I have gone through a similar process involving a motorcycle that was given to me without a title because it was about to be confiscated by Nashville City Codes department as an "abandoned vehicle". In that case, the previous owner was known to me, but he was refusing to give up the title because of a family dispute. I was able to have the VIN number confirmed as "not stolen" by my local sheriff's department, and I was able to apply for a salvege title by filling out a state form and providing an appraisal of the bike's value by two dealers. Then I had to publish a notice in a local newspaper with a description of the vehicle and the VIN number stating my interntion to apply for a title. It's a fairly complex process, but with a little time and patience, it's possible to have a title re-issued here in Tennessee if the vehicle has a legible VIN number.
Jerry
