Knox County John Doe (2003) is now Identified
Knox County Regional Forensic Center Teams with Othram to Identify a 2003 John Doe
dnasolves.com
Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP1545''.
''DNA reference samples were collected from one of these relatives and compared to the DNA profile of the unidentified man. This led to the positive identification of the man, now known as Brian Aleric Sanderson, born on June 24, 1949. Funding for casework cost associated with Othram’s testing was provided by a congressional grant provided by Congressman Tim Burchett's office.''
'The case began more than two decades ago, when on Nov. 30, 2003, a passerby discovered human remains along Interstate 275 at the Woodlawn entrance ramp near the railroad tracks, and the Knoxville Police Department responded. Then, an anthropology team from the University of Tennessee assisted in the recovery and examination of the remains.'
''In late 2022, the Knox County RFC contacted Othram, a company that specializes in cold cases through DNA analysis and traditional genealogy. Othram – with the help of a federal grant secured by U.S. Rep Tim Burchett – matched the information to Sanderson. ''
''Authorities say nearly 400 people go missing in Tennessee each year. That’s five people for every 100,000. Check this list of people missing from East Tennessee to see if you can help locate someone.''