Credit: NCMEC/DNA Doe Project
Human skeletal remains found in a vacant business in 1992 have been identified as Tymon Joseph Emily. Workers removing a gas service line found human skeletal remains inside a vacant business in March, 1992. Authorities at the time were unable to identify the man, who they believe died of stab wounds 1-3 years before he was found.
Over the years, detectives received many leads from the public. None matched dental records and other known details. In 2004, a DNA profile was developed which was later uploaded to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) used by law enforcement, but it did not generate any matches.
In 2012, the case was entered into the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children database (NCMEC), and Detective Heather Sabin began a 10-year campaign to solve it. DNA analysis and profiling had been done by several labs. In 2021, Detective Sabin brought the case to the DNA Doe Project. After a fresh DNA sample was sent for processing, a profile was uploaded to the public DNA databases GEDmatch and FTDNA. Investigative genetic genealogists began their work early this year and were able to identify Tymon Joseph Emily as the likely candidate within a week.
“We had a handful of 2nd-3rd cousin matches and once we built down his family tree to his potential grandparents, we were quickly able to find Tymon,” said DNA Doe Project investigative genealogist Tracie Boyle. “He had been reported missing in 1991 and there was a Find-A-Grave entry with the word ‘missing’ engraved on his headstone. He shared his grandfather’s name.”
The DNA Doe Project wishes to acknowledge the contributions of the groups and individuals who helped solve this case: the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, who entrusted the case to the DNA Doe Project; Lakehead University Paleo-DNA Lab for extraction of DNA from bone; HudsonAlpha Discovery for whole genome sequencing; Kevin Lord of Saber Investigations for bioinformatics; GEDmatch for providing their database; our generous donors who contributed to this case; and DDP’s dedicated teams of volunteer investigative genetic genealogists who work tirelessly to bring victims home.
Republished courtesy of DNA Doe Project.