The remains of a body found in 1982 have now been identified as Frank “Frankie” Little Jr of the legendary O’Jays signed to Philadelphia International Records.
Having joined the band in the mid-1960s as a guitarist and songwriter, the former R&B musician worked on a number of hits including ‘Do The Jerk’ and ‘Pretty Words’.
Almost forty years since the initial discovery, on Tuesday (12.14), the Twinsburg Police Department confirmed that human remains found in a bin bag behind a now-closed business back in 1982 belonged to the late musician. The “genealogical research of the DNA Doe Project” helped identify the body as the project supplied “the names of potential living relatives, who were able to provide Frank’s name” two months ago.
In a statement about the discovery, local police said: “A close relative provided a DNA sample, which was analyzed by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation Crime Lab.” “His identity was then confirmed by Dr. Lisa Kohler of the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office.”
Twinsburg Detective Eric Hendershott commented: “It’s definitely nice that we can give some answers to the family and hopefully they have some sense of closure.”“He had a life, and ultimately he ended up here in Twinsburg, with his life taken by another.”
Though there are few details, Little’s death has now been ruled as a homicide, “about his disappearance and death.”
Concerning the news, The O’Jays have addressed the discovery by stating “family and friends” find closure and in a statement to CNN, they said: “Frankie was a guitarist and songwriter in the very early O’Jays.” “He came with us when we first ventured out of Cleveland and travelled to Los Angeles, but he also was in love with a woman in Cleveland that he missed so much that he soon returned back to Cleveland after a short amount of time.” “That was in the mid 1960s and we had not heard from him after then.” “Although this sounds like a tragic ending, we wish his family and friends closure to what appears to be a very sad story.”
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Author: Saul Goode
Photo: Soul Train