Skeletal Remains Found Along I-90 Near Albert Lea in 2015 Identified

Albert Lea, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office says the human remains found along Interstate 90 10 years ago have been identified. 

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In a news release issued on Wednesday morning Freeborn County Sheriff Ryan Shea called the identification a “big step forward in the case,” and said, “I am happy we are able to provide some answers to his family after all these years.” 

Freeborn County authorities enlisted the help of a team of genetic genealogists to identify the remains. 

Team of Genetic Genealogists ID Skeletal Remains Found Along I-90 Near Albert Lea in April of 2015

Authorities located the skeletal remains of a male along Interstate 90 near Albert Lea On April 6, 2015. 

Investigators also located Levi’s brand pants, Stafford brand underwear, Mario de Gerard loafers, a 10k gold ring with a ruby colored stone, and coins with dates ranging from 1965 to 1992 near the remains. 

At the time, forensic authorities believed the remains were a hispanic man and suspected he was 40-55 years old at the time of his death, the news release says. 

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Investigators contacted the DNA Doe Project for assistance with the case in 2021 and provided the team of genetic genealogists with his DNA in 2024. His DNA revealed he was of Mexican descent and that he had multiple close DNA matches. 

The genealogists then learned he was the son of a Mexican couple who settled in El Paso, TX. The couple had three sons and one was unaccounted for. 

The team identified the unaccounted for son and the Freeborn County John Doe as Luis Gilberto Robledo. A sample of DNA provided by one of his children confirmed the remains were Robledo, the news release says. 

The last trace of Robledo in public records was an obituary published in 1990 that stated Robledo lived in Mexico. He was raised in El Paso but at one point moved to Los Angeles, the news release says. 

Genetic Genealogists also determined Robledo was in his 70’s or 80’s when he died. 

Authorities say they still don’t know how Robledo ended up in Minnesota and when exactly he died, although investigators suspect it was sometime between 2000 and 2012.  

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The Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate Robledo’s death. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office at 507-377-5200.