Credit: Othram
Over three decades ago, a local hunter in Hernando County, Florida discovered the skeletal remains of an unidentified male. These remains were not the result of a homicide, nor were they those of a reported missing person from any jurisdiction.
The remains, which were discovered on Nov. 3, 1991, were sent to several labs in an effort to obtain a DNA profile necessary for identification. With the assistance and cooperation of the District 5 Medical Examiner’s Office, and the University of South Florida Forensic Anthropology Department, the remains were sent to the FBI, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), DNA Labs International, and University of North Texas’s (UNT) respective laboratories.
A mitochondrial (MT) DNA profile only was developed from the skeletal remains. MT DNA profiles are not eligible to be entered into the CODIS database; therefore, no associations were found.
On Feb. 23. 2022, the remains were sent for further DNA testing and investigative genetic genealogy searching with Othram. On June 27, 2022, Othram positively identified the remains as Richard Paul Sargent, born on July 12, 1946.
Othram was also able to provide provided the name of a distant family member. This led Detective G. Loydgren to Richard Sargent’s living family members in Massachusetts. The family members were notified of the death and the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office announced the identification last Friday.
Sargent was a Vietnam veteran who served the country honorably; therefore, The American Red Cross arranged to have Sargent’s remains shipped to a local funeral home in Massachusetts.
Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis said although there is no evidence that foul play was involved in this particular death, this new information shows that law enforcement never forgets.
“We never stop working behind the scenes to identify remains and, if a crime can be proven, hold criminals accountable. We know that it is important to give family members answers whenever possible, even if their relative went missing decades ago,” the sheriff said. “Although many of these cold cases hit temporary dead ends throughout the years, it is very gratifying when they finally get resolved. I am blessed to work with some very passionate, professional, and dedicated individuals who are patiently working behind the scenes to get answers on dozens of similar cases.”
Republished courtesy of Hernando County Sheriff's Office.