LORTON, VIRGINIA — In a stunning breakthrough, authorities have finally identified a young boy whose body was discovered under a bridge in Fairfax County more than five decades ago. Known only as “Charles Lee” since 1972, the child has now been confirmed through forensic genealogy as Carl Matthew Bryant, a 4-year-old boy from Philadelphia.
Carl’s tragic story had long haunted investigators and the local community. On June 13, 1972, his small body was found badly beaten beneath the Richmond Highway bridge in Lorton. With no identification and no one stepping forward, he was buried under a false name — forgotten by the world, but not by those who continued to work the case.
Now, thanks to a breakthrough by Astrea Forensics, who successfully extracted DNA from a preserved hair sample, investigators have traced Carl’s identity and uncovered a deeply disturbing family history.
A Mother’s Silence, A Brother Still Missing
Carl’s mother, Vera Bryant, never reported him missing. Even more chilling: Carl had a baby brother, James Bryant, just six months old at the time, who also disappeared alongside him. The infant has never been found.
Authorities now believe Vera Bryant and her boyfriend, James Hedgepeth, were directly involved in Carl’s death. Both adults are now deceased, eliminating the possibility of prosecution — but not the pursuit of truth.
Fairfax County detectives revealed that Carl had been taken from Philadelphia and likely endured abuse before his murder. What happened to baby James remains unknown — and investigators fear he may have met a similar fate.
DNA Uncovers the Truth After Five Decades
The boy’s identity was finally confirmed through forensic genealogy, a process that used the DNA from Carl’s preserved hair to locate distant relatives. That DNA match led to a family tree, interviews with surviving family members, and confirmation of Carl’s identity.
“He has his name back,” one detective said. “Carl Matthew Bryant is no longer a John Doe buried under a false name. He was loved. He mattered. And now, he will not be forgotten.”
Ongoing Search for Baby James
While Carl’s case is now officially closed, the disappearance of James Bryant remains open. Authorities are urging the public — especially those who lived in Philadelphia or Northern Virginia in the early 1970s — to come forward with any information about the Bryant family.
Even the smallest tip could unlock the final chapter in this decades-old mystery.
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