PROVO, Utah — More than 40 years after a teenager vanished, authorities have confirmed that human remains discovered in 1983 belong to 17-year-old Robby Lynn Peay. Advancements in DNA analysis ultimately provided the long-awaited answer, resolving a case that had remained a mystery for decades.
Peay was last seen on October 7, 1982, when he ran away from a youth treatment facility in Salt Lake City. Just a few months later, in February 1983, skeletal remains were found in Arches National Park near Moab, Utah. However, due to the advanced state of decomposition, authorities were unable to identify the individual at the time.
The body, which had a gunshot wound to the head, bore some similarities to Peay, but dental record comparisons were inconclusive. With no clear identification, the remains were buried in Moab as “John Doe.”
Several months later, Peay’s abandoned truck was located near Lake Powell, approximately 350 miles from where the remains were discovered. Despite ongoing efforts, his family never received confirmation about his fate and ultimately had him legally declared deceased in 1990, placing a memorial in Provo Cemetery.
New Forensic Methods Lead to Identification
The breakthrough in the case began in 2018 when Peay’s details were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). Authorities soon discovered that Peay’s dental records had initially been misfiled. When the records were corrected, a strong match—around 90%—was identified between Peay and the remains from Moab.
Despite this lead, additional verification was needed. X-ray images from Peay’s youth were insufficient for confirmation, and with no surviving immediate biological relatives, investigators turned to an extended family member. After court records were unsealed in 2022, detectives located an uncle on Peay’s maternal side, who provided a DNA sample.
At the same time, authorities considered exhuming the unknown remains from Moab to extract a DNA sample. However, an unexpected discovery hastened the process. Investigators learned that years earlier, officials in Summit County had already collected a DNA sample from the unidentified body for an unrelated case. That sample had been archived and largely forgotten—until NamUs compared it with Peay’s uncle’s DNA, confirming a familial link.
Ongoing Homicide Investigation
Following this confirmation, the Utah medical examiner officially identified the remains as Robby Lynn Peay. The case has now been referred to Grand County authorities, who are investigating his death as a homicide.
“For over 40 years, Robby’s loved ones lived with unanswered questions,” said Detective Sergeant Patterson. “Now, with this crucial DNA evidence, we have finally been able to bring them some closure.”
As the investigation continues, authorities urge anyone with information about Peay’s disappearance or death to come forward .
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