The disappearance of Edward Beaudion, a 22-year-old Chicago man who went missing in 1978, had been a cold case for decades, until his remains were finally identified via DNA that was collected to establish potential victims of notorious serial killer John Wayne Gacy.

In 2011, Beaudion’s family submitted DNA to Cook County police after the department called upon relatives of missing persons who may have been victims of Gacy. John Wayne Gacy, Jr., also known as the Killer Clown, was convicted of the sexual assault and murder of at least 33 teenage boys and young men in a series of killings committed between 1972 and 1978 around Chicago.

Here is a documentary on Gacy, also known as “Pogo the Clown”:

Beaudion’s remains were discovered in 2008 by a family hiking in a forest preserve, though the DNA his family submitted wasn’t tested until 2013. At a press conference Wednesday morning, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart commented that the DNA was a match to Beaudoin’s body. Beaudion’s sister, Ruth Rodriguez, said, “I can’t understand why (he was killed). I’ll never get any answers for that, but at least putting the cross out there we have somewhere we can go and pray and connect with my brother.”

John Wayne Gacy case helps clear up mystery of man who went missing in 1978. http://t.co/vWXfkOGoKL pic.twitter.com/ZoiNI1HJeb

— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) April 23, 2014

We've solved our 4th cold cases related to the Gacy investigation. Wonderful to bring closure to the Beaudion family http://t.co/2dMiSx2tER

— Tom Dart (@TomDart) April 23, 2014

Beaudion vanished after borrowing his sister’s car in July, 1978. The car was found three weeks later in Missouri, and a man named Jerry Jackson was arrested for its theft. Jackson had confessed to killing Beaudion, but was never charged because Beaudion’s body was never located. Jackson died in 2013, before charges could be filed against him in Beaudoin’s death.

Sheriff Dart and Rodriguez both suggest that those with missing relatives nationwide should submit DNA samples to authorities to help identify bodies.

I ask that anyone who believes their male relative may have been a Gacy victim call 708-865-6244. More tips means closure for more families.

— Tom Dart (@TomDart) April 23, 2014

Since we reopened the Gacy investigation in 2011, we have identified 1 Gacy victim and closed 3 other cold cases through Gacy-related tips.

— Tom Dart (@TomDart) April 23, 2014

Image via Twitter