AZ AZ- Mohave County, rural desert, Hackberry Road, UID human remains, 9//9/82, DNA identified as Virgil R. Renner from Humboldt County, California, 2023

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After 41 Years, Mohave County John Doe (1982) is Identified

Mohave County Sheriff's Office Teams with Othram to Identify a 1982 John Doe

dnasolves.com

"In February 2023, the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit (SIU) once again teamed with Othram to leverage advanced DNA testing to assist in the identification of the unknown man. Forensic evidence was submitted to Othram’s laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from skeletal remains and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to develop a comprehensive DNA profile. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used the profile in a genealogical search to generate new investigative leads in the case, including the identification of distant relatives of the unknown man. A follow-up investigation by the Mohave County Sheriff's Office SIU confirmed the identity of the man as Virgil R. Renner from Humboldt County, California. It is believed that Renner was born in 1910.

At this time, little is known about Renner. He had a brother and a sister, who are long since deceased. Renner never married and never had children. The identification of Renner was made through DNA comparisons to his genetic relatives. Investigators learned that Renner left California in the early 1970s to search for gold in Nevada. It is unknown how and why he made his way to Arizona.

The costs associated with this case were funded by Project Grace, a philanthropic initiative with a goal to help clear backlogs of unsolved cases. Othram is grateful for the funding support for this case and several other cases that have been worked with the Mohave County Sheriff's Office.''

Human remains found in 1982 outside Kingman identified as California man

Mohave County authorities announced on Tuesday that a set of human remains found outside of the Kingman in 1982 have been identified.

www.ktnv.com

By: Rachel Zalucki
''KINGMAN, Ariz. (KTNV) — Mohave County authorities announced on Tuesday that a set of human remains found outside of the Kingman in 1982 have been identified.

On Sept. 9, 1982, citizens traveling through the rural desert near Hackberry Road came across human remains and alerted the Mohave Country Sheriff's Office. Deputies arrived on the scene and recovered the remains, alongside a plastic hair comb, a rusty can opener, rusty fingernail clippers, a toothbrush, a tattered short-sleeve shirt, leather belt fragments, the remnants of denim pants, and an argyle sock.''

Investigators say a cause of death could not be determined, though the victim's death is estimated to have been between 1979 and 1981.

The remains would remain in Mohave County until February 2023, when investigators sent a sample from the victim to Othram Inc., a Texas-based genetic laboratory. There, the remains were finally able to be identified using advanced DNA testing, Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing, and forensic genetic genealogy.


''The victim's identity was revealed to be Virgil R. Renner from Humboldt County, California. Investigators say not much is known about Renner at this time, though he is believed to have been born in 1910 and left California in the early 1970s to search for gold in Nevada. However, it is unknown how and why he made his way to Arizona.

It is believed that Renner never married and never had children, though DNA identification was made through distant relatives from his brother and sister's extended families, who are both deceased.

"The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank Othram Inc. once again for their assistance in this investigation," authorities said in a press release. "If not for their help, Renner would have remained another John Doe found in the vast desert of Mohave County."