victoriarobinson642
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A biological son of the unknown man had uploaded his DNA profile into a genetic genealogy database; he had been adopted at birth and was in search of his biological family. Although he didn’t know who his biological parents were, he had done extensive family tree research and was able to provide a family name and possible leads on who his father may be. Investigators with the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office were then able to locate a living biological sister who submitted a DNA sample for reference testing. In October 2023, the reference test confirmed the sibling relationship between the unknown man and his sister, and Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Veena Singh officially identified the man as Clifford Wayne Bippes, born in Tekoa, Washington on September 25, 1943.
Clifford, who served in the US Army, was the oldest of three siblings and is pictured with his family in the image at left. His sister last saw him about six months prior to his death, and at that time he had none of the pictured tattoos. She was unable to reach him for several months and reported him missing in January 1990, after he failed to call or visit on her birthday. She searched for him extensively, but was never able to find him. After exhausting all other avenues, she placed a headstone honoring him, listing his date of death as April 1991.