As has been going around this website and in real life, the situation with Marilee Bruszer has become a massive concern for other unidentified.
Has the unidentified got DNA, dentals, fingerprints? If so, there may be the chance of a match (if they were reported missing). Circumstances? Sorry, rule out.
Until, that is, Marilee Bruszer was identified. The victim, found in September 1978 in Utah, was thought to be 18-22, with blonde or brown hair, 5'2/5'3 tall, around 110 pounds, having died 2-3 years prior to her discovery.
But, as we found out, Marilee was 33, 5'5 and between 140 and 150 pounds. She had disappeared two weeks earlier. While the nose and hair color were accurate, this could have ended very badly.
If Marilee's family hadn't been able to submit DNA, I don't think Marilee would ever have been identified. This does prove the powers of DNA, but also a terrifying situation for other unidentified bodies.
How do we know that little boy isn't a little girl? How do we know that dark-haired body isn't actually blonde? How do we know that 40-year-old isn't sixty? These unanswered, nerve-racking questions are every forensic investigator's nightmare.
What I would think would help this problem is for unidentified bodies to be checked on whenever there is new technology available. I personally think the poor 1970s tech might have hindered the case, so check-ups may close many cold cases.
I give my greatest sympathies to Marilee's family and the investigators who worked hard on this case.
But I truly think this may solve many cases where suspected identities have been ruled out due to 'circumstance'.
Has the unidentified got DNA, dentals, fingerprints? If so, there may be the chance of a match (if they were reported missing). Circumstances? Sorry, rule out.
Until, that is, Marilee Bruszer was identified. The victim, found in September 1978 in Utah, was thought to be 18-22, with blonde or brown hair, 5'2/5'3 tall, around 110 pounds, having died 2-3 years prior to her discovery.
But, as we found out, Marilee was 33, 5'5 and between 140 and 150 pounds. She had disappeared two weeks earlier. While the nose and hair color were accurate, this could have ended very badly.
If Marilee's family hadn't been able to submit DNA, I don't think Marilee would ever have been identified. This does prove the powers of DNA, but also a terrifying situation for other unidentified bodies.
How do we know that little boy isn't a little girl? How do we know that dark-haired body isn't actually blonde? How do we know that 40-year-old isn't sixty? These unanswered, nerve-racking questions are every forensic investigator's nightmare.
What I would think would help this problem is for unidentified bodies to be checked on whenever there is new technology available. I personally think the poor 1970s tech might have hindered the case, so check-ups may close many cold cases.
I give my greatest sympathies to Marilee's family and the investigators who worked hard on this case.
But I truly think this may solve many cases where suspected identities have been ruled out due to 'circumstance'.