A man found dead in the northern part of Key Largo nearly four decades ago was recently identified with the help of advanced genetic and DNA technology.
On Thursday, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said its major crimes detectives, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the county medical examiner identified the human remains from the unresolved 1988 case as 61-year-old Alfonso James Spikes. The man was last seen in April 1988 leaving his Miami residence to meet an unknown individual.
The sheriff’s office said Spikes was found covered in trash and wrapped in three sheets off County Road 905 in north Key Largo. His shirt was pulled forward over his head. The body was found in advanced decomposition with partial skeletonization.
The Monroe County Medical Examiner ruled the cause and manner of death as undetermined, but likely a homicide.
In December 2023, a sample was submitted to FDLE’s crime laboratories for analysis with no leads obtained. In June 2025, DNA sequencing, genetic genealogy and other advanced scientific methods were employed during the investigation.
This past March, the results confirmed the identity of the diseased man as Spikes.
“I want to thank the hard work by the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office, the FDLE, and the Medical Examiner Office for providing closure to the friends and family of Mr. Spikes,” said Sheriff Rick Ramsay. “Even when cases go cold, we remain committed to providing justice and solace to those affected.”
The investigation into Spikes’ death remains open and anyone with information is asked to contact Monroe County Sheriff’s Office’s major crimes detectives at 305-289-2410.
This marks the third positive identification of a decomposed individual using advanced genetic and DNA technology this year. In late January, the sheriff’s office announced remains found near Second Street on Big Pine Key on Sept. 14, 2017, in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, were those of James Donald Schlake, 77, of Key Largo. Due to the advanced state of decomposition, investigators were unable to identify him at the time. Following an autopsy, the Monroe County Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be drowning and ruled the manner of death accidental.
In December 2023, a sample was submitted to FDLE’s crime laboratories for analysis with no leads obtained. In June 2025, a sample was forwarded to Othram Inc. for advanced DNA sequencing and genetic genealogy research. In December 2025, after potential genetic relatives were identified, investigators confirmed the remains as those of Schlake and notified the next of kin.
Remains found April 9, 2014, in Unit 5-A of the Breezy Pines RV Estates on Big Pine Key were confirmed to be Igor Kolomiets, 52, of Big Pine Key. The autopsy found the cause and manner of death to be undetermined. During attempts to notify next of kin, inconsistencies were identified within immigration records involving individuals with the same name. As a result, the deceased was classified as unidentified.
In April 2025, FDLE submitted the decedent’s fingerprints to the FBI, U.S. Border Patrol, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, all of which returned no identification. Further review with Homeland Security Investigations revealed multiple individuals named Igor Kolomiets. Two individuals with differing dates of birth were confirmed to have border crossings after April 9, 2014, excluding them as the decedent.
Records for Kolomiets indicate his last entry into the U.S. occurred on Oct. 17, 1997, through Miami, Florida, with no subsequent border crossings. Immigration and Florida driver license records list addresses in Big Pine Key and Key West, consistent with the location where the remains were discovered. The Florida driver license transaction date of Nov. 4, 1997, and the license photograph depict a white male with straight dirty-blonde hair, consistent with the medical examiner’s description.
