After nearly five decades, the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office has identified a man whose body was discovered in 1978.
The victim, previously known only as “John Doe,” has been identified through advanced DNA testing as Jesse Lee Williamson, a white male born in 1926 and believed to be from North Carolina.
Williamson’s body was found by a maintenance worker near the Pool Knob Recreation Area near Percy Priest Lake. Investigators determined he had been shot and set on fire. Despite years of work, the case went cold until 2014, when detectives began exploring new DNA testing methods.
The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office partnered with a Texas-based laboratory to analyze a DNA sample, which eventually led to the discovery of potential family members. That sample matched to one of Williamson’s nieces, confirming his identity after more than 45 years.
The investigation into Williamson’s death remains active, and detectives are asking the public for help. Anyone who may have known Jesse Lee Williamson or has information about his time in Middle Tennessee during the 1970s is urged to contact the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office at 615-898-7777.
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