. They hope it will help generate leads to investigators as well as bring closure to Able's family.
Able retired with his wife of 56 years, Margaret, to Orange City, Florida in 1989. On the day of his disappearance he went fishing at the beach at the Canaveral National Seashore Park, which he had done many times before.
He disappeared without a trace and his vehicle, a 1999 GMC Suburban SUV, was located a year later. It was abandoned in Boca Raton, Florida. No evidence could be found and his location was still unknown.
The clothing found with the remains earlier this year matched the description of Able's from when he disappeared in Volusia County. Also located with the remains was a GMC ignition key, which detectives used to successfully start Abel's vehicle.
Homicide detectives are seeking two individuals who may have information. Police say witnesses observed a man near the victim before he vanished. He was described as a clean-shaven Caucasian male in his twenties. He was never identified, but you can see a composite sketch of him attached on the left of this article.
Another possible lead comes from a CrimeStoppers tip that was received by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office in November 2003 apparently in response to flyers that were distributed in the area where Abel's vehicle was located. The tip started that a white man who goes by the nickname "Ziggy" has information. The tip said that "Ziggy" lived by himself at a Fort Lauderdale second floor apartment. He was described at 5'10" tall with a medium build and short brown hair and brown eyes. "Ziggy" has never been identified.
Anyone with any information concerning the disappearance of Mr. Able is asked to contact Detective Eugene Tolbert at the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office at (904) 209-3985. You can also remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a cash reward by calling CrimeStoppers of N.E. Florida at 1-(888) 277-TIPS (8477).
