BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — For nearly 40 years, a man found dead near Interstate 25 in Colorado remained identified. But last month, students in a Bergen County-based college program helped give him a name.
It was on Nov. 3, 1986 that police recovered the skeletal remains of a man in the Midway Ranch area, south of Colorado Springs. He had suffered a gunshot wound, said the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.
The man was believed to have been 5’4” to 5’7” in height, 30 to 40 years of age. He was wearing Calvin Klein jeans and a blue/green sweatshirt at the time of his death.
The man became known as "Colorado Springs John Doe" after investigators couldn't find a way to identify him.
In 2025, the sheriff's Cold Case Unit reached out to the Ramapo College Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center, based in Mahwah.
Ever since the IGG program debuted at the New Jersey college three years ago, students and staff have helped solve 43 cases — 25 of which have been made public so far, assistant director Cairenn Binder recently told Patch. (See other cases below.)
Investigators sent John Doe's teeth to Astrea Forensics for DNA extraction and analysis.
After several weeks of research, IGG staff members at Ramapo though John Doe might fit the profile of a missing man named Peter Joseph Paskovich Jr.
Detectives from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, confirmed Paskovich's identity last month.
Retured to Boyhood Home
Investigators found that Pascovich had lived near Colorado Springs as a boy.
His father had served in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at what was then known as Ent Air Force Base in the area. While the family lived there, Paskovich was a member of Cub Scout Pack 173 and attended Widefield High School for a time.
His family eventually moved to San Antonio, Texas.
But something brought Pascovich back to Colorado Springs as an adult. He was confirmed to have been in the area in October 1985.
Detectives still don't know who killed him. But they believe he was shot between July and December of 1985.
"Although Mr. Paskovich has been identified, this case remains a homicide investigation," sheriffs said in a release on Monday.
El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal said, "This case is a powerful reminder we never stop seeking the truth, no matter how much time has passed. For nearly four decades, this man had no name, but he was never forgotten."
He added, "We are grateful to the organizations and experts who assisted in this effort, and most importantly, we hope this brings a measure of closure to Mr. Paskovich’s family. We remain dedicated to pursuing justice and determining the circumstances surrounding his death.”
Program Assistant Director Cairenn Binder said, "Although Mr. Paskovich’s family tree was complicated by recent immigration and low genetic associations, our team was able to help restore his name after nearly four decades as a John Doe. We thank the members of the public who facilitated his identification.”
Anyone who knew Paskovich is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office tipline at 719-520-7777 or Pikes Peak Area Crime Stoppers at 719-634-7867. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through Pikes Peak Area Crime Stoppers online here.
Other Cases Recent Solved By IGG
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