Who was Keith Lavell Bibbs? Identity of remains found dumped on Indiana farm in 1983 released
NEWTON COUNTY, INDIANA: Human remains that were discovered in an Indiana farm in 1983 have now been successfully identified. DNA testing reportedly confirmed that the deceased was a 16-year-old boy from Chicago named Keith Lavell Bibbs, who was killed by serial killer Larry Eyler. The teen was believed to be one of the numerous people whom Eyler killed in the ’80s and ’90s.
The then-death-row prisoner admitted to killing at least 20 people before dying at Pontiac Correctional Center in March 1994 because of AIDS-related issues, The Daily Mail reported. A press release issued by DNA Doe Project stated, “The DNA Doe Project, in collaboration with the Newton County Coroner’s Office, has announced the successful identification of a long-unidentified victim of notorious serial killer Larry Eyler as Keith Lavell Bibbs. Bibbs had been known only as Adam Doe for nearly 40 years.”
Who was Keith Lavell Bibbs?
The official statement noted, “Bibbs is the last of four Eyler victims found on an abandoned farm in rural Lake Village, Indiana, to be identified,” before adding that his “identification was hampered, as Black people are underrepresented in the DNA databases available for searching. Researchers worked back many, many generations to find a common thread among DNA relatives.”
Newton County Coroner Scott McCord revealed that steps have been taken to send the teen’s remains to his family. “Everything’s done except for getting him back home. It’s been a long road getting all those kids identified,” he reportedly said. Also, a statement by Newton County, Indiana Coroner's Office said that Bibbs was murdered after being drugged by his killer.
“At this time no further information will be released until the family has had time to grieve and they give permission to release more detailed information. It is the hopes of this Office that the family’s wishes will be honored and that they be given the time that they need to deal with this development,” it added.
‘Wonderful that the family now has closure’
Meanwhile, the breakthrough in the case of Bibbs has received a lot of appreciation online with a user commenting, “Thank you so much for giving him his name back and giving his family answers. We have a family member, my son's great-uncle, who left home one day as a young boy and never returned. I hope we get answers someday.”
Another user shared, “I'm glad he finally has his name back. My heart goes out to his family.” A third stated, “Wonderful that the family now has closure. My prayers go out to them. I heard about this case on unsolved mysteries podcast and it stuck with me. ❤️ rip.” “So glad you got your name back, Keith Lavell Bibbs. Rest in Power and Peace,” someone else wrote.