Have you though of trying for a "lack of information title"?
It's pretty cheap to do, but it takes time, and if the frame ends up stolen, then you better be willing and able to produce a bill of sale for the nice officers.
Basically you fill out the paperwork, send it in.
They try to contact the PO.
If the PO says they sold it to who you bought it from(or to you) alls good, 15.00 title.
If the PO has died, 15.00 title, all good.
If they cannot track down the owner(3 months wait time later) 15.00 title.
If it's in the stolen bike registyr, or the PO says it was stolen.
they take the frame away, and quite possibly any all parts related to that frame.
Not sure, the only "lack of info title" I have applied for went smoothly.
took almost 4 months.
but 15.00 for a title to a frame is cheap.
l8r