DNA breakthrough in Fort Myers case identifies Porter Albert's remains 6 years later

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

Partial human remains have been located and identified through a DNA match as belonging to Porter Albert, a 78-year-old Fort Myers man last seen in 2020.

According to the Fort Myers Police Department, they received confirmation from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement that the remains were from Albert, who was reported missing in 2020.

Albert was last seen on Jan. 15, 2020, and reported missing on Jan. 21, 2020. Police said he was last seen inside Big Lots on US-41 in North Fort Myers at 6:45 p.m.

Detectives called a woman named Tiffany Contestable a person of interest in his disappearance.

At the time, Albert's family members said he was trying to help Contestable and her mother, who were going through a hard time.

Shortly after he disappeared, the Cape Coral Police Department found Contestable driving his vehicle and she was arrested for driving without a license.

According to detectives, Contestable told Cape Coral police that night she was driving Albert’s car, trying to find him because he was missing. The next day, while talking to Fort Myers police, she told a different story. She claimed she was meeting up with a man she met on a dating app.

Big Lots

Porter Albert

Investigators believed Contestable left the state and was in Arkansas. Albert’s family members wanted her to come forward because they believed she had information that could help find him.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Fort Myers Police Department at 239-321-7700. You can also contact Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477), on the P3 app, or on its website. You can remain anonymous, and if your tip leads to an arrest, you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000.

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