CO CO - Longmont, Boulder Co, UncMale 27-37, UP12154, part of the VFW "Last Man Standing" Club, poss historical/archaeological specimen, Dec'13

[YaYa_521]

*NO PHOTOS*

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

CASE NUMBER - 2551UMCO

2551UMCO - Unidentified Male​

Date of Discovery: December 2, 2013
Location of Discovery: Longmont, Boulder County, Colorado
Estimated Date of Death: 50 years or more
State of Remains: Not recognizable - Near complete or complete skeleton
Cause of Death: Unknown

Physical Description​

Estimated Age: 27-37 years old
Race: White
Gender: Male
Height: 5'6" - 5'8"
Weight: Unknown
Hair Color: Unknown
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Completely healed antemortem fracture of the right radius and ulna with subsequent complication of severe angulation of the radius. No evidence of modern medical intervention for the fracture repair. Skeletal lesions on occipital bone are consistent with active anemia at the time of death.

Identifiers​

Dentals: Available
Fingerprints: Not available
DNA: Available

Clothing & Personal Items​

Clothing: Unknown
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown

Circumstances of Discovery​

The victim's skeletal remains recovered from the Longmont VFW basement after flooding damaged the coffin holding them. The skeleton had been at the VFW for years and were used in a ritual called "Last Man Standing Club."

The remains may have been excavated as long as 50 years ago. They appear consistent with a historical/archaeological specimen, and may have no forensic significance; however, families in the area would like to have DNA analysis completed to determine whether or not this could be their long lost relative.

Investigating Agency(s)​

Agency Name: Boulder County Coroner's Office
Agency Phone Number: 303-441-3535
Agency Case Number: 2517-13-A

NCIC Case Number: Unknown
NamUs Case Number: 12154

Information Source(s)​

NamUs
The Denver Channel News Archive (January 22, 2014)

Admin Notes​

Added: 3/10/15; Last Updated: 5/10/19

 

[iulia]

The NamUs page for these remains is down. Not sure if the solved cases for Colorado has gone up, as the counter on the NamUs main page hasn't worked for a couple of days.

 

[iulia]

The counter on NamUs is working again since yesterday and the solved cases for Colorado has not gone up, so there may not be a resolution for this case.

I can't find any news about these remains, the most recent information that I could find comes from the 2018 Annual Report for Boulder County Coroner's Office:

UNIDENTIFIED MALE SKELETAL REMAINS

Reported: November 8, 2013
NamUs Case Number: UP12154
Ancestry: European descent and/or African ancestry
Approximate Age: 32.59 +/- 5 years
Height: 5’ 7.2” +/- 3.3 inches
Weight: N/A
Eye Color: Unknown
Hair: Unknown
Scars/Tattoos: Unknown
Clothing: Unknown
Dental: Maxillary left second premolar and mandibular left second premolar missing post mortem. The right mandibular third molar and both maxillary third molars appear to have never formed. Linear striations indicating possible biological stress during childhood when the adult teeth were forming.

These are skeletal human remains that were turned over to the Boulder County Coroner’s Office from the Longmont VFW. The remains were reported to be that of a Native American Female, however an osteological analysis completed by Metropolitan State University of Denver-Human Identification Laboratory has concluded that the remains are that of an adult male approximately 32.59 +/- 5 years at the time of death and that the ancestry analysis indicates that the individual is not of Native American descent, although analysis is not able to definitively identify the ancestry. Analysis suggests that the remains are likely archaeological, although there is no
definitive answer as to how long ago the individual died.

The interpretation from the Osteological Report states the following:
“The skeletal remains are consistent with a young adult male with antemortem trauma indicating interpersonal violence at some time in the life of the individual. The discoloration of the skeletal remains and root markings on the bones along with the lack of modern medical intervention for fracture repair and absence of evidence of modern dental work suggest the specimen is likely archaeological. The porotic hyperostosis, which was active at death, and inear enamel hypoplasias indicate biological stress during childhood when the adult teeth were forming. The
ancestry analysis indicates the individual is not of Native American descent, though an unambiguous ancestry cannot be identified. Additionally, the postmortem breakage of several teeth, postmortem damage to several bones, and the missing elements (ribs and small bones) are consistent with the story told by the VFW “Last Man Standing Club” that the remains were dug up by one of their members many years ago.”

Given that the specimen is likely archeological, it is not probable the identity will be determined, however until such time that an identification or additional information on where the remains originated from, the remains will be kept by the coroner’s office.

Coroner's Office

bouldercounty.gov

https://assets.bouldercounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/coroner-annual-report-2018.pdf

 

[rob525]

It says DNA is available. I wonder why they are not able do a familial DNA test to try to link the bones to any relatives or determine an ancestry more specifically. I suppose they could have done that since the report was generated in 2013 and just haven't received any results yet ( or do not want to publish them).

 

[Puzzleworth]

It says DNA is available. I wonder why they are not able do a familial DNA test to try to link the bones to any relatives or determine an ancestry more specifically. I suppose they could have done that since the report was generated in 2013 and just haven't received any results yet ( or do not want to publish them).

The DNA profile needed for genealogical testing is much, much more detailed than the usual profile taken for CODIS (the federal database for the DNA of felons, missing persons, and unidentified remains) or state databases. The coroner would have to take a new sample from the bones to develop a profile that's up to par. Which is also fairly expensive when we're talking about archeological remains. It's easy to get DNA when the sample is fresh spit in a tube--less so when you have dry bones that have been that way for centuries!

It's not a bad idea, though. Given the historical nature of the bones, I think it might be hard to put a name to them, but it would be a good way to conclusively determine ancestry. If they are Native American, federal law (and good etiquette) requires them to be given to their tribe for burial or study as they see fit. If they belonged to a settler, genealogy might be able to identify them.

 

[rob525]

The DNA profile needed for genealogical testing is much, much more detailed than the usual profile taken for CODIS (the federal database for the DNA of felons, missing persons, and unidentified remains) or state databases. The coroner would have to take a new sample from the bones to develop a profile that's up to par. Which is also fairly expensive when we're talking about archeological remains. It's easy to get DNA when the sample is fresh spit in a tube--less so when you have dry bones that have been that way for centuries!

It's not a bad idea, though. Given the historical nature of the bones, I think it might be hard to put a name to them, but it would be a good way to conclusively determine ancestry. If they are Native American, federal law (and good etiquette) requires them to be given to their tribe for burial or study as they see fit. If they belonged to a settler, genealogy might be able to identify them.

I have read of a way to take limited samples of DNA split the double helix apart and essentially allowing the two parts to form a separate strands thus multiplying the amount of DN. I do not know what the cost is or if the resulting DNA is quality enough for the familial testing as you say. I would be curious to find out.

 

[tmoon13]

via Doe Network: "2551UMCO discovered on December 2, 2013 in Longmont, Colorado has been identified per NamUs. No further information is available." Located & Identified Persons

 

[lightofmine99]

Well dang I sure would like to know the identity of the skeleton "used in a Last Man Standing Club ritual" or something.