A Mother’s Instinct Is Never Wrong

In 1999, Diana Mitchell’s son, Marcus, vanished. All she could do was hope everyone else was wrong.

Marcus was a first-year student at Morehouse College, the first in his family to attend. He was known as an upbeat and determined student and basketball player. His professors, teammates, and friends all said he was dependable. Everyone who knew him knew he was excited about his future, which made his disappearance all the more puzzling.

One evening in October 1999, Marcus was on his way home from the school library. He had told his mom he planned to be home before midnight, but he never showed. An investigation was launched, but it was hindered by a lack of leads. Officials told the Mitchells that this sometimes happens with young adults—that they often leave without warning. But Diana knew that wasn’t the case.

For the next 25 years, Diana searched for any sign or answer in her son’s disappearance. She kept his room intact in case he ever returned. Working with volunteer groups, attending community events and meetings, and even printing thousands of flyers, she never gave up. Diana kept Marcus’s memory alive through his daughter.

Jasmine, Marcus’s daughter, was born shortly after he disappeared. She grew up hearing stories about her dad from her grandmother, and at 18 she decided to prepare for a career in medicine. She also wanted to find out what happened to the father she never had the chance to meet.

In October 2024, Diana accompanied her granddaughter, Jasmine, to a public anatomy exhibit held at the Georgia World Congress Center. Jasmine hoped it would help her better understand human physiology. Neither of them had any idea that this exhibit would raise new questions—and answer some that had lingered for years.

The exhibit showcased preserved human forms. One in particular caught Diana’s eye; although she wasn’t a fan of looking at the bodies, it was a model in a basketball stance. She meant to glance at it only briefly, but she noticed a few physical features that were disturbingly familiar: orthopedic hardware on the ankle, a spinal variation, a healed bone line, and, lastly, a distinctive dental crown. These were all the same physical attributes her son, Marcus, had.

With her granddaughter’s assurance and encouragement, Diana contacted Angela Brooks, an attorney known for civil rights and medical ethics litigation. Brooks examined the specimen photographs and the family’s documentation, concluding that the matter warranted legal action. A petition was filed for DNA testing but was denied. The public saw Diana as just a grieving mother misinterpreting the similarities between her son and the specimen.

Filled with determination, Diana hired a private investigator. Raymond Torres began by investigating the supply chains involved in acquiring anatomical specimens for exhibits like the one Diana and Jasimen had visited. His search led him to a company that had historically collaborated with regional facilities that handled unclaimed remains during the period when Marcus went missing.

At the same time, Shayla Morrison, an investigative journalist, was examining the industry behind traveling anatomy exhibitions. Her research and reports raised concerns within the sector, including gaps in oversight and inconsistencies in donor documentation.

These discoveries caused a public uproar, which forced the Atlanta Police Department to reopen Marcus’s case. As Detective James Burke reviewed the original files, critical gaps were exposed. Among the records was an unverified assumption regarding unclaimed remains. Physical files from 1999, which had been archived, were retrieved and revealed that an unidentified young man had been brought to the hospital morgue during the same period when Marcus disappeared. After the legally required holding period, the remains were transferred to a private anatomical service provider. This finding provided sufficient cause for a DNA test, and the court approved it this time.

After 25 years, Diana had finally found her son. The test results confirmed a match between the specimen and Marcus. The news brought closure to Diana and Jasimen, but it also raised new questions: how Marcus died, how he was identified as an unclaimed individual, and how his remains ended up in an exhibit.

Marcus was returned to his family within a few months. His family and friends were finally able to lay him to rest peacefully and with dignity. Neighbors, former classmates, and friends honored his memory—and the mother who never gave up.

I do hope you enjoyed reading. I work hard to be respectful to the victims and families of the victims. There will be more to come, I just want to take my time researching to get the correct information out to my readers. Thanks for visiting Crime with Lilo! Stay safe and healthy! 🙂

P.S. I would love to hear from you on stories you would like covered or new ideas for the page!