Working with the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office (Florida), Othram has now identified two John Does—one found in 2005 and the other found in 2012.
Funding for the DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy in both cases was provided through Florida Senate Bill 678, legislation championed by Senator Jennifer Bradley to expand the use of advanced forensic DNA technology in identifying unknown individuals and advancing cold case investigations throughout Florida.
2005 John Doe
On May 23, 2005, investigators responded to a junkyard along U.S. Highway 41 in Tampa, Florida, where the remains of an unidentified man were discovered inside the sleeper compartment of a truck. The man was found in an advanced state of decomposition, making identification through traditional investigative methods difficult. He was estimated to have been between 50 and 60 years old.
Investigators carefully documented several distinguishing characteristics that could aid in identifying the man, including a scar on his lower right abdomen and tattoos on his left lower leg. Among the personal belongings recovered near the remains was a knapsack bearing the handwritten message, "SCOT, LOVE MOM," which ultimately yielded no definitive identification despite years of investigative effort.
Seeking new leads, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner partnered with Othram to apply advanced forensic DNA technology to the case. Scientists at Othram performed DNA extraction followed by Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to develop a comprehensive DNA profile suitable for forensic genetic genealogy.
Othram's forensic genetic genealogy team used the resulting DNA profile to develop new investigative leads that ultimately enabled investigators to identify the man as William Lewis Crummey. The identification restores his name after more than 20 years and provides long-awaited answers to those connected to his life. Crummey's family had not heard from him since early 2005.
2012 John Doe
On Sept. 21, 2012, the remains of an unidentified man were discovered in a wooded area near Wimauma, Florida. The individual was found in an advanced state of decomposition, making identification through traditional investigative methods difficult. Investigators believed the man may have experienced homelessness, but despite extensive efforts, his identity remained unknown for years.
In an effort to generate new investigative leads, the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office District 13 and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office teamed with Othram to apply advanced forensic DNA technology to the case. Scientists at Othram performed DNA extraction followed by Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to develop a comprehensive DNA profile suitable for forensic genetic genealogy.
Othram's forensic genetic genealogy team used the resulting profile to develop new investigative leads that ultimately enabled investigators to identify the man as Cartis Jackson.
Jackson was born in Georgia in 1946, moved to Florida with his family as an infant, and had been estranged from his family since 2005. This identification restores Jackson's name more than a decade after his remains were found.
These are the 60 and 61 publicly announced cases in Florida where investigator's leveraged Othram's identity inference pipeline to identify an individual. To learn more about how Othram's technology is helping identify unknown individuals and advance investigations across the United States, visit Othram's website.
Republished courtesy of DNASolves