Polk County Sheriff provides graveside services for recently identified ‘John Doe’

POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WWSB) – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office, working with a local funeral home, is arranging the funeral for a murder victim who was recently identified by detectives investigating a cold case.

Mack Lavelle Proctor was murdered on May 17, 1952, over 52 years ago.

When the murder occurred 52 years ago, the victim was unidentified and buried in a pauper’s grave. Detectives managed to determine the identity of his killers. All parties involved are dead.

The detectives who solved the case will be his coffin bearers.

Proctor has a 77-year-old son who is too sick to make it to duty. At the time of his father’s death, the family reported him missing and didn’t know what happened to him until sheriff’s detectives solved the case.

“We can finally bring peace and closure to Mr. Proctor’s family now that he has been identified thanks to the hard work of our detectives and the collection of DNA samples from his family. His son finally feels at peace knowing what happened and where his father is. Thanks to members of the public who donate to our charity, we will be able to honor Mr. Proctor as he deserves.” This was announced by Sheriff Grady Judd.