In July 2010, the partial skeletal remains of an unidentified individual were found by a group of hikers in the Bitterroot National Forest near Stevensville, Montana, a town in Ravalli County. Ravalli County neighbors Missoula County. It is part of a mountain valley and is bordered by the Sapphire Mountains to the east and the Bitterroot Mountains to the west. Identifying characteristics for the individual, including biological sex, ancestry, and age, could not be determined.
The individual’s remains were found at St. Mary’s Mountain along with several items typically carried by a hiker, including a small black nylon backpack manufactured by the “Uphill Down” company located in Salt Lake City, Utah, a hand trowel, and a metal Outdoor Research water canteen. A partially-used foil pack of Tagamet HB 200, which is typically used in the treatment of heartburn and peptic ulcers, stamped with an expiration date of April 1999, was also found inside of the backpack.
Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP101855 and he became known as Ravalli County Doe. Despite extensive efforts by law enforcement investigators to identify the individual, no matches were found.
In 2023, the Missoula County Sheriff's Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the individual. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the forensic evidence and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown individual. This profile confirmed that the remains were that of a male. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used the DNA profile to conduct genetic genealogy research, ultimately providing new investigative leads to law enforcement.
Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the man. This investigation led to the positive identification of the individual, who is now known to be John J. “Jack” Spratt, born March 4, 1952 and originally from Illinois.
A portion of the casework costs was generously provided by a DNASolves crowdfund with the remaining funds provided by NamUs. NamUs is a national clearinghouse that assists the criminal justice community with the investigation and resolution of missing, unidentified, and unclaimed persons cases across the United States and its territories. NamUs is funded and administered by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and is managed through a contract with Research Triangle Institute International. We are grateful to everyone that contributed to help make it possible to work this case.
The identification of John J. “Jack” Spratt represents the seventh case in the State of Montana where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. You can view all other Montana cases by clicking here.
Republished courtesy of DNASolves.