DNA Doe Project - General Discussion #2

[doggybag2355]

Another new case added: Smith County Jane Doe 1985
Smith County Jane Doe 1985 - DNA Doe Project Cases
TX - TX - Smith Co, off I-20, WhtFem 20-32, 77UFTX, shirt w/ 'Top Rail Country Music, Dallas, TX', Oct'85
It is their second case from Smith County, hopefully we will hear soon about the identification of Smith County John Doe whose Namus was recently removed

I need to talk in here more often in this case!

 

[doggybag2355]

I hope they take more cases from Arizona with the quick turnaround of Laura N Layla and Baseline does. Maybe other municipalities like Maricopa county as a whole or Yavapai county will start too

 

[doggybag2355]

New Information was released on Trabuco Canyon John Doe along with a new reconstruction

 

[whiterhino]

Joan updated a spreadsheet yesterday! 4 cases have been added:

Gwinnett County John Doe- with the highest match of 299,4 cM
Kilgore Jane Doe 2000- with the highest match of 91,1 cM
Mercer Island John Doe 2016 - with the highest match of 281 cM
Trinity Bellwoods Park Jane Doe (Canada) - with the highest match of 111,8 cM

Hello, I'm new to the UID threads, what does cM mean?

 

[doggybag2355]

Hello, I'm new to the UID threads, what does cM mean?

centiMorgan, it's the unit of measurement for DNA length, typically the higher number, the better the match to the closest found relative.

 

[Tired Professor]

Hello, I'm new to the UID threads, what does cM mean?

Hi Whiterhino, I find this chart really helpful when centimorgans are mentioned in a case:

 

[djanga]

New identification!

The identity of Rohnert Park John Doe was released! I am glad the Sonoma County Sheriff consider to work with the DDP in the future!

From Sonoma County Sheriff Office Page (seen on the dedicated websleuth thread):

Investigative Genetic Genealogy used to identify Rohnert Park John Doe from 2015. Please read the story below.

On December 2, 2021, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office received confirmation that a John Doe death reported initially been January 2, 2015, in Rohnert Park, has been positively identified using genetic genealogy and the assistance of the DNA Doe Project in Sebastopol. (case # 15-0000001)

Stephen Patrick Archer (48 at time of death), Seattle, Washington, was found near a walking path in Rohnert Park. Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety (RPDPS) initially investigated his death as a non-traumatic, non-suspicious death. However, his cause of death and identity were unknown. The Sonoma County Coroner’s Office was notified, and he was soon after that known only as “15 John Doe,” as he was the first coroner case of 2015.

Despite exhausting our Coroner Missing and Unidentified Persons protocols, he remained unidentified for over six years. These protocols include DNA samples sent for Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) upload, dental charting through Missing Persons Sacramento, Forensic Anthropologic studies (Cal State Chico), and countless hours canvassing the area and local homeless shelters, and the dissemination of law enforcement informational flyers.

In April 2018, the high-profile capture of the “Golden State Killer” using genetic genealogy technology generated significant publicity. Like many other agencies, our office was intrigued and started to explore the possibility for use in this case. We used a DNA testing company that developed a genetic profile for 15 John Doe. We then submitted that genetic profile into GEDmatch, an online service to compare autosomal DNA data files from different testing companies. Due to changing user agreements and policies within the company’s terms, our potential matches were low, and the case was stagnant again.

We then learned of Margaret Press and her local, non-profit, DNA Doe Project, in Sebastopol. DNA Doe Project had assisted numerous agencies in identifying unidentified deceased persons using forensic genealogy. One of our coroner detectives reached out to Ms. Press and started the process.

DNA Doe Project made quick headway in the case and, together with our detective, tentatively identified 15 John Doe. Ultimately, a DNA comparison through the Department of Justice (DOJ) was completed using his biological samples, which matched his biological mother. A positive ID was finally made for Stephen Archer.

We appreciate the hard work and collaboration from the DNA Doe Project.

We look forward to working with them again soon to help solve the 38 unidentified decedent cases in Sonoma County.

Prepared by Detective Coroner Sergeant Justin Haugen
Media inquiries: (707) 565-3941
***********************************************************************
Durante más de seis años, un difunto permaneció sin identificar, y ahora el caso se ha resuelto gracias a las pruebas de ADN. Lea la historia a continuación.

El 2 de diciembre de 2021, la Oficina del Sheriff del condado de Sonoma recibió la confirmación de que una muerte de John Doe informada inicialmente el 2 de enero de 2015, en Rohnert Park, se había identificado positivamente utilizando genealogía genética y la asistencia del Proyecto DNA Doe en Sebastopol (caso # 15- 0000001).

Stephen Patrick Archer (48 en el momento de su muerte), Seattle, Washington, fue encontrado cerca de un sendero en Rohnert Park. El Departamento de Seguridad Pública de Rohnert Park (RPDPS) inicialmente investigó su muerte como una muerte no traumática y no sospechosa. Sin embargo, se desconocía la causa de su muerte y su identidad. Se notificó a la oficina del forense del condado de Sonoma, y poco después se le conoció solo como "15 John Doe", ya que fue el primer caso forense de 2015.

A pesar de haber agotado nuestros protocolos de personas desaparecidas y no identificadas del forense, permaneció sin identificar durante más de seis años. Estos protocolos incluyen muestras de ADN enviadas para la carga del Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), registros dentales a través de Missing Persons Sacramento, estudios de antropología forense (Cal State Chico) e innumerables horas recorriendo el área y los refugios para personas sin hogar locales, y la difusión de información policial. folletos.

En abril de 2018, la captura de alto perfil del "Golden State Killer" utilizando tecnología de genealogía genética generó una publicidad significativa. Como muchas otras agencias, nuestra oficina estaba intrigada y comenzó a explorar la posibilidad de usarla en este caso. Usamos una empresa de pruebas de ADN que desarrolló un perfil genético para 15 John Doe. Luego enviamos ese perfil genético a GEDmatch, un servicio en línea para comparar archivos de datos de ADN autosómico de diferentes compañías de pruebas. Debido a los cambios en los acuerdos y las políticas de los usuarios dentro de los términos de la empresa, nuestras coincidencias potenciales fueron bajas y el caso volvió a estancarse.

Luego nos enteramos de Margaret Press y su organización local sin fines de lucro, en Sebastopol, DNA Doe Project. DNA Doe Project había ayudado a numerosas agencias a identificar personas fallecidas no identificadas utilizando genealogía forense. Uno de nuestros detectives forenses se acercó a la Sra. Press y comenzó el proceso.

El Proyecto DNA Doe avanzó rápidamente en el caso y, junto con nuestro detective, identificó provisionalmente a 15 John Doe. Finalmente, se completó una comparación de ADN a través del Departamento de Justicia (DOJ) utilizando sus muestras biológicas, que coincidían con su madre biológica. Finalmente se hizo una identificación positiva para Stephen Archer.

Agradecemos el arduo trabajo y la colaboración del Proyecto DNA Doe.

Esperamos volver a trabajar con ellos pronto para ayudar a resolver los 38 casos de fallecidos no identificados en el condado de Sonoma.

Preparado por el detective forense sargento Justin Haugen
Consultas de los medios: (707) 565-3941

DNA Doe Project

 

[MarziPanda]

38 unidentified decedent cases in Sonoma County, huh. I can only find six on Namus, but then again I'm not great at searching for things. Let's hope all 38 get their names back.

 

[djanga]

The article about the identification
Bay Area John Doe found dead with physics journals finally ID'd

 

[doggybag2355]

38 unidentified decedent cases in Sonoma County, huh. I can only find six on Namus, but then again I'm not great at searching for things. Let's hope all 38 get their names back.

I'm actually working on the UID wiki and I just stumbled on one on Doe Network, with no NamUs entry: 1218UFCA

 

[doggybag2355]

Also an image was released of Stephen Archer:

 

[djanga]

Also an image was released of Stephen Archer.

And according to the press release he worked for Boeing, so he was probably an engineer, looks like a very clever person.

 

[ntt1]

And according to the press release he worked for Boeing, so he was probably an engineer, looks like a very clever person.

Tech used to ID ‘Golden State Killer’ helps ID Rohnert Park body

"On Thursday, Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Juan Valencia described Archer as a former Boeing engineer who had become a transient. Prior to his death, Archer hadn’t spoken to his family for more than 20 years."

 

[doggybag2355]

Tech used to ID ‘Golden State Killer’ helps ID Rohnert Park body

"On Thursday, Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Juan Valencia described Archer as a former Boeing engineer who had become a transient. Prior to his death, Archer hadn’t spoken to his family for more than 20 years."

What a shame, but estranged families is what makes these cases happen.

 

[doggybag2355]

Does that just leave Barn John Doe, Twinsburg John Doe and Jefferson County John Doe (2019) unannounced now?

 

[djanga]

Does that just leave Barn John Doe, Twinsburg John Doe and Jefferson County John Doe (2019) unannounced now?

Yes, three of them and I think Jefferson County John Doe was identified for quite some time now (if I remember correctly his Namus was removed in summer), but as it is a recent case (he was found in 2019), I think that may be investigation can be very active.

 

[ntt1]

I also have a good feeling about those two Ottawa Co. (MI) cases, Matilda and Jenny. I believe the most recent news article update stated that the detectives were going to follow up on out-of-state leads, which seems to suggest there could be tentative IDs in both cases.

Edit: also interesting to see that Rohnert JD's profile was already on GEDmatch and DDP was just brought aboard later to assist with the genealogical work ID. I wonder if something similar might become an option for El Dorado Jane Doe (if it isn't being done with someone else already), by all accounts, a tough case due to a likely adoption.

 

[djanga]

I also have a good feeling about those two Ottawa Co. (MI) cases, Matilda and Jenny. I believe the most recent news article update stated that the detectives were going to follow up on out-of-state leads, which seems to suggest there could be tentative IDs in both cases.

Edit: also interesting to see that Rohnert JD's profile was already on GEDmatch and DDP was just brought aboard later to assist with the genealogical work ID. I wonder if something similar might become an option for El Dorado Jane Doe (if it isn't being done with someone else already), by all accounts, a tough case due to a likely adoption.

Oh yes, but I think there was a similar article on Betty Doe that there are many leads to follow and places to visit, but it turned out to be a difficult case. I am hoping that Nation River Lady is identified! She had very good matches on FamilyTree.

 

[djanga]

I also have a good feeling about those two Ottawa Co. (MI) cases, Matilda and Jenny. I believe the most recent news article update stated that the detectives were going to follow up on out-of-state leads, which seems to suggest there could be tentative IDs in both cases.

Edit: also interesting to see that Rohnert JD's profile was already on GEDmatch and DDP was just brought aboard later to assist with the genealogical work ID. I wonder if something similar might become an option for El Dorado Jane Doe (if it isn't being done with someone else already), by all accounts, a tough case due to a likely adoption.

And I am hopeful about new cases- Mercer Island JD and Gwinnett County JD, they have very good numbers.

 

[djanga]

NEW IDENTIFICATION
The identity of Twinsburg John Doe was released! He was a guitarist of R&B group The O’Jays, Frank Little, Jr


Going home....

Remains found in 1982 identified as guitarist for R&B group The O’Jays

Updated 2021-12-14 09:05:51-05

TWINSBURG, Ohio — Human remains discovered in Twinsburg in 1982 have now been identified as those of Frank “Frankie” Little, Jr., who was a guitarist and songwriter for the R&B band The O’Jays, as a result of genealogical research from the DNA Doe Project.

The partial remains were recovered in a garbage bag behind a now-closed business on Cannon Road in Twinsburg, according to police. A worker found a skull in the snow behind the business. Police then discovered the other body parts in the garbage bag.

The manner of death has been ruled a homicide.

“It’s definitely nice that we can give some answers to the family and hopefully they have some sense of closure,” said Twinsburg Detective Eric Hendershott. “He had a life, and ultimately he ended up here in Twinsburg, with his life taken by another.”

Little was born in Cleveland in 1943 and raised here. In the mid-1960s, he was a guitarist and songwriter for The O’Jays. He also served in the U.S. Army for two years, including a deployment to Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

“Frankie was a member of the band in the 1960s,” Hendershott said. “He played guitar with the band in the studio and on tours.”

Little had a daughter who passed away in 2021 and a son who has not yet been located or identified, police said.

Little was last known to reside in Cleveland, and it is believed he was last alive in the mid-1970s. Not much is known about his disappearance or death

The identity of the remains were a mystery for almost 40 years, until, in October 2021, the DNA Doe Project provided names of potential living relatives who were able to provide Little’s name, the release states.

A brother in Georgia provided a DNA sample, which was analyzed by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation Crime Lab. Little’s identity was confirmed by Dr. Lisa Kohler with the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Kohler said data provided to her through DNA testing revealed odds indicating it was 398,000,000 times more likely that the two men were brothers.

“It was clear that there was a match here, that we had finally been able to put a name to those remains,” Kohler said. “I feel comfortable saying he died from unknown injuries and that this is a homicide.”

Kohler said the remains are the oldest that are stored at the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office. Arrangements will eventually be made to turn Little over to relatives for a proper burial.

The connection between the old remains and The O’Jays was an unexpected twist for everyone involved in the case.

“The fact that he was a musician, and it seems like he had some degree of prominence at one point in time, it’s neat to have that background,” Kohler said.

Elias Chan, a volunteer with DNA Doe Project, worked on the case for more than two years.

Chan said the investigation was “far from a slam dunk” and hit many roadblocks along the way as the team searched for potential relatives, but the DNA link finally provided the answers the non-profit organization was seeking.

“The goal is to kind of hang in there, commit to it, keep checking those matches, keep going down the lines and keep thinking innovatively,” Chan said.

Hendershott said with the remains identified 39 years later, the focus now is trying to figure out who killed Little.

“We’re trying to figure out how he got there and who could have put him there. That’s what we don’t know,” he said.

https://www.news5cleveland.com/news...entified-as-guitarist-for-r-b-group-the-ojays