FL FL- Near Howard Frankland Bridge, St. Petersburg John Doe, skull, 1980, DNA- Joseph Richard Murrell, born in 1956, 2025.

[dotr]

St. Petersburg John Doe (1980) is identified

St. Petersburg Police Department Teams with Othram to Identify a 1980 John Doe

dnasolves.com

''In 2024, the St. Petersburg Police Department and the District 6 Medical Examiner’s Office partnered with Othram, a forensic laboratory based in The Woodlands, Texas, to identify a skull that had been separated from other skeletal remains sometime after 1980. Because the skull’s origin and context were unclear, forensic evidence was sent to Othram to determine if advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy could assist in the identification.

Othram scientists developed a DNA extract from the skull and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the profile to perform genealogical research and generate new investigative leads.

With this information, investigators conducted follow-up inquiries that led them to potential relatives of the unidentified man. KinSNP® Rapid Relationship Testing was then used to compare the comprehensive DNA profile to that of a potential relative. The KinSNP® analysis helped confirm a genetic relationship, leading to the identification of the man as Joseph Richard Murrell, born in 1956.

Murrell died on August 3, 1980, when his car went off the Howard Frankland Bridge. According to news reports at the time, he was decapitated. While all of his remains were initially recovered, it is unclear how or when the skull became separated.''

 

[PayrollNerd]

That bridge is long and flat and at the time didn’t have tall side barriers. People travel at high rates of speed. They’ve since widened it and the sides are higher. Nonetheless, we still have a car or two go airborne every year. Rainy season on that bridge with hurricanes and fog is down right scary.

 

[The4TierBridge]

I think you accidentally put this thread in Unidentified and not Identified.

 

[summergirl1]

It's odd his head got separated, given that he was an identified accident victim..

Joseph Richard Murrell (1956-1980) - Find a Grave...

In 2024, the St. Petersburg Police Department and the District 6 Medical Examiner's Office partnered with Othram, a forensic laboratory based in The Woodlands, Texas, to identify a skull that had been separated from other skeletal remains sometime after 1980. The KinSNP analysis helped confirm...

www.findagrave.com

 

[Susikatze]

It's odd his head got separated, given that he was an identified accident victim..

Joseph Richard Murrell (1956-1980) - Find a Grave...

In 2024, the St. Petersburg Police Department and the District 6 Medical Examiner's Office partnered with Othram, a forensic laboratory based in The Woodlands, Texas, to identify a skull that had been separated from other skeletal remains sometime after 1980. The KinSNP analysis helped confirm...

www.findagrave.com

Why? It was easy to identify him via his clothing, situation, witnesses who saw the accident, body markers such as moles, fingerprints etc. They did not have to search for his head in order to identify him.

Anyhow, what a terrible way to die! Poor guy!

Edit: I see, all his remains were initially recovered. Appears they were stored somewhere and the skull got misplaced with no identification or connection to the rest of the remains. Actually i could see how that happens - the skull gets sent to different department for dentals and is seperated from the other remains

 

[dotr]

I think you accidentally put this thread in Unidentified and not Identified.

Thank you, will report!