In September 1987, a grandfather and his grandson out hunting in the woods discovered a human skull and other bones laying just on (or slightly below) the surface. Youngstown (Ohio) Police Department was called to the scene and immediately began attempts to identify the unknown man.
The Youngstown State University Anthropology Department helped in the identification. The anthropologists said the individual was likely a Black male between 30 and 44 years of age, who had perhaps been in the woods for 3 to 5 years. No further evidence was available, and no leads came to fruition.
In August 2021, a young woman called the Youngstown Police Department to speak to investigators. She had been a student of anthropology in the early 2000s and remembered seeing the skull and bones in the laboratory. A little older now, and with children of her own, the woman could not get the thought out of her mind that Youngstown John Doe was someone’s child. She wanted to ensure that Youngstown PD continued the investigation and did everything within their power to bring it to conclusion.
Det/Sgt David Sweeney soon took the lead on the renewed case. In the latter part of 2021, the remains were sent to BCI in order to attempt the extraction of DNA and to potentially enter Youngstown John Doe into NamUs, the National Missing & Unidentified Persons System as UP85707. Some DNA was initially able to be extracted from the teeth for a CODIS profile and BCI began work on facial reconstruction of the skull.
In August 2022, Youngstown PD & the Ohio AG's Bureau of Criminal Investigation held a joint press conference to reveal the facial reconstruction of Youngstown John Doe. A request was made for information from anyone that might recognize the facial reconstruction of the unknown man. (A tip did come in as a result, but it was related to another cold case in Ohio. The tip helped identify a 1981 John Doe.)
Sweeney additionally went around the city distributing fliers and asking for tips. The decision was then made to send some of the discovered long bones to Othram to see if they could generate new leads in the investigation.
In January 2023 of this year, Youngstown PD received communication from the Othram team that funding was available for the case via The Porchlight Project. The Porchlight Project began in 2018 and is a privately funded organization which assists agencies, specifically in Ohio, with advanced DNA testing and genetic genealogy.
Othram was able to successfully develop a DNA extract from the skeletal remains and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to build a comprehensive DNA profile suitable for genealogical analysis. In addition to providing funding, The Porchlight Project also performed the genetic genealogy research necessary to generate investigative leads in the case. The leads were returned to law enforcement and further research by Porchlight, Sweeney, the Mahoning County Coroner’s Office and BCI affirmed what the genetic genealogy research uncovered: a conclusive and definitive identification as Robert Earl Sanders.
On August 13, 1976, a missing report was filed for Sanders. Although his remains were found in 1987, they were not identified as belonging to him until now.
Republished courtesy of DNASolves. You can view cases that need funding here.