Human Remains Found in Alabama Identified as Escaped Mississippi Inmate Living Under a False Identity

Discovery of the Remains
In October 2005, hunters came across skeletal remains near railroad tracks off U.S. 31 near Garden City. Alongside the remains, investigators found a .22 revolver with five spent cartridge cases and one live round in the cylinder. A driver’s license belonging to a woman was also recovered at the scene.

Authorities later interviewed the woman, who revealed that her partner, Chad Patrick Singleton, had taken her identification and mysteriously disappeared a year before. However, as the investigation progressed, law enforcement uncovered a startling truth: the real Chad Singleton had passed away in 1995, meaning the man living under that name was actually someone else.

Unraveling the Mystery
For nearly two decades, the identity of the remains remained a mystery. In 2024, Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey reopened the case, seeking answers through modern forensic methods.

Investigators discovered that the man known as Chad Singleton had fathered two biological daughters while living in Blountsville, Alabama. Through advanced genetic genealogy, law enforcement identified a possible biological son of the deceased. DNA samples from a tooth extracted from the remains were compared to the potential son's DNA, ultimately confirming that the deceased was Patrick Grayson Spann.

A Fugitive’s Secret Life
Spann had been serving a two-year sentence for cocaine possession when he escaped from the Hinds County Detention Facility in Raymond, Mississippi. He and another inmate were on a work release assignment when they walked away and never returned.

At the time of his escape, Spann had built a reputation as a trustworthy worker. “He had earned our trust. We are just disappointed it happened,” a work supervisor told the Mississippi Clarion-Ledger following the disappearance.

After fleeing Mississippi, Spann assumed the identity of Chad Singleton and settled in Blountsville. Witnesses recalled that in October 2004, he left home one day and never came back. His abandoned vehicle was later discovered behind a barn off Bangor Hollow Road.

Ongoing Investigation into Cause of Death
While investigators do not believe Spann died of natural causes, the exact cause and manner of his death remain unknown. Law enforcement continues to follow leads in the case, hoping to uncover the truth behind his disappearance and death.

“Patrick Grayson Spann’s remains have been released to his family in Mississippi for a proper burial, but this does not conclude the investigation into his death,” said Casey. “State and local law enforcement will continue to pursue and follow leads until all remaining questions surrounding his death have been resolved.”

The Power of Genetic Genealogy
The identification of Spann marks a significant success for investigative genetic genealogy. The Blount County District Attorney’s Office worked alongside Moxxy Forensic Investigations to piece together Spann’s true identity using DNA analysis.

Casey hopes to apply the same forensic techniques to other unresolved cases. Currently, the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences holds more than 100 unidentified remains. Casey’s office is actively working to resolve three additional cold cases, with two already showing promising DNA matches.

Tim Sartain, a retired Alabama Bureau of Investigation agent, has been assisting with these investigations, and Blount County Coroner Lynn Sweatman played a crucial role in the Spann case.

Seeking More Information
Authorities urge anyone with knowledge regarding the disappearance and death of Patrick Grayson Spann, previously known as Chad Patrick Singleton, to contact the Blount County District Attorney’s Office.

This case highlights the importance of forensic advancements and collaboration in solving long-standing mysteries. While the Spann family can finally lay their loved one to rest, law enforcement remains committed to uncovering the full story behind his fate.